Are you thinking about purchasing your child their first musical instrument? Over the last 20 years, we've supplied thousands of instruments to new players. We pride ourselves in providing instruments that are conducive for learning. Entry level instruments should not be an obstacle in the learning process. Unfortunately, many are. Here are a few key things to consider when purchasing your child's first musical instrument:
1. Player's Age and Size
I'll never forget the small 8-year-old boy starting lessons with a huge dreadnaught guitar. His parents bought it from a big box music store where the salesman told them "He'll grow into it." When we told them the guitar was too big, they didn't believe us. The instructor walked out of the lesson with the guitar saying it was way too big for him. They didn't believe him either. After seeing their son struggle with the guitar for the next couple weeks, they returned it and bought an appropriately sized guitar.
Orchestra string instruments come in different sizes for smaller players. One should rent these instruments until the student is in a full-size instrument. Rental programs often have a credit towards purchasing a new instrument.
2. Which Instrument
Your 5-year-old may be begging you for a guitar, but it is one of those instruments that will likely cause more frustration than reward for a 5-year-old. Guitar requires a lot of dexterity, memorization, and a bit of pain as calluses are developed on their fingertips during the first 2 weeks.
Piano would be much easier at that age and provide a much better musical foundation. It's push-button and causes no pain. The keyboard layout follows a repeating pattern, so the notes are easily identifiable. The piano student learns to read music, both treble and bass clefs, including rhythm, melody, and harmony. Simply put, the piano student learns much more about music than other instruments right from the start without having to learn the idiosyncrasies of the instrument. We've seen a much larger success rate of young musicians who start on piano then switch to guitar, or any other instrument, than those that have never taken piano before.
Teens and adults should be able to start on any instrument that inspires them to practice. This is the key to any successful musical journey, regular practice. Picking up the instrument every day to develop technique and explore new musical ideas will lead to proficiency over time. So, pick out an instrument that really inspires you to pick up every day, one that you really want to master.
3. Budget
Learning to play an instrument is difficult enough. Make sure the instrument itself is not making the learning process more difficult. Please do not find the cheapest instrument when learning to play. You want to make sure the instrument will hold up to regular practice for at least 2 years.
We have noticed a race to the bottom by manufacturers in price and in quality across all instruments. You can find an electric guitar with amplifier, case, guitar strap, tuner, and picks, all for $100. We call these "Guitar Shaped Objects," NOT musical instruments. You can also find $200 flutes, clarinets, and trumpets online. These are not conducive for learning and will fight the student all the way while trying to develop their skills.
Cheap guitars may not stay in tune well, may not be setup properly with the correct string height off the fretboard, may have a large bow or back bow in the neck, may have a twisted neck, or may have a fret higher than the rest causing buzzing or dead spots.
Cheap band and orchestra instruments do not last very long since they require very precise machining and many use very cheap "pot metal" that cannot be bent back into place or welded. There are many moving parts on a clarinet and a single air leak can render it useless.
One of our instructors stated years ago that an inferior instrument can have a negative psychological effect on a student with an impact on their self-esteem. If they are playing a $100 instrument in band or orchestra in school alongside others playing rented $1,000 instruments, they will notice a huge difference in the sound they make compared to the others. They may quickly give up thinking they aren't good enough to play the instrument when in fact, it was the instrument that wasn't good enough.
I've heard parents say numerous times that they weren't going to invest much in an instrument until their child proves that they will commit to practicing. I can't say that any one of these students made it very far in the learning process.
If you decide on piano, we recommend 88-key Yamaha digital pianos with weighted keys. Expect to spend a minimum of $600+ for the keyboard, stand, and piano bench. Renting is a great option if you are unsure if your student will stick with it. You can reserve a rental digital piano with us.
Expect to spend at around $300+ for an acoustic guitar, gig bag, and tuner. Electric guitars can be about the same price as the acoustics though you'll add another $200 for the amp and cable. You can reserve a rental guitar with us.
Electric drum sets start around $600 for a good student model. Again, Yamaha is a top-quality brand, even with their student models. Add another $100 for a quality throne (seat). Acoustic drum sets have a lot of pieces and can quickly add up. Expect to spend around $700 - $1,000 for student model shells, hardware, cymbals, and throne. You can reserve a rental electric or acoustic drum set with us.
4. Brands and Models
You can spend many countless hours researching different brands and models of instruments for your child. Respected brands are great to stick with but even they sometimes offer super-cheap instruments that do not hold up.
You can generally count on the following brands for consistently good quality instruments: Yamaha, Roland, Taylor, Fender, Alvarez, Kala.
5. Where to Buy
The best place to buy your child's first musical instrument is at a store that sells instruments AND provides private music lessons. (Like us!) They have an incentive to ensure your child is fitted with the right instrument that is going to last through the learning process. The shop owner(s) don't want to sell you a guitar or other instrument that is going to fall apart in a lesson or constantly require your instructor to fix, taking up valuable lesson time. Quite often, these stores will give a discount to their students as well.
Be wary purchasing a musical instrument somewhere that can't help you when it needs service. If a guitar or violin string, a drum head, or your clarinet reed breaks, be sure you can find a replacement consumable part at the same place you bought the instrument. Costco has a great return policy, but they won't sell you guitar strings.
6. Used Instruments
I don't recommend buying a used beginner instrument since there are so many things that can go wrong with it. The tiniest wire spring on a flute, worn out frets on a guitar, and a few missing nuts and bolts on a drum set can make the instrument unplayable or at best, sound terrible. You really have to know what you're looking for in this case. Once you have really studied the instrument and know it inside and out, buying used can be a very rewarding experience. You'll understand what to look for and what to avoid.
7. Rent or Buy
For band and orchestra instruments, we highly recommend renting in the beginning. These are expensive instruments starting around $1,000 for a student model.
You can also rent keyboards, guitars, and drums while you're wondering if your child will commit to learning the instrument.
Make sure you understand the nature of the rental agreement, rent-to-rent (RTR) vs. rent-to-own (RTO). Ask if there is any credit towards an eventual purchase of a new instrument with an RTR. And ask what portion of the monthly rent is applied to the purchase with an RTO. Both types should have some sort of maintenance agreement and may have a minimum term.
8. Maintenance
All musical instruments need regular maintenance. Most need a slight adjustment to get in tune every time they are played. Woodwinds have many moving parts and screws come loose, springs come off, and pads sometimes leak. There can be quite a delay getting your instrument back from a repair shop so renting a band or orchestra instrument often eliminates the need for repair since the shop generally just gives you a different instrument or at least a loaner.
9. Seek Advice
Consult with music teachers, professionals, and salespeople for guidance on choosing the right instrument. They can provide valuable insights and recommendations based on your skill level and musical goals.
10. Trust Your Instincts
Ultimately, trust your instincts when choosing a musical instrument. Pick an instrument that resonates with your child and sparks joy and inspiration. Remember the most important qualities of this first instrument are 1) conducive for learning, 2) strong enough to last the first couple years, and 3) inspires the student to pick up every day. Enjoy the process of learning and making music!