Gifts to Encourage A Child's Love of Music
Do you have a child who exhibits a natural love of music?
Does your child sing, whistle, and hum (constantly!)? Do they drum on any and everything? Does listening to music bring them great joy and happiness?
If you have a musical kid you oftentimes just KNOW it, right?
For these children it is important to nurture their love and curiosity with quality instruments and other musical opportunities.
I've written about how to get started with music appreciation - now let's talk about how to nurture a love of music with instruments and other musical gifts.
Simple Instruments
Starting with very simple rhythm (unpitched) instruments when children are young is the best way to encourage children to respond to music.
As children grow (and fine motor skills increase) there are other pitched instruments that offer success and enjoyment.
Rhythm (Unpitched) Instruments
A simple set of rhythm instruments can provide so much enjoyment for children.
It is important to give our children QUALITY instruments - not cheap instruments that will break after the least bit of use. We want our children to experience the best sounds from rhythm instruments.
Allow your children to play along with music, create their own rhythms, and engage in general exploration.
Below are some favorites for kids - remember: quality is important.
Boxiki kids Musical Instrument Set 16 PCS | Rhythm & Music Education Toys for Kids | Clave Sticks, Shakers, Tambourine, Wrist Bells & Maracas for Kids | Natural Toys with Carrying CaseKids Musical Instruments Toys for Toddlers Set – Fun, Educational Kids Toys with Glockenspiel, Tambourine, Maracas, Triangle, Frog Guiro, 4 Dance Scarves + Wooden Crate & Color-Coded Sheet MusicCooyeah 1 Pair 8 Inch Rhythm Sticks Classical Solid Wood Claves Musical Instrument and 1 Pair Wooden Egg Maracas & Shakers Hand Percussion Toys for Kidslittle wood frog rasp around 4Handmade Wooden Musical Instruments Set,Natural Pigskin,Kids Percussion Bongo Drum,Tambourine 8 inch,Castanets,Egg Shaker,Tone Block and Guiro,Jingles Tap,Excellent Gift for Teaching RhythmRemo RH-5010-00 Rhythm Club Floor Tom Drum - Rhythm Kids, 10Childcraft Instrument Rhythm Set, 15 PlayersPick A Toy Bamboo Rainstick Rain Shaker Sensory Toy Musical Instrument for Kids and Adults, Lightweight and Easy to Use Music Game, Rainbow Colored Rain Maker – with Gift BoxMeinl African Claves, Select Hardwood in Red Finish - NOT MADE IN CHINA - Hollowed Out Resonating Body and Solid Wood Striker, 2-YEAR WARRANTY (CL3RW)African Alo Bell with Stick - Iron Cow Bell - Large and Low
Pitched Instruments
As our children get older, they can learn to play simple instruments - the feeling of success a child gets when the play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on a xylophone for the first time is amazing!
Here are a few of my personal favorites for kids. These are all instruments that can be self-taught. Find a book or YouTube video to help your child learn. If they continue to show interest, perhaps then it is time to find a teacher!
Eastar ERS-31BM Recorder Instrument for Kids Adults Beginners Soprano Recorder Baroque Maple Wood C Key 3 Piece Recorder With Hard Case, Joint Grease,Fingering Chart And Cleaning KitIrish Penny Whistle-Key of D/Misc. SupplyMr.Power Foldable Glockenspiel Xylophone Vibraphone Percussion Instrument 30NOTESGlockenspiel 25 Note - Chromatic Metal Xylophone - Sheet Music CardsXylophone 25 Note Chromatic Glockenspiel in Case - Card Set with 23 SongsEastar Xylophone for Kids Toddler Musical Instruments Wooden Xylophone Musical Toy with 3 Two-Sided Music Cards and Mallets Great Baby Gift, Cartoon DesignKalimba 17 Keys Thumb Piano, Easy to Learn Portable Musical Instrument Gifts for Kids Adult Beginners with Tuning Hammer and Study Instruction. Known as Mbira, Wood Finger PianoMusic Maker Lap Harp, Zither plus Book for BeginnersJSL Harmonica, Standard Diatonic Key of C 10 Holes 20 Tones Blues Mouth Organ Harp For Kids, Beginners, Professional, Students (Blues)Ukulele Soprano Beginner Mahogany 21 Inch Vintage Hawaiian Ukelele With Uke Starter Pack Kit ( Gig Bag Tuner Strap String Instruction Booklet )Yamaha FS800 Solid Top Small Body Acoustic Guitar - Natural Bundle with Gig Bag, Tuner, Strings, Strap, Picks, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, and Polishing ClothSteel Tongue Drum Steel Drums Flatsons Handpan Standard C Key 8 Notes 5.5 Inch Percussion Instrument with Drum Mallets Carry Bag Great Gift for Beginner Adult Kid Black
Encourage a General Love of Music
I was inspired to write this post because many of my SQUILT LIVE! parents have been writing to me inquiring about instruments they can purchase for their children.
We've had lessons about the Kalimba. I've played the xylophone in class for the students. During our month of African music we talked so much about rhythm instruments.
The best gift you can give your children is exposure to beautiful music.
Of course I think enrolling them in SQUILT LIVE! is optimal, but even if you simply choose our monthly listening calendar this is enough to start exposing them to the best music possible.
You might also like our list of books for music appreciation - strew these around your home to nurture even more musical interest in your children.
Our young children are sponges, so expose them to as much music as possible - and we at SQUILT Music Appreciation will happily come alongside you!