Kid's Guitar/Piano

[craft_media_hero]

I'm thinking about getting dd a 1/2 size guitar for her birthday. I know a little guitar--I can teach her the chords, and if we get a kid's song book, then I'm pretty sure I can handle showing her "row your boat" and all of that.

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a specific guitar program for children, kinda like Pianimals or Music for Little Mozarts (I'm probably going to order one of these for piano exposure next year), something that is specifically designed to be incremental and fun for kids.

Please, musician mommies, don't cringe too much! I need some help---I don't play piano beyond picking out the very basics and am at the elementary level myself on guitar.

I just was thinking, one "lesson" of guitar a week, and one for piano, and then the rest of the time can just be self-led for her to explore, but I'd like some kind of guide just to give us a map, you know?

Any suggestions are appreciated!

[ikesmom]

I'm interested too as we just bought 2 kid guitars for our kids to strum on for the summer. We have a used (in great condition )keyboard that dh's grandma gave them years ago , but it doesn't have a cord so we have to use batteries. They only know 2 songs.

[Mama Shifra]

My middle daughter started guitar at age 7 at her request. She goes to an instructor who uses Childbloom Guitar Method. If you can find an instructor who uses this method, I highly recommend it!

However, you want to teach your child yourself. First of all, make sure you get a good guitar--no off brands! No name brands often will not stay in tune! I got my daughter a Yamaha JR-1, which is a pretty good acoustic guitar, but it is 3/4 size.

Second of all, many people will tell you that small children cannot handle cords (Childbloom does not teach cords at first). Their hands are too small. So you need a curriculum that does not use cords at first. Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course, Girl's Guitar Method, and the Progressive Guitar Method for Young Beginners all teach cords relatively soon into the course, so you may want to avoid them now. I believe that the Progressive Classical Guitar Method for Young Beginners and the FJH Young Beginner Guitar Method Lesson Manual do not use cords in their lesson manuals.

[ikesmom]

Thank You!!!