Which instrument is right for my child?

Flute, guitar or drums?

Which musical instruments are suitable for children?

Recorder:The recorder is considered a beginner instrument, but it can also easily grow with the child. As an instrument for children it is particularly appealing because of its comparatively low purchase cost and the ease of learning musical notation.

Guitar:Children's small hands first need to get used to the strings, so it's better to practise in shorter, more frequent sessions at the beginning. With the first chords, children can soon play and sing along to lovely songs.

Piano:Piano music is especially attractive because of its versatility: classical, pop, rock, jazz… There is sheet music for anything the child likes. If you don't want to buy an expensive piano right away, you can also start by practising on a keyboard.

Drums:Ideal for children who enjoy rhythm. Even if many parents may not fancy the drumming, children can really let off steam here — and even shy children come out of their shells.

String instruments:Violin or cello — string instruments require feeling and patience. Especially at the beginning you rarely hit the right note. But if your child perseveres, beautiful music will soon ring through your home.

Wind instruments:For wind players like trumpet, saxophone or clarinet your child first needs to train the strength of their lips. Once that's developed, playing these instruments is a lot of fun for little ones, too.

The most important question: Which instrument does my child like?

Many parents are convinced that their children should play a musical instrument and may even have a very specific idea of which instrument might be right. This may be because they once played it themselves, because they love a particular music style and would like to hear it at home, or because certain instruments are associated with a certain prestige.

However, the rule for every instrument is: your child must like it, otherwise practising won't be fun and the instrument will quickly end up in a corner. Check the music schools in your area: many offer trial courses for children. Here your child tries out different instruments for about half a year and can decide at the end which they enjoy most.

Support your child with any instrument, even if it means you have to listen to drum beats instead of piano notes, or classical music fills the home instead of beloved rock. Equally important: if it turns out your child doesn't enjoy playing an instrument, that's okay too. They are just as well off in a sports club or doing crafts.

Practice, practice, practice – tips for motivation

Welches Instrument für mein Kind | kleines Mädchen sitzt am Klavier und experimentiert lächelnd mit Musiknoten

Progress is not only pleasing for parents; your children will also enjoy their instrument more if they notice they are improving. The saying "practice makes perfect" doesn't come from nowhere. For younger children 15–30 minutes of daily practice is recommended; teenagers can already manage an hour. Even if practising is fun — there will always be days when your child doesn't feel like playing. If the lack of interest persists, it's best to discuss with your child whether it's the instrument and whether a change of hobby might be appropriate. Otherwise our tips for motivation can help:

Set times:

Set a time in your child's daily routine when they can practise. This makes the 30–60 minutes part of everyday life and you won't have to argue about when it's time to practise.

Practice together:

Maybe you play the same instrument as your child, in which case it's fun to play or learn together. But if your child prefers to practise alone, you should accept that too.

Praise:

Praise usually motivates children. At the end of a well-played piece or for the daily practice you can praise your child. Offering a reward for practising usually doesn't achieve the desired effect, because then your child practises not for musical progress but for the reward. Practice should be intrinsic, that is, motivated from within them.

Motivating teacher:

Of course the teacher should be skilled with the instrument. Equally important is that they can instil a love of music in your child and build a good relationship with them. A teacher who is too strict and has ambitions that are too high will probably have the opposite effect on motivation.

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