My niece is three years old and is showing some real interest in music. What is a toy
 

hi all

My niece is three years old and is showing some real interest in music. What is a toy I can get for her that will help her develop that interest (and possible talent) that won't drive her parents nuts?

Regards

Famous

Just get her a drum set, there aren't many professional female drummers these days, so if she starts early, she could make a career of it.
Or if that is just too much, one of those cheesy little colorful keyboards.

Just do this test though...Give her any instrument, and if instead of smashing it or hitting it, she plays one single note, you got yourself a musician.

^^Those drive me ****ing crazy!!!

An iPod shuffle?
I know a five year old with one and it really has kept her interest.
It also keeps her music to herself.

Small acoustic instrument. Violin, trumpet, something that isn't lunky like a drum kit and doesn't need to be amplified.

yes, because to a three year old violins and trumpets are certainly not lunky

Well, with meticulously calculated electric shocks you'd be surprised what a three year old could do.

A couple of years ago I bought the kids a Zizzle Zoundz.
It's not just a great toy...it's a wonderful and intuitive musical instrument.
Whoever invented this toy was a genius!
The shapes each have their own sound and when placed on different zones are able to create beats and rhythms.
I mess with it more than the kids do...extremely addictive.
Good luck trying to get hold of one though, as I think they may be discontinued.



^ This vid gives you a good idea of what one looks like and how it works.



^ This one will give you a good idea of it's capabilities.

Better description of it's features...

lol. A+ response

A lot of music programs now, assuming you can't afford a piano, are teaching children Ukulele since its very small, similar to a guitar, and far more affordable (around here there about $30)

I'd highly recommend looking into a Uke, or one of the programs that utilize it.

Yes, the Ukulele is a wonderful instrument and you can get a great one for around 100 bucks... and that's pretty cheap for a quality instrument. I would probably get a tenor sized uke as concert and regular sized ukes can be pretty small. Look to a brand called Lanikai, they sound great and are pretty cheap.

Buy Lanikai LU-21T Tenor Ukulele | Ukuleles | Musician's Friend

Buy Lanikai LU-21 Standard Ukulele | Ukuleles | Musician's Friend

I hear what you're saying LLSS, but for a 3 year old, you probably don't want to drop $100.

How about a classic
http://www.perthmusicshop.com.au/ima...20RECORDER.jpg

They're cheap, easy to play, and hard to break.

And they make little children hate music everywhere.

Brings back memories of 4th grade music class. I hated that damn thing. I hate you for posting it.

Just get a little toy xylophone or little bongos or somethin. shes only 3...if you get her a flute or something like that she is gonna annoy the hell out of everyone

Yeah, I had more fun breaking mine. They sound horrible, are cheap, annoy everyone pretty much... they're barely a step up from a vuvuzela.

when i was little i had a minature piano when i was around that age. not a keyboard but a literal mini piano. i loooved it and played piano till the time i was 8. buuut i got bored after a while (MAAAJOR A.D.D.) but anyways, it was great for me. it had 1/3 of the keys as well that way i could get the basic concept of the notes and all down in a simpler manner untill i was ready to move up to the regular size.

Oh, that's actually a really good idea.
I had a keyboard when I was small too and I used to write songs all of the time.
I also had a little guitar (not a ukelele, just a play guitar).

haha the funny thing is that its really one of the most basic ideas but no one has said it yet. the little piano is still in the family too! it was passed down to me and i passed it to my little sister who massed it o my little cousin whos 4. she still plays it and she cant get enough! she also has a pair of bongos she likes to play when her dad plays his congas :) she has the most amazing musical environment to grow up in. her dad owns every kind of musical instrument u can possibly imagine.
guitar, bass, drums, violin, pennywhistle, steel drums, triangle (lol), etc. u name it, he has it. and he gives her complete free access to all of it. even at 4 years of age she cant get enough.

This looks pretty good for a 3 year old.

Musical Band Drum Set: Cricketmag.com-Kid's Music

Ah...so much hate for the recorder! I was actually pretty good at playing the damn thing. Yeah, I can see why they are annoying as ****.

@RA That drum set looks like a good idea, I wish I had one as a kid.