Keyboards

• You may not realize it, but keyboards are percussion instruments. Percussion means simply to strike with the fingers or hands. The keyboard is one of the best places to start children on percussion instruments. It produces tone and many are preprogrammed to help the child understand how musical notes can be strung together. Small, battery-powered child keyboards are very affordable and can be played by adults. Keyboards can be introduced to children as young as 2 years old.
  
  

Maracas

• Spanish maracas are gourds or gourd-shaped objects filled with seeds. They produce a pleasing rhythmic sound when you shake them by the handle. There are all sizes of maracas, from baby maracas that are only a few inches long to the artsy, painted maracas that are used by Spanish ensembles. Maracas are a childhood favorite because they are easy to use and are just plain fun. Baby maracas are also know as "rattles."
  
  

Tambourine

• Movies, music videos and artists utilize the flashy tambourine, making it perfect for children of all ages. You can use it as a drum or shake it for a sizzling musical tone. Children also recognize the tambourine as a fun, colorful instrument and are attracted to it. There are many different sizes of tambourines, ranging from small plastic toy-like versions to large wooden professional models that are used on recordings and in performances. Children can play a tambourine at any age.
  
  

Xylophone

• The xylophone is a traditional percussion instrument that adapts to children readily. Adult versions that are used with orchestras are often called marimbas. They are colorful, graduating bars that produce tone when struck with a small hammer. They produce sound much the same way as a keyboard, but the xylophone has been around much longer. Small xylophones have always been available as toys for small children, these are often very affordable and have small multicolored metal plates instead of wooden bars. These are for very small children and are considered more of a toy than an instrument, but serve the purpose of introducing small children to music.