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Thomas Boxtiger
Head Music Editor
The piano is a great introductory instrument for toddlers - I've put together a short list of the best toddler pianos on the market today, so you can kick-start your child's musical involvement in a fun, educational, and affordable way.
The Top 5 Toddler Pianos Reviewed
1. Melissa and Doug Learn-to-Play Piano
The Melissa and Doug Learn-to-Play Piano is a perfect example of an introductory musical instrument for kids. It features a total of 25 keys with full octaves and utilizes a brightly colored design that will surely capture the attention of toddlers. It also comes with an illustrated songbook to help children learn how to play popular nursery rhymes in the piano.
The overall construction of this toddler piano is quite impressive with an absence of having sharp edges making it child-safe. The overall size of this toddler piano is 11.5” x 15.75” x 9.5” (H x W x D) once assembled making it a relatively lightweight and compact piano for kids.
Pros
- Child-friendly design.
- The piano is durable and can survive some rough play time.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Some screws can be dislodged if your child bangs on the piano too much. Make sure to check each screw and tighten if necessary.
2. Best Choice Products Children Wood Toy Grand Piano with Bench
This one has a grand piano design which is quite nice especially for children who are already in love with playing the piano. It features 30 keys and has a glossy finish to its hardwood body. It is impressively like a miniature grand piano.
The set also includes a stool and a musical note holder to truly capture that grand piano aesthetics. This can be a nice make-believe toddler piano for your kid. This piano comes in with a dimension of 17” x 20” 20” (L x W x H).
Pros
- Elegant design that captures the grand piano looks perfectly.
- Comes with several accessories like the musical note holder and stool.
Cons
- Not as durable as I would hope. Definitely, handle with care.
- The stool is a bit unbalanced.
3. Best Choice Products Musical Kids Electronic Keyboard 37 Keys with Microphone
One thing I can say about the Musical Electronic Keyboard from Best Choice Products is that it definitely knows how to present itself. The stylish toddler piano comes in bright color combinations and even has a working microphone for good measure. It features 37 keys and the whole keyboard lights up with a variety of flashing colors as you play it.
Your child can choose between 8 different instrument sounds from the piano to the violin. It also comes with audio recording and playback capabilities. The piano comes in at a relatively compact 11” x 24” x 24” (L x W x H) size.
Pros
- Beautiful and exciting design that incorporates flashing lights.
- Perfect for 3 years and up.
- Working microphone adds to the make-believe element of this toddler piano.
Cons
- There were some complaints about the stereo acting up. Make sure you turn it off after every use to avoid damaging the circuitry inside.
- The keyboard stand is a little wobbly.
4. Schoenhut 25 Key My First Piano II
The Schoenhut 25 Key earn its moniker of “My First Piano”. It is an educational and fun way to introduce your child to this musical instrument and to music in general. It is designed to encourage creativity in regards to music and improves hand-eye coordination as well.
This toddler piano comes with several helpful features such as the play-by-color method that allows toddlers to learn how to play music in a fun manner.
Pros
- Fun child-friendly design.
- Great introductory and educational toy for children.
- Well-made.
Cons
- It is somewhat out of tune but that is to be expected as this is primarily an educational toy first and a piano second.
5. Schoenhut Learn-to-Play Toy Piano
Another great toy piano to nurture a child’s creativity and develop their hand-eye coordination. The Schoenhut also uses their patented Play-by-Color learning system which helps make playing the piano a fun yet challenging activity for children.
It also has an adjustable design which allows longer shelf life as your child grows. It also comes with a companion bench. This is designed to be played by children ages 3 and above. The toddler piano comes in at a dimension of 17” x 12” 12” (L x W x H) making it one of the more compact toy pianos in the market.
Pros
- A nice musical instrument that introduces children to music.
- Features their patented Play-by-Color system which is designed for toddlers.
- Cute and friendly design.
Cons
- The sound is a bit out of tune but that is to be expected from a toy piano designed as an introductory and educational instrument.
2022 Buying Guide
Introduction
One musical instrument that I recommend for children is the piano. It is a rather simple instrument to use and can introduce toddlers to rhythms and musical notes. Toddlers enjoy activities, such as learning with song, as it offers “cause and effect” results, this is in part to their inquisitive nature.
This can also unlock a child’s potential in music. Most well-known musicians discovered their loves for creating melodies at an early age. This is toddler pianos come into the scene. The best toddler pianos offer children a way to flex their musical muscles.
If you wish to introduce your child to music, a toddler piano is a great place to start.
Picking Out A Toddler Piano
The first aspect that you need to decide on is whether you will be buying a miniature replica of a full-sized piano or if you will be going for a more child-friendly, toy-like appearance. Toddler pianos that incorporate a child-friendly aesthetics are usually far more affordable. If you are still gauging your child’s interest in music, these types of toddler pianos are a good first choice.
Toddler pianos that utilize a more traditional look with their design usually have a higher price tag. These toddler pianos are basically your standard piano but at a more compact size. This type of toddler piano can also be quite heavy. I would recommend this type of piano for toddlers who have shown great interest in learning how to play the piano but can’t handle a full-sized one yet.
Some toddler pianos also utilize electronics, similar to an electronic keyboard. This type of toddler piano allows for more versatility as children can change the sound of each keynote and even have pre-recorded music, voice recordings, sound effects, and even colorful lights. For the younger set, this can be a great toy and introduction to music as it will both hold their attention and allow them to experiment with various sound effects.
When it comes to miniature pianos for children, it usually tends to be in favor of toddlers who have learned the basics of playing the instrument. This type of piano usually features two full octaves and are best suited for children who are simply interested in learning to play the piano as this type do not come with any bells and whistles.
Teaching Your Kids How To Play
Once you have picked out the best toddler piano for your kid, the next step is teaching them how to play the instrument. There are a couple of ways to go about this, the one I recommend is to integrate a bit of fun and play time when it comes to teaching your child how to play the piano.
Think about your kid’s favorite nursery rhymes. Nursery rhymes normally use simple and easy to follow notes. This makes it easy for a child to learn and play them using the piano. Go for a song that has a few notes but repeats them throughout. This is a great exercise for children to become accustomed to tapping the piano keys.
After a while, your child will be able to play these simple songs on the piano with their eyes closed. The next step is to teach them how to play simple songs that will require them to use both hands. For example, the song “Chopsticks” is great for beginners as it is still rather simple but will test their ability in playing with both hands.
Basically, start with the simplest songs that use 4 to 6 notes that can be played with one hand and then move on to similarly simple ones but require both hands to play.
Tips On Getting Your Child Interested In The Piano
Sometimes, even if the child has an interest in learning musical instruments like the piano this interest will fizzle out. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of motivation due to numerous distractions or if they find no enjoyment in playing the piano. In order to help you introduce your child to playing the piano the right way, I have included some tips that you should definitely take to heart. This will help nurture your child’s curiosity and their drive to play their piano.
Where to Place the Piano
One common mistake by parents when looking for a place in the house to install the toddler piano is looking for the quietest i.e. dullest part of the house. While it is true that it helps to put the piano somewhere quiet, placing it in place that is basically drab and lonely is one way to extinguish the fun element from the activity.
Place it somewhere you and your child will be able to bond with but not in the same room as the television. The TV will split your child’s attention and they might even ignore the piano completely after a while.
Maintenance & Tuning
If your toddler piano is an acoustic type one, I highly recommend you regularly check if the keys are all in tune. Chances are, your child will have no idea how to properly tune it at the moment so you will need to step in on this occasion.
Having a piano that is out of tune will only frustrate the child and might give up on playing it altogether. Avoid this by using a piano tuner for acoustic pianos.
Mark the Keys
This is one that I recommend if you wish to further expand your child’s skills in the future. Cut out a piece of paper and write down each keynote on them. Individually place each to their respective place on the keyboard. This can help your child memorize each placement and help them read chords as well.
This is a simple yet effective technique that I used as a child and something that I utilized for my own kid when she started to develop an interest in playing the piano.
Conclusion
Toddler pianos can be both a great educational toy and a way to figure out if your child has a talent for music. Our list of options covers all the important aspects that are necessary for a toy piano - above all, it must promote hand-eye coordination and nourish a child’s creativity.
I have also included some toddler pianos that offer a more accurate representation of the said musical instrument if you wish to level up your child’s skills. Toddler pianos offer several benefits to your child not just in introducing them to music.
Make sure you take advantage of these benefits to help nurture the development of your child in both cognitive and creativity.