Easiest instruments for children to learn
Introducing your child to an instrument can be the first step in a lifelong journey of musical discovery. In this section, we'll explore instruments that are easy to learn for young beginners, focusing on cost, ease of learning, popular beginner songs, inherent simplicity, and the certifications available in the UK.
How Hard Is It To Learn the Piano?
Considered one of the easiest instruments to learn, the piano could be the perfect choice for your child.
Cost:
A beginner's keyboard can range from £50 to £200, while an entry-level acoustic piano starts at around £500.
Ease of Self-Learning:
The intuitive layout of the piano, with keys for every note, simplifies the process of understanding musical concepts like scales and chords.
Beginner Songs to Learn:
- "Let It Be" by The Beatles
- "Clocks" by Coldplay
- "All of Me" by John Legend
What Makes It Easy:
The piano's clear differentiation between black and white keys offers a visual guide to understanding musical intervals. Additionally, the immediate sound feedback upon pressing a key reinforces learning.
Certifications:
The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) offers graded exams for piano players, starting from the Initial Grade to Grade 8. There's no minimum age requirement, and students can progress at their own pace. After Grade 8, students can pursue the Diploma levels, with the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) being the highest qualification.
Want to progress to certifications and music grades? Choose an experienced tutor, just like Priya did.
How Hard Is It To Learn the Guitar?
The guitar is the go-to instrument for children interested in the world of rock music and those who want to join a band and make friends.
Cost:
A beginner's acoustic guitar ranges from £50 to £150. Electric guitars, though slightly pricier, start at £100.
Ease of Self-Learning:
With countless online tutorials and beginner books, the basics of guitar playing can be picked up relatively quickly.
Beginner Songs to Learn:
- "Horse with No Name" by America
- "Wonderwall" by Oasis
- "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash
What Makes It Easy:
The guitar's versatility means that a few chords can unlock a vast array of songs. Its tactile nature allows learners to feel chord shapes and transitions physically.
Certifications:
The ABRSM and the Rockschool offer graded guitar exams. These start from Debut or Initial Grade and progress up to Grade 8. After achieving Grade 8, students can move onto Diploma qualifications, with the Fellowship Diploma (FDM) being the pinnacle. While there's no set age to start, younger students might opt for the smaller-sized guitars initially.
How Hard Is It To Learn the Drums?
Not everyone is lucky enough to have the space (and lack of neighbours) required for a drum kit, but if you do, it could be a great investment for your child.
Cost:
A beginner drum set can range from £200 to £500.
Ease of Self-Learning:
Children often have an innate sense of rhythm, and drums offer an immediate outlet for this. Youtube is full of great drum tutorials.
Beginner Songs to Learn:
- "We Will Rock You" by Queen
- "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
- "Back in Black" by AC/DC
What Makes It Easy:
Drums cater to children's natural inclination to tap and create beats. The visceral feedback from hitting different parts of the drum kit can be immensely satisfying.
Certifications:
Rockschool and Trinity College London offer drum kit exams, from Initial Grade to Grade 8. Post Grade 8, there are Diploma qualifications, culminating in the Fellowship level. There's no age barrier to start, but younger students might begin with smaller, junior drum kits.
How Hard Is It To Learn the Trumpet?
Trumpets are loud, but they sound fantastic when played well. So, how easy is it to learn the trumpet?
Cost:
Beginner trumpets usually fall between £100 and £300.
Ease of Self-Learning:
The basic fingering and scales on the trumpet are straightforward, although mastering the embouchure (mouth shape) can be a challenge.
Beginner Songs to Learn:
- "Love Me Do" by The Beatles
- "Feelin' Good" by Nina Simone
- "Summertime" by George Gershwin
What Makes It Easy:
The trumpet, with only three valves, offers a simplicity in fingering, allowing students to focus more on breath control and tone.
Certifications:
ABRSM and Trinity College London provide brass exams, including trumpet. Grades span from Initial to Grade 8. Beyond this, Diploma levels can be pursued, with the Fellowship level being the highest attainable. Age is no constraint, but younger students might start with cornets due to their compact size.
How Hard Is It To Learn the Violin?
Violins are hard to learn, right? Not necessarily the case!
Cost:
Prices for beginner violins range from £50 to £200.
Ease of Self-Learning:
Structured children's programs, like the Suzuki method, make the violin more approachable despite its challenges.
Beginner Songs to Learn:
- "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles
- "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay
- "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve
What Makes It Easy:
Child-friendly violins are smaller and lighter, catering to young learners. The tactile feedback of the bow on strings helps in understanding pressure and tone.
Certifications:
ABRSM and Trinity College London offer violin exams. These range from Initial Grade to Grade 8. After Grade 8, students can aim for Diplomas, with the Fellowship being the apex. No minimum age is set, but the availability of smaller-sized violins makes it accessible for young children.
How Hard Is It To Learn the Ukulele?
The ukulele is becoming increasingly popular, with it closing in on the recorder as the most learnt instrument in primary schools.
Cost:
Beginner's ukuleles range from £20 to £100.
Ease of Self-Learning:
The ukulele's compact size and limited number of strings make it one of the easiest stringed instruments for children.
Beginner Songs to Learn:
- "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
- "Riptide" by Vance Joy
- "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley
What Makes It Easy:
Widely known as one of the easiest instruments to learn, the ukulele's lightweight nature and simple chord structures allow for quick progression. The soft nylon strings are also gentler on young fingers.
Certifications:
Trinity College London offers ukulele exams, from Initial to Grade 5. After achieving these grades, students can explore more advanced repertoire and techniques independently. With no age restrictions and its inherent simplicity, the ukulele is a popular choice for young beginners.
How Hard Is It To Learn the Bass Guitar?
With two less strings than a guitar, is the bass any easier to learn?
Cost:
A beginner's bass guitar can range from £80 to £250.
Ease of Self-Learning:
With its focus on rhythm and groove, the bass guitar is unique. The four strings (compared to the six on a standard guitar) and the emphasis on single-note lines make initial steps in learning relatively straightforward.
Beginner Songs to Learn:
-"Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen
"Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz
"Money" by Pink Floyd
What Makes It Easy:
The bass guitar, with its rhythmic role, often centres around repeating patterns or "grooves", allowing beginners to focus on getting the feel of the music. Its role in laying the foundation of a song can be immensely satisfying. Furthermore, with fewer strings than a standard guitar and a focus on single-note playing rather than chords, the initial learning curve can be gentler.
Certifications:
Rockschool and Trinity College London offer graded exams for bass guitar, starting from Debut or Initial Grade and progressing to Grade 8. After Grade 8, students can delve into Diploma qualifications, with the Fellowship Diploma (FDM) standing as the pinnacle of achievement. As with other instruments, there's no specific age requirement to begin; however, younger students might find it easier to start with a short-scale bass due to its smaller size.
Learning an instrument is often more than copying an instructor from Youtube. Individual tuition allows you to ask questions, and get a thorough understanding of the theory - just like Kim.
Coolest musical instruments to learn
If you want to combine exploring your creative outlet with a cool instrument you can show off to your friends, you’ve come to the right place.
Below are a few of our favourite “cool” instruments!
Glockenspiel: The glockenspiel is a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned metal bars that are struck with mallets to produce musical notes. Resembling a small xylophone, its bright and clear tone distinguishes it, often evoking a sense of playfulness or delicacy in musical compositions. They’re one of the coolest instruments around at the moment, with Tiktok and Youtube currently full of glockenspiel covers, from video game themes, to chart hits. Check out this glockenspiel video if you want some inspiration - it looks so easy you can even do it whilst holding a baby!
