Developmentally Appropriate Age for Instruments

Students need to start playing instruments early because when they are young their brains soak up information and it is very easy for them to learn. I think the rhythm sticks, finger cymbals, and kazoo can be introduced to children at a very young age because they are the appropriate size for their little hands to grasp. Also they do not take the use of fine motor skills to play these instruments since children do not have these skills yet at younger ages like three to five years old. The recorder requires the use of fine motor skills because the child must be able to place their fingers on the correct holes on top of the recorder and the recorder is bigger around so the children need to have a little bit bigger hands to be able to hold the instrument and play the notes. Therefore a recorder should be introduced at an older age such as third and fourth grade. The xylophone requires the same type of fine motor skills and hand eye coordination so it must be introduced at an older age also.