How To Decide Which Instrument Is Best For Your Child

By Madeleine Bridgeman


There are many reasons why it is a good idea to sign your child up for music lessons. For one thing, it's a great way for them to truly express themselves creatively and develop a lifelong love of music. Learning an instrument also improves discipline and has been shown to improve the function of our brain, not to mention that those who study music tend to score better on tests and have higher grades. If you are ready to sign up your child for music lessons, here are a few helpful tips.

The big first step is to select the right instrument for your child. Sometimes it is the personality of this person that dictates what instrument is best. If your child loves the idea of showing off their musical skills or enjoys being in the center of all the action, then an instrument such as flute or trumpet might be a good idea. The flute players generally sit in the front of the band or orchestra so they are always in plain view, which might intimidate a particularly shy child. A trumpet or saxophone player might sit behind others, but they have many opportunities to shine as a soloist or in a jazz band.

Age and size also are a factor, as smaller hands and tinier bodies place a limit on which instruments are best. After all, imagine a five-year-old attempting to handle a tuba or a bassoon. When the age ranges from 3 to about 8 years, stringed instruments often are a great option because there is a range of sizes available that other instruments simply don't have. You can choose from a violin, viola, cello or perhaps a guitar or ukulele. The piano also is always a good idea, as students learn a lot about music playing the piano which can help them play other instruments in the future. Not only will your child learn about scales and chords, they will learn how to read the treble and bass clefs, which can make learning a new instrument much easier.

While most kids know a little bit about common instruments, such as the piano or the violin, they probably don't know a lot about other instruments such as the piccolo, the French horn, the trombone and the many different options when it comes to the percussion section. Provide your child with some examples of what each instrument looks like and sounds like, so they can find an instrument that sparks their interest. You also can select something modern, such as a guitar or keyboards or something a bit more old fashioned such as the harp or the accordion.

If your child wants to learn about an instrument that is less typical at their elementary or middle school, consider opting for private lessons. This might mean taking bass guitar lessons or learning how to play the drums as if you were part of a rock band. You can find a good music teacher for just about any instrument you can imagine or even take vocal lessons if that is where your child's interest lies.

If you are searching for music classes in Dana Point, music lessons in Laguna Niguel or music lessons in San Clemente, there are many options available. For example, Los Rios Rock School offers lessons for children and teens of all ages for virtually any instrument. Students can learn how to play any type of guitar as well as drums, piano, violin, cello, clarinet and even take voice or songwriting lessons. In addition, student bands are formed and the children actually perform concerts at popular local venues.




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