Choosing Percussion Instruments

Fun With Percussion Instruments

You may know a musician and think that you don’t want your children to grow up to be just like them. Though they often get a bad rap, it is hard to live with one, let alone be married to one. You may think your child will be bad in school and a bad kid if they join a band, but that is not the case most times. No matter how you feel, you should know that music actually helps a child in school, and can make them smarter. They can’t play guitar at age three, but they can play with some simple percussion instruments.

If you give a child a guitar, clarinet, or a keyboard at age three, they aren’t going to make much music, and they may even break them. It’s neat to let them try though, but just keep an eye on what they are doing. When you want to give them something that they can master, you should get out some percussion instruments. You don’t want to give them a drum set, but you do want to give them something. Think about simple things that can produce sound and help with rhythm that are not going to be a disaster waiting to happen.

Most children can handle a play drum, but those are annoying in a way. There are other percussion instruments that make noise that may not be quite as bad. You can get them a triangle, but you should watch the sticks with youngsters. There are also maracas, rhythm sticks, and cymbals they can use. As they get older, you can introduce them to more advanced percussion instruments, or you can lead them in a different direction if that is what they are interested in.

You can turn fun with percussion instruments into a time for crafts if you wish. You can take two plastic cups, preferably the disposable type, tape, and some dried beans for something fun. You can make homemade maracas together. Simply put some beans in the bottom of one cup, but the other cup on top so they are lip to lip, and then tape them shut. If you want, you can have your child decorate their homemade percussion instruments. Just make sure you seal them tightly or they will break apart easily when your child plays with them. You can find some great ideas for other instruments that you can make at home both online and through many books you can find at your bookstore of choice.