How to Teach Your Toddler to Play an Instrument
Creating and performing music inspires children's creativity and helps them build motor skills and coordination. While it is not realistic to expect a toddler to play incredibly difficult piano sonatas or rock a full-sized guitar, encouraging instrument play is an excellent way to build musical interest in your kids. If you want to get your toddler involved in the world of music, teach him an instrument.
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Instructions
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Purchase a child-sized version of the instrument you would like your toddler to learn. Guitars, drum kits and pianos are available in toddler sizes, though their musical quality will be far below the real thing.
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Play music with your toddler each day. Focus on having fun and making music together instead of encouraging your child to learn specific pieces.
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Teach your toddler simple songs on your instrument of choice. Start with songs he may know, such as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and work your way up from there. The idea is to focus on fun rather than progress. Playing music should be fun an inspiring instead of frustrating work.
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Praise your child when he successfully remembers a song and help him practice new songs. If you build a love of music into your toddler early on, it will be easier for him to progress to real instruments when he gets bigger.
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Sing songs that incorporate hand movements or dancing. Participating in songs like this improves your child's understanding of music theory and builds their motor skills.
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Teach your kid basic musical skills by having him mirror your actions while you play an adult-sized instrument. If you have a firm grasp on an instrument, you can teach your child simple scales and songs.
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Keep it simple. Percussion devices that involve banging or shaking are best suited to your toddler's current developmental stage. Try a tambourine, xylophone, or small drums to spark musical interest.
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Tips & Warnings
Toddlers do not yet possess the memory and motor skills to be truly adept at playing an instrument, but will quickly develop them if you make practicing and playing music a daily routine.
References
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