The Practice Room
Notes on starting a child on an instrument without turning it into a chore.
Keeping a child interested past the first fortnight
Almost every instrument sold to a small child is played intensely for two weeks and then ignored. That is normal, and it is partly fixable.
Electronic music toys: getting past the demo button
Most electronic music toys have one setting that gets used and several that do not, and the difference is worth understanding.
Musical plush toys and the first six months
Before an instrument makes sense, sound-making toys do a different and useful job.
A first guitar for a small child: what to expect
A toddler guitar is a toy shaped like an instrument, and knowing that in advance prevents disappointment.
Starting a toddler on percussion without losing your mind
Percussion is where almost every child starts, because hitting something is the most direct way to make a sound.
Why a tuned xylophone is worth more than a noisy toy
Two instruments can look identical on a shelf and teach completely different things.