Piano Guidance
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Which instrument is best for kids?

Top 10 Instruments for Children to Learn to Play Music The Xylophone. Hand Percussion. Piano. Ukulele. Drums. Recorder. Violin. Guitar. More items... •

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Playing and learning music benefits people of all ages, including children—and, it’s proven to be fun. The benefits of music education extend well beyond childhood, lasting a lifetime. Music education is shown to have a multitude of benefits, including abstract reasoning and creativity. Children who are musically trained have stronger every day listening skills. Music engages both sides of the brain and challenges children to simultaneously concentrate on multiple tasks.

Explore how making music can be part of your children’s lives below!

Top 10 Instruments for Children to Learn to Play Music

**List order is based on "recommended age."

The Xylophone

Recommended for young children

Children often recognize the melodies of songs before they understand the words. The xylophone is an instrument any child can pick up and play. Most xylophones these days are designed with bright colors and/or animation that your child will be automatically drawn to.

Hand Percussion

Recommended for young children

Think shakers, hand drums, bells, rattles, etc. These instruments are ideal; young ones can easily pick up these with their hands and start making music instantly. Benefits to children include coordination and learning how to keep rhythm.

Piano

Recommended for children in elementary school

Playing the piano offers advantages to players of all ages, including developing concentration, lowering stress, improving self-esteem, and enhancing fine motor skills.

Ukulele

Recommended for children in elementary school

You can’t play the ukulele without a smile on your face! Try it with your child- it’s a given that it will lead to smiles and liven up the atmosphere of any room. The ukulele is a perfect instrument to learn to play. Nylon strings make it easy to play and the instrument itself can be purchased at a low cost. Children will benefit from hand-eye coordination and be playing songs with weeks, or even days!

Drums

Recommended for children in elementary school, middle and high school

Parents may be wary of buying a drum set for their child because of the noise factor. It might not be the quietest of instruments, but children love this instrument they can play with all of their limbs.

Recorder

Recommended for children in elementary school

Playing the recorder requires breathing techniques and coordination. The recorder is easier than other wind instruments and is the ideal introductory instrument.

Violin

Recommended for children in elementary and middle school

The violin can be challenging. If your child is disciplined to push through the difficulties of mastering the violin, they can play anything they put their mind too! Benefits include tone, pitch, coordination and perseverance.

Guitar

Recommended for middle and high school students

Learning to play the guitar is easy! Kids also gravitate towards the cool factor that the guitar brings. This fundamental instrument teaches children the basics of music.

Flute

Recommended for middle and high school students

The flute requires patience! Kids should know that it takes hard work to make sure their hands and arms should be in a lifted position for extended periods of time. This is a great instrument to play to crossover into playing the clarinet.

Trumpet

Recommended for middle and high school students

The trumpet is truly the ideal beginning brass instrument. Like the flute, students need to have the strength to hold their instrument in position for a long period of time.

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Are group piano lessons effective?

Music educators and piano teachers have enumerated the many advantages of group piano teaching including the valuable learning atmosphere it fosters. Studies have also found that group instruction is effective in developing both performance and musicianship skills.

Music educators and piano teachers have enumerated the many advantages of group piano teaching including the valuable learning atmosphere it fosters. Studies have also found that group instruction is effective in developing both performance and musicianship skills.

1. Develops confidence in playing for others.

Weekly performance opportunities

2. Aids students in developing rhythmic security.

Playing together and rhythmic games

3. Develops concentration by maintaining ones own part while hearing others play.

Ensemble playing

4. Allows students to broaden their musical experiences.

Improvisation, arranging, composition, ensemble playing

5. Exposes students to a variety of music.

Both piano music and other genres

6. Provides a friendly and encouraging atmosphere

Students learn and experience teamwork

7. Allows the teacher to present music fundamentals in a shorter time and more effectively than if she were making the presentation to individual students.

Magnet board, reading and theory games

8. Fosters an atmosphere that is conducive to the effective teaching of skillssuch as listening, pitch matching (ear training), singing, rhythm, movement, and music appreciation.

Activities that are fun to experience with others

9. Facilitates the performance of ensembles leading to the study of voicing and orchestration.

Experiencing the joy of making music together

10. Establishes a sense of group spirit and group dynamics that increases motivation.

Positive peer pressure

11. Fosters the development of communication skills.

Speaking and playing in front of others

12. Allows students to learn from peers as well as from teacher.

Relating to students of similar age and level

13. Provides a setting where drills and exercises can be more interesting and motivating.

Challenges students to keep improving and try harder

14. Increases attention span, allowing the lesson time to be longer than private lessons.

Varied activities and learning experiences (multi-sensory learning)

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