Pre-school instruments

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:32 pm

No, not anything percussive, it has to be civilized.

What can pre-school children get a tune out of? I have a 10-hole blues harmonica but I'm not convinced she'd be socially acceptable with that. I've a very small swannee whistle which I have high hopes for. I've a four-hole ocarina which I think's my best bet. has anyone any experience they can pass on before I make my mind up?

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:37 pm

spot;1068882 wrote: No, not anything percussive, it has to be civilized.

What can pre-school children get a tune out of? I have a 10-hole blues harmonica but I'm not convinced she'd be socially acceptable with that. I've a very small swannee whistle which I have high hopes for. I've a four-hole ocarina which I think's my best bet. has anyone any experience they can pass on before I make my mind up?

A recorder?

Triangle?

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:39 pm

Chezzie;1068886 wrote: A recorder?

Triangle?

Triangles sound a touch percussive to me.

I'll look for a short recorder. Each of her hands has a span of two inches. A hyper-piccolo?

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:49 pm

spot;1068887 wrote: Triangles sound a touch percussive to me.

I'll look for a short recorder. Each of her hands has a span of two inches. A hyper-piccolo?

ELC UK Toy Shop - Children's musical instruments - Early Learning Centre

Recorders for 3-6 yrs

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:55 pm

Well done Chez, that's a good page. A full collection of all those would drive a parent to drink.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:56 pm

Do they have any musical preference? Do you want them to learn to read music eventually? (if they want a particular instrument, let them try it)

Small keyboard. Nothing starts a musician off better than being able to read piano music, everything else is easy after that.

Recorder. (if they have no preference, a fun instrument at any age)

Violin. (perfect age to start)

Probably not any real woodwind until 7-10, but the recorder is a nice start.

Tan · Post by **Tan** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:57 pm

You can buy a recorder at dollar stores now in a small size. Thats a pretty basic, and accepted instrument.

Good luck!

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:07 pm

Thank you Tan, I'll take her into a few shops and try her on them for size.

Thank you Chonsi, yes she'll undoubtedly learn staff notation once she's learnt to read but arguably reading words might come first - I don't say that with any conviction, mind. She definitely has musical preferences, anything between Stravinsky and Shostakovich makes her wet herself in excitement, but she hasn't the words yet to nominate an instrument.

The violin's on her list but as yet she has no chin.

The only instrument she's made progress with so far is the piano, she's self-expressive on that.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:12 pm

spot;1068882 wrote: No, not anything percussive, it has to be civilized.

What can pre-school children get a tune out of? I have a 10-hole blues harmonica but I'm not convinced she'd be socially acceptable with that. I've a very small swannee whistle which I have high hopes for. I've a four-hole ocarina which I think's my best bet. has anyone any experience they can pass on before I make my mind up?

Surely, the most important question here is.......... what would SHE like to learn to play??

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:13 pm

oscar;1068917 wrote: Surely, the most important question here is.......... what would SHE like to learn to play??

Although thinking back...... I remember the look when i announced to dad that i wanted to play a saxaphone.:wah:

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:14 pm

Did you get to learn the saxophone, oscar?

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:15 pm

oscar;1068917 wrote: Surely, the most important question here is.......... what would SHE like to learn to play??

When her vocabulary increases beyond "Dog!", "Bird!", "Give!" and "Put Me Down!" I'll ask her.

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:20 pm

My 9 year old starts Violin lessons at school tomorrow, she is so excited....Im not a lover of the violin however:-3

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:25 pm

chonsigirl;1068924 wrote: Did you get to learn the saxophone, oscar?

No, i got a bloody recorder instead. But later in life i did go on to learn the bass guitar. Not as good as my hero 'Jean Jaques Burnel' of the Stranglers' of course but i can do a pretty mean intro to 'No More Heroe's. :yh_rotfl

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:43 pm

spot;1068882 wrote: No, not anything percussive, it has to be civilized.

What can pre-school children get a tune out of? I have a 10-hole blues harmonica but I'm not convinced she'd be socially acceptable with that. I've a very small swannee whistle which I have high hopes for. I've a four-hole ocarina which I think's my best bet. has anyone any experience they can pass on before I make my mind up?

Don't knock the harmonica Spot. I have played for 70 years and own 11 of them. I play classical, pop, jazz & blues. Started at age 4 driving everyone crazy as I struggled to play "Home On The Range", which took me a full 6 months to master. I then found the second tune "Red River Valley" much easier. From that point on I found that I could learn most simple songs just by ear and more difficult ones with practice. Forget the 10 hole blues harmonica and just get the standard harmonica for the child. The harmonica is very portable and have given me many hours of enjoyment and hopefully to others as well.

I suggest the smaller harmonica for beginners. The larger is one that I play.

Attached files

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:02 pm

Tambourine, castanets, bongo drum we always fun making noise with them. :guitarist

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:02 pm

I'm coming to the view that you've got the right answer there Lon.

Do they make mutes for harmonicas?

Carla, I so want to avoid hitting-things! They'll be fine once she's grown!

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:07 pm

I understand but they love the castanets they are just clanking things. :wah:

I have harmonica that I have had since I was a kid as well. I'm not as good as LON but love the sound of a harmonica.

[QUOTE]Carla, I so want to avoid hitting-things! They'll be fine once she's grown![/QUOTE]

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:07 pm

CARLA;1068975 wrote: I have harmonica that I have had since I was a kid as well. I'm not as good as LON but love the sound of a harmonica. ;)I bet you sit around campfires eating beans as well.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:08 pm

Well, maybe a pair of ear plugs for you and a drum set for the musician................:wah:

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:13 pm

chonsigirl;1068978 wrote: Well, maybe a pair of ear plugs for you and a drum set for the musician................:wah:

That was about the campfire beans??

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:25 pm

What's wrong with a penny whistle? Far easier than a recorder and, if you get one in G, her fingers might even reach.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:27 pm

Bryn Mawr;1068991 wrote: What's wrong with a penny whistle? Far easier than a recorder and, if you get one in G, her fingers might even reach.

Do thry still make them Bryn?

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:29 pm

Bryn Mawr;1068991 wrote: What's wrong with a penny whistle? Far easier than a recorder and, if you get one in G, her fingers might even reach.

The pendant ocarina's end-blown over a fipple too, you know, and all the holes are within an inch of each other.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:32 pm

You bet that's where I learned to play the Harmonica around the campfire as a "

Girl Scout", and we were camping fools as kids. My parents took us to every parks in California. :-6

[QUOTE]Quote:

Originally Posted by CARLA

I have harmonica that I have had since I was a kid as well. I'm not as good as LON but love the sound of a harmonica.

Spot Posted: I bet you sit around campfires eating beans as well.[/QUOTE]

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:48 pm

oscar;1068994 wrote: Do thry still make them Bryn?

I have several - just wish I could play them better

ETA :-

http://www.hmtrad.com/catalog/winds/whistles.html

I prefer the Shaw's to the Clark's but the Sweettone are probably easier to play.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:53 pm

Can she play the spoons Spot? Very Inexpensive

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:58 pm

oscar;1069013 wrote: Can she play the spoons Spot? Very Inexpensive

I've only ever seen one chap who could do that adequately, he used to sit in on session evenings at the local pubs. Quite an unremarkable chap until he started playing them. He occasionally appeared on TV when a program wanted to demonstrate how odd the world could be.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:59 pm

spot;1069015 wrote: I've only ever seen one chap who could do that adequately, he used to sit in on session evenings at the local pubs. Quite an unremarkable chap until he started playing them. He occasionally appeared on TV when a program wanted to demonstrate how odd the world could be.

To be of any use, may i ask the age of the little one?

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:02 pm

oscar;1069016 wrote: To be of any use, may i ask the age of the little one?

Fourteen months, I think. And a couple of weeks.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:03 pm

spot;1069015 wrote: I've only ever seen one chap who could do that adequately, he used to sit in on session evenings at the local pubs. Quite an unremarkable chap until he started playing them. He occasionally appeared on TV when a program wanted to demonstrate how odd the world could be.

Was that Len the Bonesman? I've seen him a couple of times round the festivals and he's awesome.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:04 pm

spot;1069020 wrote: Fourteen months, I think. And a couple of weeks.

Perfect for banging things. Seriously, Drums, tambourine's etc are great for eye and hand co-ordination.

Post by **spot** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:10 pm

Bryn Mawr;1069021 wrote: Was that Len the Bonesman? I've seen him a couple of times round the festivals and he's awesome.That's him, I enjoyed seeing him play. It's disconcerting in a pub session to have someone like that suddenly take the lead for a verse or two, you sort of wonder afterwards whether you dreamed it.

oscar;1069022 wrote: Perfect for banging things. Seriously, Drums, tambourine's etc are great for eye and hand co-ordination.Her mother would never speak to me again, honestly.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:18 pm

spot;1069029 wrote:

Her mother would never speak to me again, honestly.

Nor did my brother and his wife, oh, and his in-laws as well, when i gave their 3 yr old a fine set of drums. he loved them though. :-6

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:19 pm

spot;1069029 wrote: That's him, I enjoyed seeing him play. It's disconcerting in a pub session to have someone like that suddenly take the lead for a verse or two, you sort of wonder afterwards whether you dreamed it.

Her mother would never speak to me again, honestly.

Do you have a piano in the house? Kids in our family, even very young have enjoyed a good plonk. One went on to have proffessional tuition and is rather good.

Post by **spot** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:22 pm

If I knew how to whistle I'd do exactly that. I can blow and I can suck but all that happens is I end up dribbling.

911 · Post by **911** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:09 am

Maybe to get her used to different notes to begin with, one of those wind instrument things with the steel thingy you pull at the end to make different notes. Ya know what I mean? They make all the funny noises in the cartoons.

I had one as a kid, it was fun but I could only play it outside :-5

Post by **spot** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:38 am

911;1070280 wrote: Maybe to get her used to different notes to begin with, one of those wind instrument things with the steel thingy you pull at the end to make different notes. Ya know what I mean? They make all the funny noises in the cartoons.

I had one as a kid, it was fun but I could only play it outside :-5

That's the "very small swannee whistle which I have high hopes for", it's the right length for her and it's impossible to miss a note in passing, even if only briefly. I'm glad you enjoyed yours.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:31 am

Spot. I want to know if the wee one has had sufficient lessons to play alongside Paul Jones in the Blues Band, now she can get both hands around a harmonica.

Does she get your feet tapping ?

Post by **spot** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:21 pm

The concept of melody so far escapes her. She manages to keep time if I drum a rhythm. She's inept at sucking and she's better with the Swannee whistle than either the Ocarina or the Harmonica but she can keep in step with all three. She's accepted Bob Dylan as her personal saviour.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:26 pm

We have a couple of these at home, brought back from my time in Zimbabwe. They're easy to play and good fun

Attached files

Post by **spot** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:39 pm

How do you plug that into the mains?

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:43 pm

spot;1166323 wrote: How do you plug that into the mains?

Hasnt your ipod dock an auxiliary socket