What are some of the easiest instruments for a child to learn first?

No doubt, a list of instruments came to your mind while you pondered your response to the question above. Certainly, for most of you, the piano ranks high on that list. Think of pianos as the upgraded version of xylophones, the only difference is that fingers replace the wooden mallets.

From this viewpoint, it is understandable why the piano is apt as the first instrument to expose/introduce your child to. The ease of playing the notes with a simple peck of the fingers, the ability to produce pleasing music within a short period of time and doing away with the need to carry instruments, need we say more?

Here at JoyWaltzAcademy, our time-tested Pianist Prodigy programme makes learning the piano a simple yet highly enjoyable process. The Pianist Prodigy programme consists of the Little Pianist Prodigy for kids aged 3-6 years old, and I am a Pianist Prodigy for kids aged 7-12. Read on to get a glimpse into how we nurture our Pianist Prodigies. 

1. Colour-coded keys

Identifying keys is the essential first step to learning the piano. To make it easier to identify the keys, we have paired the C-D-E-F-G-A-B piano keys with specific colours as illustrated in the image below. This method aids students in locating the keys based on spatial positioning. Furthermore, the songs featured in the LPP and IPP books utilise the same colour-coded scheme, aiding students in memorising the names of the keys.

2. Learning theory through hands-on activities

Our custom-made LPP and IPP books feature activities such as tracing, colouring, matching, etc., that bring music theory concepts to life. These simple hands-on activities are beneficial in familiarising students to  key concepts such as time signatures, key signatures, notation, clefs, chords as well as strengthening memory recall of said concepts. 

3. Mixed-methods teaching pedagogy

Besides the captivating lesson materials, teachers at our academy also employ a combination of strategies such as reading-aloud, singing, games, videos, story-telling etc, to maximise the efficacy of learning basic piano fundamentals within an immersive and fun-filled piano learning environment.

Conclusion

With our thoughtfully curated materials and teaching pedagogy, learning the piano will definitely be the easiest first instrument for your child to pick-up. Join us for a free trial to get a first-hand experience of our Pianist Prodigy Programme.

Najiha Safudin