Instead of buying expensive mind-numbing electronic games and equipment why not get your children musical instruments to play? Your kids will learn how to create music which can help them master more complex skills and difficult concepts throughout their lives.
Studies show that children who learn to play a musical instrument are actually better at grasping mathematical concepts, are encouraged to look for harmony and rhythm within their surroundings while providing a unique musical talent to pursue or just have fun with. I have found three musical instrument must-haves which every family trying to encourage young musicians will want to supply for their children, as I did for all of my kids.
These particular items encourage solo as well as group-shared musical activities, most without the worry of mouthpiece sharing or cleaning, do not need electrical charging, yet provide endless hours of artistic creativity and spontaneity at home and on the road. The two musical instruments and one band set I’ve recommended below will cost no more than $150.00, for the entire band of your kids as well as their friends.
Rhythm/Percussion Sets
The best valued musical instrument marching-band set can sometimes be hard to find. In my early childhood music and movement classes in college, several of my classmates had shared their children’s drum sets, purchased at Target for about $15.00, usually found tucked away on a bottom shelf amidst an overwhelming toy department.
These were not just ordinary drum sets as they contained an entire marching band all packaged inside a large, clear durable plastic drum with neck strap and drumsticks for parade marching. Also included were a kazoo, a tambourine, pairs of maracas to shake and finger-clicking castanets for Latin-flavored musica, with a twist-apart (then back-together) woodwind recorder.
However this item has changed through the years and the closest I can find is the seven-piece Toysmith Mini Drum Set available online from Amazon for $24.98 with two-day delivery and free shipping. I have also seen smaller versions of this same set at children’s specialty stores and once at a Big Lots store, so keep your eyes open for a great deal.
Calypso Steel Drum
Once only available from specialty music supply storehouses, the Woodstock Percussion Calypso Steel Drum is a smaller version of large steel drums, yet offer the same tangy-sweet bell sounds of the Caribbean. The different notes are actually pounded into the drums concave face and are labeled for ease of learning and playing. Target.com now carries this steel drum online for $99.99 which is much more melodious to the ears than either the drum band set above or the clanging of kitchen pan lids.
Portable Keyboard
A hard plastic keyboard is all your child needs to learn piano. We bought our battery operated electronic keyboard from CVS pharmacy for $9.99! You can write the notes directly onto the white keys with black permanent marker, to make note-recognition and playing easier for your children. These travel easily from room to room or go on long car trips. If they get dropped you can easily replace them for under $10.00, a small price to bring out your child’s inner-protégé.
Protégé or not, your children will be able to make their own music together band-style or go solo. Using these instruments you will be able to determine if your kids should go on to music lessons or just allow them to explore life from a fun musical perspective, for about half the price of electronic games and equipment.
