We checked in with the local blues band (and legends) The Blues Broers to help you pick the perfect instrument that will suit your child’s needs.
Guitar
Basson Laubscher, guitarist for The Blues Broers, says children under 11 can start with the smaller kiddie guitars you’ll find in music stores and then after that a standard-sized guitar will be just fine.
‘I started playing when I was 12, but if your child shows interest earlier, I’d say anything from 10 years old is a good age to start taking lessons,’ he says. He also believes that one can’t appreciate a great-quality guitar if you played one from the word go. ‘Start on an entry-level guitar and as the child’s passion grows, the quality of his instrument can improve too. First establish whether your child has the skills and dedication before investing a lot of money.’
When your child wants to play the electric guitar he will need an amplifier and effect pedals to get the most out of the instrument. ‘I am a Fender fan, so I recommend the Fender Champ to start with, but there are lots of other ones for beginners. Make sure you get one with an overdrive channel and built-in effects, then you won’t need so spend additional money on effect pedals.’ Also make sure the amplifier is not too heavy, as then your child will be able to carry it himself. A Roland Cube is an affordable option for beginners.
Basson says effect pedals that are user-friendly and easy to assemble are best for beginners. Get a pedal with multiple effects that your child can play around on to find out what he likes and to experiment with different sounds.
Many amps come with headphones and the sound can also be adjusted on the amp itself. This will help keep the neighbours (and the rest of the family) happy and sane!
Keyboard
Simon Orange is the keyboard player for The Blues Broers. He says children can start playing piano from very early on. (He was seven years old when he started.) He advises that a child can start on a digital piano, which is more affordable if you don’t have a traditional one, as long as it has good weighted action. ‘Make sure the instrument has good mechanics and sound, otherwise it will frustrate a talented beginner.’ He also stresses that a good teacher can make a very big difference in your child’s musical interest, so do your research!
PRO TIP: To keep the sound down you can get headphones for a digital piano or place a strip of felt between the hammers and the strings.
Drums
Jorik Pienaar is the drummer for The Blues Broers. ‘A toy drum sets is a good place to begin developing interest, and as your child grows older a jazz drum set with smaller dimensions can work very well for someone with a talent and passion for drums.
‘It‘s easy to learn how to play the drums if you have coordination and talent. But if your child is really interested, he will be curious to know more and that will lead to passion and creativity.’
To keep the neighbours off your back, buy drum pads to absorb the sound or invest in an electric drum set that has headphones.
PRO TIP: Cymbals are extremely expensive, so start off by buying these second-hand.
Jorik shared this video and says a child can start on a home-made drum set and cultivate a lot more appreciation for the instrument this way. ‘You don’t need real drums to learn how to play – all you need are two sticks and a cushion!’
Harmonica
Harmonica and bass player Rob Nagel shares his wisdom on buying the best harmonica for beginners.
‘Children can start as soon as they can recognise it as a musical instrument. If they progress beyond the two-minute “noise-making” phase and actually start attempting to play songs, pay attention.’
Rob says a cheap toy harmonica is perfectly adequate to determine whether your child is likely to become serious about it.
‘The better (read more expensive) the instrument is, the easier and nicer it is to play. The great thing about the harmonica is that if you decide to upgrade your child’s instrument, you can buy the best instrument in the world for a few hundred rand. Your child’s talent and enthusiasm will quickly dictate when to upgrade.’
Did you know that harmonicas also need amplifiers? But luckily this is only needed when your child joins a band. Rob says the harmonica should be learnt without an amp. ‘When it’s time for an amp, a small five-watt valve amp with a “vintage” microphone is appropriate.’
Join Good Housekeeping and The Blues Broers at the Backsberg Sunday Picnic Concerts this weekend
The Blues Broers have been around for 25 years, entertaining blues enthusiasts across South Africa and loving it all the way.
See them performing live at the Backsberg Sunday Picnic Concerts at Backsberg Estate Cellars on Sunday 5 March 2017 at 3pm. Good Housekeeping is the media partner of these fun-filled family outings, so be sure to come and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of music, good food and wine, and more.
Get your tickets here
Featured image: iStock/PeopleImages
Also read:
- Where to start if your child wants to play an alternative instrument
- Join us at the Backsberg Sunday Picnic Concerts
The post How to pick the perfect instrument for your child appeared first on Good Housekeeping.
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