When Pots and Pans Won't Do: Real Musical
Instruments
By Janie Franz
August 2003
Making the transition from pretending to be a musician to learning a
real instrument is an important one in a child's life. Providing good
quality instruments, usually scaled-down versions of those professionals
use, is the key to making the musical experience a fun and rewarding one.
Hohner Marine Band harmonica
Bluesband
Harmonicas
Already kid-sized, harmonicas are a great first instrument. The classic
Hohner Marine Band harmonica (ToyDirectory)($24.95) has been around for over a hundred years. Rich-toned
and durable, it is available in 41 different keys (major and minor), making
it a very versatile instrument. The Hohner Old Standby
($9.50), a modest version of the Marine Band, comes in seven major-scale
keys. Bluesband, also by Horner, comes in "C"
and "A" keys only, but runs only $4.95. For a bit more, the
Hohner Blues Harp ($26.95) offers twelve different blues keys.
HAG250
Guitars
Child-sized versions of guitars should be scaled down enough so the child
can reach around the soundbox and pick the strings. The guitar neck should
also be slimmer than grown-up versions so that small fingers can make
chords easily.
Hohner's 1/2-size HAG250 ($50) is a nylon string folk
guitar, and the student-size HW03 ($109) is a steel string
acoustic guitar with a spruce body and a mahogany neck. Hohner also has
an electric guitar package, HEG 250P ($239), which includes
the guitar, battery-powered amp, carrying case and accessories.
Backpacker
Other guitar makers also produce student-sized guitars. The Yamaha
JR1 Package ($199) has a 3/4-size steel string acoustic guitar
and padded carrying bag. Johnson’s JG-610 Series offers
two sizes: the JG-610-3/4 ($89), a 3/4-size acoustic
guitar and the JG-610-1/2 ($89), a 1/2-size model. The
Lucinda Student Model ($69) is a nylon string classical
guitar which comes in 3/4 and 1/2 sizes. Martin also
makes a small travel guitar, the Backpacker ($274), that
comes in either a steel-string or a nylon-string version to fit smaller
hands.
Heartbreaker
Girls now have their own heart-shaped electric or acoustic guitar. Daisy
Rock guitars are 1/2-size with a very slim neck and run about
$200. They come in powder blue, yellow and pink. The Heartbreaker
electric guitar comes in red, purple and black.
Drums
Remo Kids Djembe
Remo Kids Konga
Remo Kids Bongo
World instruments produce a variety of tones across a drumhead, making
them more interesting than many percussion instruments. Remo Kids
Djembe ($81) is a small version of this standard African drum.
It stands only 14 inches tall with an 8-inch diameter drumhead. The Remo
Kids Konga ($59) is 15 inches high with a 6.5-inch head. Both
drums come with adjustable shoulder straps. And, of course, Remo
Kids Bongos ($50) are just the right size for small hands (6.5
inches high, with 5-inch and 6-inch heads).
For the child who dreams of being the next John Bonham, several small,
inexpensive drum sets are available. The Sunlight 3-piece Junior
Drum Set ($224) comes with a 10-inch cymbal. CODA Drums
offers the Generation Alpha 5-piece Drumkit ($399) for
the student drummer.
RT Series Rhythm Traveler
To save Mom and Dad's ears during practice sessions, Pearl has introduced
the new RT Series Rhythm Traveler ($659). This 5-piece
drumkit comes with two complete sets of drumheads: one for performance
and one for silent practice. Pearl's new Muffle Heads respond
like a regular drumhead but produce hardly any sound. Pearl's Silent
Cymbal Pads complete the kit, making it the perfect drumset for
home practice, even in an apartment.
Writer's Bio: The mother of two grown children (an artist
and a musician), writer Janie Franz once was a radio announcer and did
booking for a rock band.
