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My two-year-old loves playing my guitars... and her mom's drums... and any keyboard or piano she can get her hands on... and harmonicas... and really she just loves music. I want to nurture this interest, but I'm not sure how early is reasonable to properly set her on this track, or what toddler-sized instruments might be most rewarding for her. Anyone have any experience or recommendations?

The loog is a common recommendation but even that is too big for a two year old to play like a guitar!

Small keyboard synths will be good, I have a microkorg for example and the tiny keys will be easier for a child to play than proper weighted piano keys.

Pocket operators? They look like lots of fun and are small. Possibly small toddler swallowable parts though?

korg kaossilator, noise synths?


Disclaimer: I have no actual experience with toddlers playing music I'm just guessing based on things I've seen and tried and think would be good for little ones.

I wouldn't worry about it. Everything is too big. Just keep em jazzed on music.

Loog is probably good from the age of 4.

Just get em bashing on pots and pans, shakers, kazoos. Toy guitars where they've got like 7 buttons and a speaker and you press a button and they play a tune. Just keep em rocking out.

^listen to this guy

I made some fretless two string guitars for the kindergarden I work at:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhXaQV5hwIE ... 1fy25ktlr5

We use mics into pedals, ukuleles, drums, toy guitars, toy drum pads, a toy drum kit, and they play my guitar when I lay it down on the floor for them. Kids are 5, 3, and 1, and run into my music room as much as they can.

Sweet. Thanks, guys. She definitely has a number of toy instruments. I was just wondering what/when might make sense to graduate to real (but tiny) gear. You always hear about these kids who have been playing drums since they were three, or whatever, but it's not clear to me what exactly they're calling "drums" at that age.

iPad is great. You can also setup Guided Acces which keeps the specific app open and doesn’t allow the user to switch to something else (frustrating for kiddos).

My kiddo is pretty into the Moog synth apps. Arpeggiators are fun.

Both my kids like making noise but I've never gotten them lessons. The older one never seemed like she wouldn't be receptive and the younger is 2 years old.
I think the hardcore suzuki people say you want to start at 3 or 4 if you want them to be prodigies. That seems pretty brutal, though.
You might be able to teach them to make some chords on a ukulele, though. There was a kid at camp with my daughter this year who was writing his own songs on ukulele at about 5.

Yeah, at that age I'd stick to toy synths, shakers, kazoo, anything that makes noise. There's nice options for free ipad apps for kid/toddler friendly synths/samplers/loopers.

As far as guitars go, the mini loog is supposed to be good for 3 years old. Don't have any experience with 'em, but I'm considering an acoustic loog Pro for my daugher.

bennroe wrote:You always hear about these kids who have been playing drums since they were three, or whatever, but it's not clear to me what exactly they're calling "drums" at that age.

Fuck em.
Keep em jazzed. Learning will come.

^ That.

For each prodigee kid that slowly started becoming a virtuoso at the age of 4, there's a zillion other examples of normal boys and gals that absolutely slay, and picked up their gtr/bas/drums/whtver at 16 or even later

Dunno about the rest of you, but to me 'playing good' usually doesn't mean the same thing as what it means to the Satriani/SRV crowd
The sort of stuff I've always been into, doesn't require daily practice sessions and music theory at the age of 6
So yeah, just keep 'em jazzed.

I agree re playing good vs enjoying music. But daily practice and music theory from the age of 6 doesn't ruin your ability to make fun noises in any way.

I'm not advocating forcing kids to do classical practice and hothousing them into virtuosity, but lessons are cool if they like the teacher and instrument.

The key thing is not forcing it on an unwilling child.

Yeah, totally. I'm not trying to embark on some vain quest to mould her into the perfect tiny musician. I just want to engage her interests. I'm obviously excited we have something in common, but my ego's healthy enough that I don't feel much compulsion to live vicariously through a toddler. I'm just looking for low-pressure interest-nurturing solutions. I'll definitely check out some iPad options! She sometimes uses Keezy (with guided access), but I hadn't thought much about app-based synths.

Yeah, wasn't trying to criticise you it sounds like you have a good attitude on it! Apps are a great idea there are some very cool synths on iPad