Equipment Guide
To help you in gathering equipment, here are some of our favorite products.
We choose specific instruments for this list which we believe produce the best sound while offering a high level of safety for various ages of children. However, we are not responsible for the quality of specific products or vendors. We are in no way compensated for this list which is put together in good faith for the consumer.
No level of safety precaution replaces the value of supervision, common sense, and caution on the part of parents and caregivers. Condition of the product, manufacturer recommended ages and uses, and your child's age and abilities are factors in determining what is safe for your child and what level of supervision you must employ. We alert you to safety hazards when possible.
Making Music Praying Twice, Inc and its employees are not liable for any problems or injuries relating to these products. We expect that vendors and manufacturers are acting in the public interest. This list is merely a sharing of personal experience. Parents, teachers, and caregivers are ultimately responsible for the choices made for the children in their care.
SHAKY EGGS
Nino Shakers -
These are a good quality shaky eggs. Do not buy just any eggs without inspecting quality first. Remember that these will need to take some abuse and must be filled with a certified non-toxic substance. My second child once managed to break open an egg and ingest some steel pellets. Its a relief to know you bought quality, child-tested, non-toxic at a time like that. This package provides more than enough eggs for a typical class for a fair price. Small quantities also available.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
LP Rhythmix Shakers -
This is also a good quality shaker. Very tightly bound together and a little smaller and pointier than the Nino brand. This 48 piece assortment is enough to serve a full class.
Available at www.littlehandsmusic.com
LP Rhythmix Chick-itas -
Excellent first instrument for baby. Your egg collection should contain some of these for the babies under one. Older toddlers and preschoolers sometimes prefer this maraca style as well. Larger quantities are available.
Available at www.littlehandsmusic.com
FREE INSTRUMENT PLAY
Bambina Castanets -
Fun and cute – very appealing to little ones. Developing of fine motor skills are necessary. Usually appropriate for children 2 and up although littler ones enjoy being played to and exploring the instrument.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Caxixi -
Traditional African basket shaker is fun and tactile and has an organic, restrained sound. If rattan dries over time and splinters, replace immediately.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Hohner Castanets -
Nice quality, plastic castanets with a strong, clear sound. Developing of fine motor skills are necessary. Usually appropriate for children 2 and up although littler ones enjoy being played to and exploring the instrument.
Available at www.westmusic.com
Hohner Guiro -
This plastic replica of a traditional South American gourd guiro has several different areas to scrape, producing interesting and musical sound. Requires developed motor and reasoning skills to play effectively, but may be drummed upon as well. Watch very young children with the scraper as with any stick.
Available at www.westmusic.com
LP Rhythmix Rhythm Stix -
These are the absolute best rhythm sticks on the market. Unbreakable – no paint to chip off, dishwasher safe, and light weight. They also feature a guiro-like ridges on one stick for scraping action. Makes a good baby-safe alternative striker.
Available at www.littlehandsmusic.com
LP Rhythmix X Drum -
This is a fun and super-durable drum. The X shape allows little hands to securely hold the drum with one hand while playing with the other. May be used with the included striker or as a hand drum. The small size is helpful for teachers, as several can easily be stored with the free instrument play instruments.
Available at www.interstatemusic.com
LP Rhythmix Frame Drum with mallet -
Small and portable frame drum which can be played with hands or mallet. Hand drumming and frame drumming are featured widely in the folk and medieval music on our CDs. (Very young children may not play safely with the mallet, but may still use the drum.)
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
LP Woodpecker -
This is a fun change from the norm with a good sound. A good addition to a growing collection. Plastic makes a sharp, pitched sound.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Ghana Caxixi -
Easy for all ages to play with a nice, organic and alternative sound. Traditional African instrument. Replace immediately if over time instrument dries out and splinters.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Nino Cabasa -
Cool alternative shaker. May be best for older children for safety's sake. A small version for little hands is available.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Nino Oriental Tone Block -
A nice addition to a growing collection with a unique woody sound. As with all sticks, be cautious with young children.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Nino Square Shakers -
Its a good idea to have an easy shaker alternative for free instrument play time, as many younger children prefer shakers. These offer a change in shape and in tone as they are wood.
Available at www.littlehandsmusic.com
Red Tymptone Tom Tom Drum -
This drum is popular because no matter how hard a child plays with a striker or hand, the drum sound stays deep and mellow. The mallet is not approved for children under three and should not be included in Free Instrument Play options. This drum is more easily destroyed by a curious child than other products. However, its unique sound quality and high level of tactile feedback from the strong bounce of the head make this a desirable investment.
Available at www.peripolebergerault.com (You'll have to conduct an online search in early childhood instruments for "tom tom". You may need to call your order in. It's worth it for the best prices).
Remo Lynn Kleiner Bell Stick -
Another good way to give babies an option to play successfully but with different sound and visual feedback than with the standard shakers. Nice opportunity for a metal sound with safer plastic casing.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Remo Lynn Kleiner Finger Cymbals -
Nice sound but one of the only pair of finger cymbals on the market in which the handles are not detachable (no choking hazard).
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Remo Lynn Kleiner Triangle -
Triangles are an appealing choice for children. The familiar shape and ringing metal sound are very attractive to some whether or not they are ready to play them properly. You will need a few of these for a group class. This model has some safety features which adapt well to our classes. Children under 3 should not use unsupervised.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Rhythmband Clatterpillar -
This childsafe version of a Japanese Korkoriko offers older children an opportunity to apply their rhythmic skills to an instrument which is more challenging in motor and mental skill. Once mastered, the clatterpillar allows for great exploration in musicality.
Available at www.westmusic.com
Rhythmband Jingle Stick -
An easier to use tambourine alternative. Another way to allow toddlers and babies to produce a different quality of sound using their shaking abilities.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Rhythm Band Plastic Rim Tambourine -
Very durable plastic tambourine with cowhide head. Do not buy cheap plastic/paper tambourines. The inferior jingles have a terrible sound and the product will break quickly under the wear and tear of young children. Also avoid professional quality metal tambourines for safety reasons.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Rhythmband Tone Block -
Its important to include wood tones in the collection and wood blocks, like this one, add the advantage of two-tone options which older children and adults can explore musically. Mallet is not approved for children under three and should be used with supervision and/or removed from Free Instrument Play options. Children may adapt safer strikers to play this instrument.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Trophy Tick Tock Block -
Beat competent children can exercise more advanced motor and reasoning skills with the two-tone possiblities this fun wood block offers. Most effective with children 3 and up. Younger children should only use the striker with supervision.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Trophy Clave -
A good set of claves for kids. Gives wood tones, fits nicely in the hand for older children. Softer wood with a relatively gentle sound.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Trophy Tone Block -
A larger tone block than the other we recommend for a different tone and hand feel. Mallet is not suitable for children under 3 and should not be included in the Free Instrument Play container. Other strikers and sticks can be adapted for use.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
MORE DRUMS FOR DRUMMING ACTIVITIES
Remo Lynn Kleiner Gather Drum -
One of the largest floor gather drums for children you can find. Fit a big group around the drum for pow-wow style singing or to sing Little Drummer Boy together.
Available at www.westmusic.com
Remo Rainforest World Drums -
For hand drumming, exploring folk drumming from around the world, and just because kids love drums, these are some nice choices for drum activities. They can be a bit loud for free instrument play overpowering the other instruments, but some teachers like them for this purpose as well.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
BELLS
Rhythmband Resonator Bells -
A very enriching activity as outlined in the various teacher's manuals. These are our favorite bells. Good sound with the provided rubber mallets. Lots of choices for using bells separately or in combination. This instrument does not meet safety standards for very young children and should not be used without careful supervision. Mallets pose choking hazards and should never be allowed in the mouth.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Kidsplay Deskbells -
If you already have resonator bells, this is a nice addition to your program. They are easier to play than resonator bells, especially for babies, requiring a tap with the hand or finger. As in all bell activities, children should be constantly supervised. Children under 3 may put pieces in the mouth which can break off and become a choking hazard. These are also more breakable than other recommended products. We believe the bell activity is a valuable activity worth the extra care and caution. Children should not have unsupervised access to these instruments.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Boomwhackers – tuned percussion tubes -
A great bell alternative for a child too active or too young to safely play the bells. These are virtually indestructible. (I've run them over with my car.) It takes some effort to really hurt yourself or others with these clever tubes.
Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Oriental Trading Company Wrist Rings -
This is the only place I have found these streamers which are much better for young children than streamers on sticks. Also, you can click the wrist rings together to keep a beat. The down side is the that the canvas streamers wrinkle and smush easily in storage.
Available at www.orientaltrading.com
Scarves -
We are not too particular about scarves. Some teachers prefer the all-silk floaty dancing scarves. I'm just as happy with easy-to-wash, smaller nylon juggling scarves which float in the air and are short enough for little people not to trip over. Here are a few options for buying scarves online:
www.orientaltrading.com
www.westmusic.com
www.musiciansfriend.com
Scarf Canopy -
This oversized, floaty scarf can substitute for a parachute with a smaller group as it is easier to control with fewer adults/bigger kids. It also makes a fun and exciting addition to scarf-dancing. Imagine that the scarf is the wind or the water. Throw smaller scarves on top for a gentle game. Follow the floating scarves as you sigh in the tonality of a song to exercise vocal control.
Available at www.westmusic.com
Parachute -
This is a good deal for a very sturdy parachute. This size works well for a regular class. Other sizes are available.
Available at www.orientaltrading.com
Notes:
- Some equipment, like scarves or parachute, mentioned in the manual may not be listed here. That is because they are widely available and we do not prefer any particular brand.
- This list is not exhaustive as there are several quality products on the market untested by us. However, there are several we have tested and rejected, or have rejected on the basis of being unsafe or inappropriate for our specific and very young age groups.
- You may see a trend in recommending certain brands. This does not imply that we recommend ALL the products by that company. As a matter of fact, we find almost every company produces some unacceptable products!
- Be especially wary of instrument kits! Very often these are laden with cheap filler instruments. Very young children must be able to play creatively with instruments so they should be durable, safe, and sound great!
- Prices at the major companies and boutique online shops fluctuate, so shop around and compare a bit. Musician's Friend is the largest store with a huge selection, but sometimes West Music will offer a better price. Certain items are only found at a boutique and you may even catch a sale at one of these.
