What musical instrument can you play? What musical instrument is the easiest to learn to play? Which stringed musical instrument is suitable for a child?

Many musical instruments require many years training and practice in order to master the skill of playing them. But if you are looking for quick results, then our list will help you. These are the most “painless”, most easy to use tools you can imagine. However, don't think that everything is that simple. The beauty of any instrument is that each of them has its place and role, and even the simplest of them become an integral part of any composition. Once you master your instrument, the world will open before you. the whole world new opportunities. Even the simplest rhythm instrument, such as a tambourine, makes music shine with completely different colors if it is “placed” in the right place.

Widely used in blues, folk, country, jazz, rock and pop music. However, you don't have to be Bob Dylan to enjoy the sounds of the harmonica at home. You can learn to play a few tunes in just a couple of weeks, and that's great.

Since its invention by Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann in 1821, the instrument has grown in popularity. And after the advent of the Hohner chromatic harmonica, the repertoire that could be performed on such instruments expanded significantly. The first recordings of the harmonica were made in the United States in the early 1920s, although this instrument was recorded on film in silent films as early as 1894.

After World War II, when the soldiers returned home, there was a rise in the black ghettos, which was naturally reflected in the music. Young Southern musicians (Little Walter, Junior Wells, Snooki Pryor) now played harmonica through a microphone and amplifier. The “Mississippi saxophone” (as the harmonica was called in American slang) could now solo to the accompaniment of an orchestra. In the 50s, rock and roll exploded the patriarchal silence of the then music scene. And the harmonica found itself at the forefront of the youth rebellion, which drew inspiration from the black American blues.

A pianica is actually a reed instrument shaped like a piano. There is no need to coordinate the movements of both hands - press the keys of one, blow into the mouthpiece, and that's the end of it.

The instrument was invented by the German company Hohner in the late 50s. Already from the beginning of the 60s, piano became popular all over the world. The piano was first used as a serious musical instrument by Phil Moore Jr. on the album Right On, recorded at Atlantic Records in 1968. She is also often associated with Jamaican dub and reggae artists of the 1970s. Henry Slaughter played the piano solo on the song I'll Remember You, recorded by Elvis Presley, which was included on the Spinout album.

The kazoo may take one of the first places in the ranking of tools for the laziest, but without losing an ounce of charm. The instrument fits into your pocket and is very easy to use - you just need to sing or blow into it, playing some notes. If you are a lucky owner of an ear for music, then consider yourself lucky - you already know how to play the kazoo.

The use of kazoos is widespread among skiffle music performers - an Anglo-American style (guitars, melodica and washboard as a rhythm instrument), but we are all well aware of how bravely recent years the instruments travel between styles, so even if you don't intend to play skiffle, you will find a use for the kazoo.

In Russia, a tool similar to the kazoo has been known for a long time - it is a comb with tissue paper placed on the teeth. It was used to special effect by Evgeny Vakhtangov in the music for the play “Princess Turandot” - at the right moment the violinists put down their violins and played a waltz on combs.

Let's face it - none musical style It wouldn't be complete without a good old tambourine. Only a seriously concerned fanatic would undertake the search a performer who has never used this instrument. And everyone can play it. If you have problems with a sense of rhythm, another simple invention will help with them - a metronome. And after a few lessons, you can easily accompany your friends at rehearsals, pretending to be a full-fledged musician (just kidding).

The use of the tambourine and its varieties are mentioned in accounts of life in ancient colonies in Greece, China, Rome and India, as well as several times in the Bible. Later he reached medieval Europe, where it was used in operas, ballets and games. And then, in the 19th century, the tambourine became popular in America, where street bands played banjos and fiddles, and it was used as the main percussion instrument.

8. AUTOHARP

The autoharp does not look like a harp at all, but rather resembles a zither (Russians, in turn, adamantly call it a gusli). The instrument has chord bars with dampers that, when pressed, dampen all strings that are not in the desired chord. To a person accustomed to playing, for example, the guitar, such mechanics may seem rather strange, but in reality everything is much easier.

There is some debate about the origin of the instrument. Around the same time, two Germans on opposite sides of the Atlantic were working on its creation without agreement: the German immigrant Charles Zimmerman came up with the design of a musical instrument in Philadelphia with a mechanism for muting certain strings while playing, and gave it a name; and Karl Gutter of Markneukirchen created a model which he called the Volkszither (folk zither), and it was this that was most similar to the modern autoharp.

Nowadays, the autoharp is used by many folk musicians, and PJ Harvey became its next popularizer, playing the instrument in some compositions from the album ‘White Chalk’ (and continuing to perform with it to this day).

Each musical instrument has its own advantages, which makes the choice much more difficult. music class for a child! How to choose the right one musical instrument and activities for the baby?

The baby happily sings along to songs from cartoons, bangs on the children's drum and plays the children's piano - activities that develop an ear for music give him real pleasure. And you decide that it's time to get serious about music.

How to choose the right musical instrument for your child?

Of course, perhaps the first principle in choosing should be the interests and talents of the child himself. But when choosing the first musical instrument for a child, you need to focus on the child’s age.

The variety of musical instruments is great, but to successfully master many of them, you will need qualities and skills that, due to age characteristics, preschoolers do not yet possess.

And, as music teachers assure, this is not a reason to give up classes! Just start with a musical instrument that is suitable for your baby’s age, and therefore the degree of development of fine motor skills, attention and memory. And gradually - with the development of the baby’s skills and abilities, as well as his musical knowledge— move towards making your child’s musical dream come true!

By age: what instrument should I learn to play?

Piano. This is a classic tool that many people choose - and rightly so. Learning to play the piano well develops an ear for music, fine motor skills and, most importantly, the child’s perseverance and ability to concentrate.

When to start studying? The ideal age to start learning to play the piano is 3-4 years.

Recorder. The advantages of this instrument include not only saving space at home and pleasant sound. One of the main advantages of the recorder is its ease of learning. Pretty soon your child will be able to boast of his first successes and proudly play his first melody for you, sounding quite professional.

When to start studying? The ideal age to start learning to play the recorder is 5-6 years.

Guitar. Almost everyone dreams of playing the guitar: after all, this instrument allows you to quickly become the life of the party and sing to live music. Guitars are for children - this is an important advantage when choosing an instrument for a child. However, experts do not recommend making the guitar the first instrument in children's music education: it is better to start with the piano, and return to the idea of ​​learning to play the guitar at primary school age.

When to start studying? The ideal age to start learning to play the guitar is 6-7 years old.

Accordion. This instrument sounds wonderful and will certainly delight the baby’s grandparents, and to start learning to play the accordion, the teacher does not require perfect pitch. The disadvantages of the tool are how much it weighs - and this is not an exaggeration!

When to start studying? The ideal age to start learning to play the accordion is 7 years old.

Violin. Learning to play the violin is a more labor-intensive process than all other instruments. Of course, the effort is worth it, because violinists were and remain worth their weight in gold, and the lessons themselves will give your child the opportunity to seriously develop memory and motor skills. By the way, about an ear for music - in order to start playing the violin, the child will have to demonstrate excellent abilities.

When to start studying? The ideal age to start learning to play the violin is 7-8 years.

Percussion instruments. Group percussion instruments perfectly develops a sense of rhythm and coordination of movements, because drummers are real magicians! Your child will be able to become a bright star in the school group, and regular music lessons will improve drum kit will stimulate his brain activity.

When to start studying? The ideal age to start learning to play the drums is 8-10 years old.

Wind instruments. Trumpet, saxophone, trombone and clarinet are very romantic options for starting to learn music. Here, however, not only a well-developed ear for music will be important, but also the degree of development of the baby’s articulation - lip motor skills, and sufficient lung capacity. That is why it is better not to rush into learning.

When to start studying? The ideal age to start learning to play the wind instruments is 11-12 years old.

Did you want to send your child to play the saxophone, but now you see that he is still too small for this instrument? Teachers recommend doing the following: do not delay the start music education, but be the first to master an age-appropriate instrument. For example, playing the piano will be an excellent “base” for further learning to play other musical instruments - the child will already be familiar with the concept of notes and melody. In addition, thanks to the classes, his ear for music, attention and memory will be sufficiently developed!

Your child is growing up and the question arises about enrolling him in a music school. Let’s not touch on such aspects as “whether the child wants it or not”, “should he send it to a music school or not” - that’s a different conversation. Let's say this issue has already been resolved and all that remains is to decide on the choice of a musical instrument for the child.


Music schools offer several training programs. The main basic one is seven years old. Instruments such as piano, violin, cello, flute, accordion, button accordion and others most often offer 7 years of training. For initial mastery of domra and balalaika, sometimes 5 years is enough. It should be noted that many music schools conducted such an experiment - they introduced 5-year training courses for all instruments. They differ in the quality of professionalism. If a child is studying for general development and does not plan to choose the profession of a musician, then a 5-year course is quite suitable for him. But when detecting bright musical abilities and a strong passion for playing music, of course, one should prefer a more in-depth 7-year program, after which the graduate receives a certificate giving him the right to enter a music school.

So, let's start reviewing musical instruments.

Domra and balalaika - strings folk instruments. Good for both boys and girls. After learning the domra and balalaika, it is much easier to master the guitar, which is so beloved and in demand.

Guitar. As they say, no comments. For many decades, the guitar has remained the most popular musical instrument among teenagers and young people. Not a single camping trip is complete without a guitar; the guitar often sounds in places where groups of teenagers gather; at student parties she is the queen. The ability to play the guitar always evokes admiration and genuine interest. It should be said that when learning to play this instrument, it is very advisable to take vocal lessons at the same time.

The button accordion and accordion are luxurious and sonorous folk instruments. They are large in size and weigh quite a bit. You should try this instrument on and understand whether it is really your instrument. If so, then most likely your child will get a lot of pleasure from practicing the button accordion or accordion. Suitable for both boys and girls. Develops hearing well. Personally, I know button accordion and accordion players who improvise perfectly and select by ear.

The flute is an elegant and delicate wind instrument, more suitable for girls.

The trumpet, trombone and other brass instruments are "boy's" instruments. One important nuance - if the boy is trained to play wind instrument, especially the copper group, then when he reaches conscription age there is a great chance of getting into a military music regiment, and this is not only prestigious, but much easier. During the service, your son will play “Slavyanka” and all sorts of ceremonial marches.

Violin, cello - these musical instruments belong to string-bow group symphony orchestra. Nothing develops an ear for music better than learning to play the violin or cello. Very difficult instruments. Parents who sent their child to these classes need to know that at the beginning of training they make absolutely heart-rending creaking sounds that not every parent can withstand. But the more the child’s skill develops, the sweeter the melodies will be. These are the instruments of the intelligentsia - very elegant and sophisticated.

Useful tips

Music is good for health. This statement has been repeatedly confirmed in practice by numerous studies. However playing music can bring no less benefits. And may your child not become a great musician (or a musician in general), but visits music school will bring him some benefit.

These are not general words. In fact, there is huge amount research that clearly proves the fact that any musical activity can benefit not only the human brain and spirit, but also the body.

Moreover, it doesn’t matter at all how old you are, how well you play this or that instrument, How long ago did you start practicing music?. The fact is that playing music improves the cognitive functions of the brain.

There are other benefits associated with honesty, reducing stress levels, as well as normalizing blood pressure, which ultimately can prevent the development of depression and dementia.

And if you are looking for a useful hobby that can positively affect your overall well-being, as well as improve your moral well-being, it makes sense for you to start taking, for example, piano lessons. So, we bring to your attention 10 reasons why you should take up music.

Music lessons are beneficial


As a result of one study carried out at the University of Kansas Medical Center, USA, scientists concluded that musicians perform better on cognitive tests than non-musicians.

Regularly playing any musical instrument is a great way to train your brain. And it doesn’t matter at all - whether you play your heart out on the drums, or lazily “blow” into the saxophone. At the same time, certain areas of the brain increase their activity.

Playing music improves coordination

It is an absolute fact that musicians usually demonstrate excellent coordination of movements. This is because playing musical instruments requires very high hand-eye coordination. Even athletes for whom hand-eye coordination is of paramount importance can benefit from this.

Making musical sounds improves your mood


Music affects mood - this is a well-known fact that is not worth mentioning, if not for the need to explain the mechanism of action. Research shows that not only the music itself, but also the process of playing music affects cortisol levels.

And if you play music at different speeds, you can regulate this process. Playing musical instruments creates an emotional outlet. By creating your own music, you regulate, if you wish, the level of your sadness, joy or tension through art.

Music improves reading as a learning skill

One of the important aspects of playing music that distinguishes a musician from a non-musician is, so to speak, ability to read and comprehend music. Constant reading and recognition of different notes also helps to improve the skills of reading and comprehending ordinary texts.

Playing music improves the respiratory system


Whether you play the trumpet, clarinet, flute, or any other wind instrument, one of the fundamental skills you must master is how to breathe properly.

Relatively speaking, all these instruments turn air vibrations into music, that a musician should create. This means that well-placed breathing should become, if you like, second nature to any musician.

Music improves listening skills

In order to learn how to skillfully extract from any instrument musical sounds, you need to be able to listen literally at the level of intuition. This skill, if developed at the proper level, allows you not only to hit the notes.


Some may say that this requires an ear for music, which is given by nature. In fact, this is not true. Musical ear can be developed. This, in turn, will teach you to listen to the sounds around you in the literal sense of the word. This skill is extremely important from the point of view of building social relationships.

The benefits of music

Playing music allows you to set goals, achieve them and develop

The process of learning to play any musical instrument can be quite tedious and even boring. However, once you overcome these necessary obstacles, you will instantly feel not only a certain pride, but also the strength to move on.

In this situation, a simple principle works - you get exactly as much as you invest. This fact should spur you on, no matter how tired you are. The more time and effort you put into improving your craft, the more obvious the results will be, which will be inspiring.

Playing music improves concentration


There are many aspects to music that should not be underestimated if you play an instrument. As a musician (even an amateur or a beginner), you must grasp the rhythm, timbre, light shades, and texture of a piece of music.

The only thing that can be more useful to a musician than the ability to concentrate on the sounds of your music, this is the ability to concentrate on all the sounds of, say, an entire orchestra or group.


1. Xylophone.
The xylophone is a great instrument for learning music and is certainly one of the simplest. The bars of a xylophone are similar to the arrangement of notes on a piano, and they are struck with special hammers to produce sound. Plastic xylophones are one of the most common toys for children.

2. Autoharp.
If you have knowledge of chords and are willing to learn, the autoharp is for you. The big plus is that all strings except those involved in the chord are muted, so you won't be out of tune while playing.


3. Comb.
This musical instrument is not only easy to learn to play, it is also easy to make. All you need is a comb and tissue paper. Wrap the comb in paper and off you go.


4. Kazoo.
A kazoo is a small metal or plastic cylinder that tapers to a point. A metal plug with a tissue paper membrane is inserted into the middle of the cylinder at the top. It is very easy to perform music on a kazoo - you just need to sing into it, and the paper membrane will change your voice beyond recognition.


5. Bongo.
Learning to play the bongo is very easy. A bongo is a combination of two drums that are connected together. To play it, it is held between the knees. The surface of the bongo is struck with the palms and fingertips.


6. Diamonds
Tambourines are small drums that are held in the hand. Some types of tambourines have metal bells attached to them, which begin to ring when the performer strikes the membrane of the tambourine, rubs it, or shakes the entire instrument. You can shake it, hit the surface of the tambourine with your fingers or knuckles, or use any other methods depending on what works best for you. This is a very simple musical instrument.


7. Drums
Although the drums seem very difficult, they are easy to learn to play if you have a sense of rhythm. You don't have to start with a full drum kit when you start learning. Just learn to play us bass drum or hi-hat. The most important thing in this case is the sense of rhythm.