Developmentally Appropriate Instruments

It is developmentally appropriate to introduce a recorder to students who are ages 9-11 because they must have large enough hands to cover all of the finger holes and have enough hand eye coordination to play the instrument. At ages 5-9 students may be introduced to the xylophone if they are only expected to follow a two or three note pattern. It is appropriate for rhythm sticks and finger cymbals to be introduced at ages 5-7 because the students are capable of using their large muscle movements and fine motor skills to operate these instruments in the correct manner. A kazoo can also be introduced to students ages 5-7 because it is fairly easy for them to put it up to their mouth and blow air through to make sound.