Have one of your kids recently been bitten by the music bug? The desire to play a musical instrument is felt by many youngsters, with parents wondering how best to nurture their child’s creative interests. If this is your situation, the time is now to do something about it. 

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Most moms and dads assume the next step is to buy their son or daughter a musical instrument, and they’d be right. However, it’s essential to get a sense of which type your child wants to play. What’s more, parents want to make sure the instrument they choose is appropriate for beginners.

The following are five musical instruments that are most suitable for young novices:

Guitar

One of the most iconic and popular musical instruments in existence, it’s no surprise so many kids show interest in learning how to play one. While the guitar is one of the most challenging instruments to master, an acoustic guitar is considered the ideal option for beginners. Start with an affordable practice model to see if your child’s interest endures the learning curve. Then, once it’s apparent your son or daughter will be playing guitar indefinitely, buy them an upgraded version meant for real playing.

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Keyboard

Pianos have been synonymous with musical prodigies going back to the days of Mozart. Unfortunately, even baby pianos are difficult to squeeze into most modern dwellings. For those with children who wish to play, the compromise is to buy them an electric keyboard. The same basic principles apply while taking up 1/100th of the space of a standard piano. What’s more, kids can use earbuds or headphones to practice quietly, giving everyone else’s ears a break when necessary.

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Drums

Does your musically-inclined child like to bang and thrash on cans, buckets, and other impromptu drums? Does your home also have a basement or garage where the sound has trouble traveling through the rest of the house? If so, consider buying your son or daughter a beginner’s drum kit. Since drum practice is one of the loudest and hardest to muffle in any meaningful way, it might be a good idea to designate specific times of day for practicing. Another suggestion is to install acoustic panels on the walls.

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Recorder

The recorder’s appeal for musical beginners is twofold: it’s a relatively simple instrument to learn and very affordable for parents to buy. It’s also a practical lead up to learning similar albeit more challenging woodwind instruments like the flute and clarinet. In fact, there’s a good chance your son or daughter will learn to play the recorder in school since it’s a popular option for most elementary school music teachers.

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DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

While gifting your child a digital audio workstation might seem bizarre and impractical, consider how your son or daughter is probably already good with computers and other hands-on technology. Furthermore, popular music these days tends to lean towards digitally-created compositions, meaning many kids will be able to produce the sounds and melodies they’re familiar with the most. Lastly, there are many kid-appropriate DAWs to choose from, several of which include an electronic keyboard.

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If you’re like most parents, you want to encourage your child’s interest in music and help them learn to play a musical instrument. However, parents need to provide guidance and assistance in selecting the instrument their offspring wish to learn how to play. That starts with sticking to one of the popular go-tos listed above.