Children's Instruments Beginnings

Let’s start by looking at the way that music teaching has developed. The big name in thomann this field is that of Carl Orff (1895-1982, of ‘Carmina Burana’ fame), whose ‘Music For Children’ (in German ‘Schulwerk’, or ‘school work’) became an international standard for early years music teaching. Its simple instrumentation and use of dance and singing makes it an ideal way for children to thomann experience music making for the first time. Carl thomann Orff Other key figures in the development of music education include the philosopher and teacher Johann Amos Comenius (1592-1670), Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852), and Emile Jaques-Dalcroze (1865-1950), who developed the concept of ‘eurythmics’ - the teaching of thomann music through movement. Orff’s first instruments Like the earlier pioneers, thomann Orff believed that learning music and dance was fundamental to a child’s all-round development. thomann His work reflected the idea that, by expressing ourselves through music, we develop skills in all other areas of expression as well, including the spoken and written word, and mathematics. A xylophone of the type adopted by Orff The first challenge, however, was the choice of instrument. Orff recognised that very young children enjoy hitting things, thomann and based his method mainly on the xylophone. With the addition of maracas, castanets, drums, wood blocks, triangles and all kinds of other percussion instruments, as well as recorders and flutes, Orff was able to develop a way for very young children to discover the joys of playing thomann music together and working with rhythm and melody. His ideas still form the basis of early music teaching within the National Curriculum.

Online Guide Young Children's Instruments Percussion Instruments thomann

So let’s look in detail at the instruments that Orff used, thomann and the benefits they bring as learning aids: Xylophone A single octave xylophone The word ‘xylophone’ (from the thomann Greek for ‘wooden voice’) is used to describe a wide variety of instrument designs, all of which employ the same essential principle, in which a row of wooden keys or plates rests on a sound box. The size of each key determines the note it thomann makes when struck. Variations in tone can be achieved by using different types of wood to make the keys and soundbox. There are soprano, alto, tenor and bass models, and they can be configured in all kinds of tunings. Diatonic versions are ‘preset’ to play major and minor scales, and there are chromatic thomann xylophones offering every note in the chromatic scale. The standard tuning is C major, but many C xylophones also come with additional keys tuned to F# and Bb, so that the keys of F-major/D-minor and G-major/E-minor can also be used. Children usually start by using one stick to play the thomann xylophone, but two or even four can be used. Metallophone A Metallophone with optional keys Simply, these are xylophones, but the keys are made of metal. This allows the notes to resonate for longer, if required, as opposed to the cheerful staccato thomann of the xylophone. The thickness of the metal keys gives most metallophones a rich, mellow tone. They are offered in the same versatile key thomann and scale configurations as xylophones. Glockenspiel Similar to metallophones, glockenspiels thomann are built with keys made of thicker metal. They tend to have more chiming, bell-like tones than metallophones - soprano and alto models are available. thomann A Glockenspiel One great advantage of all these melodic percussion instruments is that the names of notes can be clearly marked on each individual key. They provide a quick and thomann simple introduction to musical notation, and to the relationships between the notes. Chromatic thomann models usually have the keys arranged in two rows - larger models may have the keys in two full chromatic scales, one tuned half a tone higher than the other. Pentatonic instruments A pentatonic xylophone and metallophone Very young children may start by learning to play pentatonic xylophones or metallophones, usually employing the note sequence C-D-F-G-A. This makes it easy for them to make harmonious music - thomann there are no wrong notes to hit. The names of the notes are engraved on the keys, and the compact form means that players can rest the instrument on their laps - ideal for sitting round in groups thomann to hammer out a tune together. Chime bars and wooden keys Chime bars and wooden keys Each bar is tuned to a single note, with thomann a sounding box to help with sustain and tone. They can be arranged into instant instruments, using only the keys thomann required for a particular piece, or each child can be assigned a single note, so that the whole ensemble forms an instrument. Great for group work and learning about notation.

Hand drums Drums make excellent first instruments because you need no more than hands to play them. There exists a seemingly infinite variety of drums in all shapes and sizes, with tones and resonances that vary according to the materials used to build them. thomann Natural skins give richer, warmer tones, but plastic skins are much less susceptible to the effects thomann of temperature. Children can learn to play with their fists, palms, fingertips and other parts of the hand, to discover all kinds of variations in the sound they can make. Tambourine One of the most ancient of instruments - the Egyptians are believed to have used them - this is a simple ring, or half ring, of wood or metal, which holds pairs of metal disks. thomann Some versions also have a skin stretched over one side. Tambourines can be shaken or struck, and provide a great range of rhythmic possibilities, because the jingles allow a form of polyrhythmic playing. Tom-toms Here we use the term tom-tom to describe any type of drum that can stand on a table or desktop, and be struck with a stick or the hand. There are many thomann different designs, but the essential requirement is durability. The classroom and the nursery are demanding environments, and finesse is the not the first thing you associate with budding percussionists! Frame drums A simple framework with a skin on one side makes a great first drum. By using several different sizes, including large bass drums, groups working thomann together can turn themselves into a living drum kit.

Online Guide Young Children's Instruments First Steps thomann

Even Ringo started somewhere... How young is too young? In practice, you’re never too young to embark on your thomann musical journey. Nursing infants gurgle happily to themselves and bash their rattles with gusto, while nursery rhymes introduce toddlers to the principles of melody and rhythm. If you want your child to develop a love of music, then fill their world with it - play music thomann throughout the day, sing and clap along with them, and share the fun of music with them. There is even some research that suggests it is beneficial to play music to babies in the womb - the same music appears to provide comfort after they are born. As thomann far as a more formal musical education is concerned, children will inevitably develop at their own individual pace. An introduction through the Orff approach with melodic percussion, dance and singing provides a strong foundation for future learning, but a very general rule of thumb suggests that children of thomann between five and eight years old are ready for more formal teaching. As to whether they are ready to learn a specific instrument, this is a judgement that must be based on each individual’s capabilities. Forcing children to learn instruments before they are ready can put them off thomann learning altogether if they find it too demanding, or simply don’t like the instrument chosen for them.

Online Guide Young Children's Instruments Growing & Learning thomann

If you’re satisfied that your child is ready to learn thomann an instrument, which instrument should they learn? Popular beginners’ instruments include the violin, the piano, the flute, and the guitar. If you can, let them try out several instruments and choose for themselves - and be prepared for a change of mind. Many schools offer loan schemes that thomann can save you substantial costs. If the instrument proves not to be a hit, you can hand it back and try another one. Use your common sense and best judgement, and refer to our separate thomann Online Guide on this subject.