Q: Any advice on picking an instrument for my daughter?
Skills
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The piano and string instruments (such as a violin and guitar) are great choices because they give children a solid foundation in reading music and music theory that will help with learning different instruments later. Many string instruments also come in smaller sizes, making them easier for young children to play. Larger brass and woodwind instruments can be considered when she’s a bit older and has the strength to handle them. Most importantly, involve your daughter in the decision and make sure she is excited about the instrument you choose. Forcing a child to play an instrument is unlikely to lead to a love of music.
Jennie Ito, Ph.D.
Child Development Expert
Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.
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