Music has a magical way of captivating young minds, igniting creativity, and fostering numerous developmental skills in small children. Introducing them to musical instruments can be a great way to enhance their hand-eye coordination, social skills, fine motor skills, and so much more. In this guide, I’ll explore the best musical instruments for four-year-olds (or children around about this age).
Firstly, what are the general benefits of musical instruments for a child’s development?
- Enhanced Brain Development: Learning to play a specific instrument stimulates various parts of the brain, improving memory, problem-solving skills, and mathematical abilities.
- Improved Social Skills: Playing musical instruments in group settings, such as music lessons or school bands, helps young kids develop essential social skills like cooperation and teamwork.
- Better Fine Motor Skills: The physicality of playing an instrument strengthens fine motor skills, aiding in tasks like writing and drawing.
- Heightened Creativity: Exploring different musical concepts and experimenting with sounds encourages creativity and imagination in young minds.
- Sound Foundations: Introducing children to classical music through instruments like the piano or violin can lay the foundation for an appreciation of classical music later in life.
Which instruments are best for four-year-olds?
1. Percussion Instruments:
Percussion instruments offer a great introduction to music for young kids. Instruments like snare drums, bongos, and tambourines come in smaller sizes, making them perfect for little hands. These easy-to-play instruments introduce kids to different sounds also help improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Plus, the bright colours of some of these instruments add an extra element of fun and excitement to musical play.
But drumming and percussion instruments don’t have to cost the earth. Up-turning pots and pans and giving kids wood-spoon sticks makes a fantastic free drum kit (instead of buying an expensive kit they may soon tire of). There are lots of brilliant street drumming videos on YouTube where the drummers are using exactly that – upturned pots and pans and ‘junk’ – to make the most incredible beats and sounds. Put these videos on for your kids to sit in front of with their own pots-and-pans kit and they’re sure to be inspired! Also great for a rainy-day activity.
2. Ukuleles:
One of the absolute best instruments to get for a four-year-old is a ukulele. While my daughter only started having formal ukulele lessons at school at the age of six, she has enjoyed strumming away at a ukulele at home since she was much younger. A full-size guitar, either electric or acoustic, is really too big for a four-year-old to handle, and they can have fun learning many of the basic guitar-playing techniques – strumming, plucking and fingering – on a ukulele first. Learning to pluck the strings not only enhances their fine motor skills but also helps improve focus and concentration while they’re doing it. Honestly, it’s a great instrument. Ukuleles are also much cheaper than guitars, so it’s less of a concern if they get a bit bashed about!
3. Pianos – both toy and full-size!
I have videos of both my children merrily hammering away with both hands on my mum’s piano as toddlers having the time of their lives. Children can enjoy ‘key bashing’ on even a full-size piano from a very young age, and can almost immediately enjoy games such as playing quietly Vs playing loudly and playing quickly Vs playing slowly. While my friend who is a music teacher told me he wouldn’t recommend formal piano lessons until at least the age of seven (and even older in most cases – he says the ideal age is 9), four-year-olds can have a lot of fun and learn a surprising amount just from playing around and having fun.
As much as I hate to say it, toy pianos are one of the best musical toys you can get for a four-year-old. We have a small toy piano that plays lots of sound effects and several infuriating tunes on repeat (you know those toys that you want to hurl out of the window every time you hear it?) Our kids love it. Have done for years. They can change the tempo of the songs and believe me, nothing causes more hilarity in our household th
an the manically fast version of Jingle Bells it produces. In July. When I was whingeing to my very musical brother about the ‘infernal’ noise, he reassured me that those pre-set songs and rhythms actually teach kids a surprising amount about music. This was a revelation to me, but has at least slightly appeased me every time I have to listen to the damn thing on repeat. I’m still not entirely convinced… but it’s better than them watching the telly.
4. A note on full-sized instruments:
With the exception of the piano (which can be enjoyed at almost any age), if your child demonstrates exceptional musical talent and interest, full-sized instruments can be considered but only once they reach the appropriate age. Trying to get a four-year-old to get a decent sound out of a wind instrument or wrap their arms around a full-size guitar, is probably going to cause a lot of frustration and tears. While starting music education and lessons early can give them a significant head start and help with brain development, let younger kids have fun using smaller instruments they can manage well first. Of course, every child is different though, so there will always be exceptions. Many parents are desperate for their children to learn an instrument. However, if younger children are pushed into having instrument lessons they’re not enjoying, they are never going to learn well and keep up with that instrument. Start small and build up slowly. It will be obvious as they get older if they begin to show genuine interest and ability in playing a musical instrument.
5. Woodwind and brass: as children get older…
For older children (around six years old), woodwind and brass instruments like the flute, clarinet, or French horn can be a great option if the child is keen. These instruments are more difficult to play in the early stages of learning compared to something like the guitar or the piano. However, they offer the added benefit of developing breath control and lung capacity, which can be really helpful for children with conditions such as asthma. For more on the health benefits of wind instruments, check out this article at musicguard.co.uk:
Introducing your child to different instruments at the age of four (and even younger) can be a great way to nurture their musical interests and provide them with a well-rounded early childhood experience, not to mention a lot of fun. As your child grows older, whether it’s percussion instruments, string instruments, woodwinds, or brass, each has its unique benefits and can be a great addition to your child’s musical development. While they’re still young, however, maybe don’t opt for an electric guitar to start with! In fact there really is no need to introduce expensive, high-quality instruments into your home at this stage. A better way is to collect a range of easy-to-play percussion and string instruments to start with, and have a go at making your own as well. Check out this link for some fun ideas:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/5-instruments-kids-can-make
Making music is a brilliant activity for the whole family to have fun doing together. So get ready to embark on a musical journey with your young musician and watch them flourish with the joy of music!
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