Piano Guidance
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What is the best instrument for kids to learn first?

A lot of researchers recommend the piano as the first instrument for a child to learn. This is because the piano serves as a stepping stone towards understand other musical instruments – it serves as a great stepping stone because the tones and keys of a piano are easy to identify.

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It’s a well known fact that learning how to play an instrument has numerous benefits that will serve children well in life, even outside of the music world. But how do you decide which instrument is best for your child to start learning from a young age? As their parent, you know what the like or don’t like, and where their potential is the strongest. But to help you decide, we have put together a list of five different instruments great for beginners, along with reasons why.

Recorder

The recorder is one of the most simple and basic instruments to learn how to play, and is often a required instrument in elementary school music classes. It serves as a basic education in how to create sounds with air and how to use breath support. Learning simple melodies and songs is quick and easy, and can help prepare kids to play more complex woodwind options. It serves as a great transitional instrument for your child’s early music education.

Guitar

There’s a reason that guitars are some of the most popular instruments on the planet. With only six chords, it’s easy to learn how to play almost any song once you get a grip on the basics. You can also apply what you’ve learned with any other type of guitar. There is a learning curve when it comes to finger placement and handling the strings, but once you have down those basics, the skills easily transfer.

Piano

A lot of researchers recommend the piano as the first instrument for a child to learn. This is because the piano serves as a stepping stone towards understand other musical instruments – it serves as a great stepping stone because the tones and keys of a piano are easy to identify. Pianos also need very little tuning, needing tuning only about twice a year.

Drums

A 3-piece drum set is a great starting point for your child to begin to learn the basics of coordination, rhythm, and beat when it comes to music. Children will enjoy hitting the drums and the sound it creates when they do. It also allows for a lot of improvisation, which can help kids develop their own style and sense for music.

Violin

The violin is a complex instrument that can be hard to learn. That’s why if your child shows an interest in it, it’s best to start early. With a head start from a younger age, they can learn the basics like instrument handling, hand and finger movement, and proper techniques. A violin is a great instrument to learn because it can be played both solo and in a group, and across multiple music genres. At the Gift of Music Foundation, we believe that Music Matters, and every child deserves access to music education. Learn more about how we advocate for music education, and what you can do to help, at our website, www.giftofmusic.org.

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What is the most relaxing instrument in the world?

The Harp. If you're looking to calm your nerves, harp music might do the trick. A University of Arizona study explored the healing powers of music and showed that patients are most eased by the harp.

If you’re looking to calm your nerves, harp music might do the trick. A University of Arizona study explored the healing powers of music and showed that patients are most eased by the harp. Carrol McLaughlin, a professor and harpist, teamed up with The University of Arizona Medical Center to see just how powerful her music could be. “The more I perform and work with people, the more I find that the harp has a unique healing property,” McLaughlin said. “I wanted precise, scientific data to prove these healing capabilities.” McLaughlin played the harp for 50 patients in the intensive care unit at an Arizona hospital. The study shows patients, who were middle-aged or elderly, were calmed by the music. Medical markers, like blood pressure, returned to normal after listening to the harp. Self-reported pain scores also dropped after McLaughlin’s ten-minute performance each day.

Even the staff found the sounds of the harp soothing.

“Music has been well-established as therapeutic in numerous ways and in a variety of health-care settings,” Angela Muzzy, clinical nurse specialist in The University of Arizona Medical Center’s ICU said. “In the high-tech environment here our patients are subjected to alarms ringing and machinery attached to their bodies, but the sound of the harp provided a soothing and healing environment — not only for patients and their families, but our staff as well.” While buying a few harp tunes might not be a bad idea, there are other ways to unwind. A facial, a quick bout of exercise and meditation are also options.

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