Are you worried about losing control when working with musical instruments for kids?
It’s actually much easier than you might think. I hope these 6 tips will help answer the question, “What are some of the best ways to introduce different instruments to pre-schoolers?”
In this post I’m limiting my discussion to the everyday musical instruments that are designed for kids. You can see a selection of these percussion instruments in the main image.
Tip # 1. The environment is a teacher
We don’t have to teach children how to handle preschool instruments. If we provide the right ones, i.e. if the instruments have been made for small hands, are durable, sound beautiful or intriguing, and are safe, then the children can explore them and work out what to do to make a sound they like.
Low shelf inside a daycare centre
Here is an image from a childcare centre in Woodville, South Australia. In amongst the changeable display in the middle, there are two pairs of finger cymbals and two guiros, and over there in the dark is a pair of claves, and that’s a pair of shaker eggs behind. So, one way to give children easy access to your musical environment is to leave instruments lying around on low shelves.
If the children are used to having musical instruments around them, they become naturally accustomed to handling them. Once their initial curiosity is satisfied, they begin to play them as part of their musical expression, and noise is not usually a problem.
Musical Instruments for Kids Work-Station
You can also set up a musical instrument station. If you introduced the chime bars that week, you might leave a whole set of them on a low shelf so children could just go and collect only the particular instrument that you were focused on. Different children will be fascinated by different styles of instruments, some by melody instruments and others by rhythm instruments. Make observations and note their preferences.
Tip #2. Start with a short exploration and improvisation activity
In this image, you’ll see in this community centre I’ve hired, there’s a little ‘rollie suitcase’ that I’ve carried around instruments in, and that’s my set of playtime instruments. If you’re a travelling musician like I was, at the beginning of your session you can have a case full of instruments that children can access while you wait for everybody to assemble.
I have music playing so that they can play along with it or simply explore an instrument, put it back and then someone else will take it. You can also see that I always had barefoot children in the classroom if they were happy to take their shoes off. Bare feet are much better for really experiencing movement. The little girl is playing with my sets of chime bars that she’s discovered in the suitcase.
The Rhythm Jam Session
The Rhythm Jam session is where you have a whole heap of different musical instruments for kids to explore. Children and adults play along to some music that you have selected, usually African music such as from Mali, or South American music such as from Cuba, where the rhythms are so exceptional. One particular rhythm will cause the hips or the shoulders to move. These are ancient rhythms that have been designed and evolved during ceremonies. So, it’s best to go for those older traditions of highly rhythmic music.
You can find the same appeal in Middle Eastern Music where the rhythms are so delicate and intertwined. The beats fall in unexpected ways and actually hit home in the early part of the brain, the cerebellum, and that makes you want to move. So those are the great musical traditions to play when you are working with this first rhythm jam session. Don’t be afraid to explore the music of other cultures, especially those of your families.
A Mixed Box of Musical Instruments for Kids
I’ve got a mixed box of other things that I would have just available on the floor. So, when the children come in, and the music’s playing and everybody’s getting ready to start the session, they can choose one of these, maybe to wear some velcro bells onto the wrist or ankle, great for strapping onto babies.
This is one of a set of handbells. I advise that you don’t put it out for the two-year-olds because they’re very strong at two, and they will pull that beautiful ringer out.
Here’s a very nice mini-fish guiro. And these beautiful animal-shaped castanets, lovely little whale with googly eyes. There’s the koala version. Who makes these? Bambina brand, a different style of castanet. And this is, this is a lovely thing — a tulip tone block. I think that’s a satisfying sound.
Tip #3 For the main activity, limit your instruments to a few that the children get to know well
I want to describe eight instruments that I recommend for use in preschool music-making.
These are the everyday instruments designed for children that they explore and use both during formal music time and playtime. I think are really a good starting set for any classroom. This is my set just as they come to my hand. You can see them in the main image.
- Pair of Castanets
They are very nice because you can use two hands and that’s always an important thing for children — to be developing this pincer movement with the thumb and a forefinger.
- Sleigh Bells on D-handle
I like this style of sleigh bell set because it has very big bells. Each one of them is beautiful. It’s very sturdily made—these last for years and years. This one has a plastic D-shape for the bells and a wooden handle. There’s an even better one with a leather D, but it’s probably at least twice the price.
- Guiro/Agogo
The guiro I chose is fantastic because it is also an agogo. It’s terrific for making tick-tock-y sorts of sounds, and it’s also great fun for them to explore. The guiro part of it makes me think of two different-sized frogs talking to each other, or two kinds of frog living in the same environment.
- Pair of Claves
To make a clear sound on the claves, you’ve got to hit them on their nodal points and make a sound chamber with your palm. In Latin music, one of these is male, and the higher-sounding one is female. So, it brings the universe together.
- Pair of Shaker Eggs
Shaker eggs are a staple item for an early childhood classroom. They have a very attractive shape, and once again, they are small enough to handle skilfully. If you have a pair, you can be developing both hands at once.
- Remo Lollipop Drum
This is the beautiful and expensive lollipop drum from Remo—Drum Makers. It was designed with an early childhood educator called Lynn Kleiner, and this one has a very beautiful ringing sound. It is visually so attractive with its multicoloured beater and lollipop shape, but you don’t have to spend so much money on a hand drum like that. I just wanted to show you what people who are bringing in parents and children to their classes might have to go for—these more attractive drums, it’s kind of a standard instrument for music studios these days.
- Set of Angel Chime Bars
And the last of my eight instruments that I insist on using in my own classes is the set of chime bars. It’s a diatonic octave. Each chime bar is removable. This is excellent for taking out a pentatonic scale which means not having in it the number four (F) and number seven tone, (B). You get a C Major Pentatonic (or A Minor Pentatonic) scale Once more, we get two beaters. it’s a very nice feeling for the child to have such an attractive carry case when they go and get their chime bars.
- Pair of Finger Cymbals with Wooden Knobs
One more. Hiding inside my storage box were the beautiful finger cymbals with knobs on them. That is so much easier for children to play than cymbals connected by a piece of string that you you will see in children’s collections, but it’s very hard to get it to work. I think the knobs are much friendlier.
Okay, so that’s the eight, and what they’re called and how to play them. Obviously, you would take your time and get to know those instruments and become great at modeling subtleties. Meanwhile, the children, of course, will just be able to play them in a rudimentary way immediately. That’s the point of those instruments. They are real, musical percussion instruments that are friendly for kids.
Tip #4. What are “some of the best ways to introduce different instruments to pre-schoolers?” The Multi Rhythm-instrument Song
My favourite kind of activity is the multi rhythm-instrument song. That’s where you get a series of those instruments and you play them according to what’s happening in the song.
So, if it’s The Bear Went Over the Mountain “to see what he could see” and he was seeing a river, you might want to use the bells. If the bear went over the mountain to see what he could see, and he could see the trees, you might want to use the claves or clap sticks. It’s “multi” because you sing the song several times, each time playing a different instrument. I’ve put a list of eight of my favourite songs at the end of this post.
Tip #5 The Same Musical Instrument for Each Kid
Anyway, that’s quite enough of show and tell from me. I’m sure you’ve got your own instruments. I’m hoping to get the juices flowing, so you realise that you can do a lot of things with instruments, but when you’re talking about instruments for the children, make sure they’re sturdy and plenty of them all the same.
So, one final thing I want to show you is, when I take them into a setting, I take them in in boxes of enough for the children in the room. because it gives us, a working environment for child-friendly and a music-rich environment. So, I’ve got the instruments in easily accessible boxes,
There’s a lovely old set of claves that have been well worn in, and that sits on the floor. I don’t hand them out except during pandemic lock-down times when we have to clean everything super-carefully. But usually, the boxes go on the floor and the children will come to the basket and they will manage their own comfort about how many people are gathered around the basket.
Of course, there will be individual children who have particular needs who may not follow my idea that everybody will behave beautifully, but be aware that you should have somebody who’s there for such children so that they can enjoy the whole experience and not disrupt the others. Win-win.
Tip #6 Eight of My Favourite Musical Instruments Songs for Kids
- Come and See My Farm
This song is from Sing and Play 1
It’s also cheaply available as an Online Mini-Course with Multimedia Downloads to walk you though all the steps in successful instrument activities. You can find it here: https://learn.musicalchild.com.au/course-1-musical-instruments-songs
2. The Bear Went Over the Mountain
This song is from Sing and Play 1
3. Aiken Drum
This song is from Sing and Play 2
4. I Had a Rooster
This song is from Sing and Play 2
Also watch it on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHhjF7DZ3MU&t=2s
5. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
This song is from Sing and Play 3
6. Cows in the Kitchen
This song is from Sing and Play 3
7. Fish and Chips and Vinegar
This song is from Sing and Play 4
8. The Twelve Days of Christmas
This song is from Sing and Play 4
