Asking Current Daycare Teachers on Choosing Instruments for Kids

2020-06-27

In nursery schools and kindergartens, there are many opportunities for children to be exposed to music through daily activities and recitals. Some teachers are often asked, “What kind of instruments are good to use with children?” and teachers are often puzzled by this question. In this issue, I have compiled a list of musical instruments in collaboration with daycare teachers that can be used in the classroom.

Q1 “What kind of instruments do you use?” “Do you use different instruments for different ages?”

Daycares (for children from 0 to 6 years old) and kindergartens (for children from 3 to 6 years old, mainly for educational activities) use slightly different instruments. Of course, some daycares have ensembles for classes of 3-year-olds and up.

■Instruments that Anyone can Play

■Guiros List

Claves and triangles can also be played, depending on the situation.

■Instruments for ages 3 and up

■Xylophones List

■Glockenspiels List

■Keyboard harmonicas List

■Handbells Product List

Large drums, small drums, cymbals, and more.

■Teachers use these instruments as effects for rhythmic and dramatic performances

Ocean Drums　Wave Sound

■Ocean Drums Product List

Wind Chimes　The sound of twinkling stars and magic

■Wind Chimes Product List

Thunder Machine　As the name suggests, this is an instrument that makes thunder.

etc.

Q2 What are the key factors in selecting an instrument?

Durability and price. Since they are played like toys, they are routinely used in a number of unexpected ways and broken.。
I prefer wood for the sound of the instrument and the warmth of the material...lol.
When it comes to group activities, it can be difficult in a classroom because of the need to take care of wood wisps and splits, or letting kids play with hand-finished, high-end instruments.

Then there is the point of whether the product is from a musical instrument manufacturer. Of course, there are good products from toy makers, but I try to buy products from instrument makers who have thought about how they sound and how easy they are to play.

Q3 What kind of instruments do you recommend?

I would like to introduce three instruments from our teacher's recommendations.

■Shakers List

〈Here's the key point〉

☆ Maracas with handles may not make a sound when shaken by young toddlers.
☆ Easy to store
☆ Unique shapes are easy for children to pick up.

Resin castanets SUZUKI SC200

〈Here's the key point!〉

☆ No need to manage rubber rings and wood splintering
☆ Light and easy to hold

Ocean drum ZENN DOC100, DOC200, etc.

〈Here’s a tip〉

☆ You can make them by hand, but if you want to reproduce the sound, ready-made ones are better.
☆ They are very useful for singing, play time, and plays.

Song: “The Sea is Wide and Big” King of the Southern Island Hamehameha
Play time: Move and dance as sea creatures, introduction to water play.
Play: Taro Urashima, etc.

In Closing

I asked an active nursery school teacher how to choose musical instruments for kids.

Sound House offers a wide variety of instruments useful in childcare and education.
From June 2020, PLAYTECH brand has added many instruments such as handbells and small percussion to its lineup.

Teachers who do not have time to shop can have them delivered to their kindergartens and daycare centers by mail order.

（2018-07-10 release 2020-06-27 update）