Low Cost Traditional Musical Instruments are a Hit with Children

Every trip I've ever taken has involved one or more trips through the local shopping bazaar. Many times the bazaar atmosphere is enough. Sounds of barter and come look fill the air. Scents of dried spices and brewed coffee tantalize your nose. Gold, jewels, scarves of every color vie with fruits and vegetables for eye appeal. But sooner or later you have to decide what you will buy. The last thing you want to buy is another thing to dust. Or it's far too soon to Christmas shop again. But the locals seem hungry and you feel it will help their economy. So what to do?

We started buying inexpensive musical gifts during our trips around the world. We don't give them away. One by one, they've begun to fill my husband's music room where he practices playing his violin. And they've come in handy when I've had children visit. In my case it's my nieces and nephews, but someday, maybe a grandchild will show up. Children like to make noise. We all know that and try to avoid allowing them to torture us. Yet, on several occasions, one of the most fun activities my nieces, nephews and I have done together is to take out those instruments and play. We don't sound beautiful. We do have fun and often, we play together. You don't actually have to travel, many of these items are sold on the internet. Have fun searching for good buys.

So what kind of instruments can you buy? Here is a selection of some we've gathered with a bit of their history:

Whistles and Flutes [See Figure 1]

In Ireland, we picked up an Irish Tin Whistle or Feadog. This six holed whistle came with a music guide and plays a flute pitched set of notes easily by blowing through the mouth piece.

A decorative whistle was purchased in Mexico. It doesn't play easily but it is cute. It only has one pitch.

The South African Recorder or Flute was inexpensive and came in two styles, one blown on the end and one blown through the first of six holes, reducing the number of notes. It sounds much like the Irish Tin Whistle, but reedier because of being made from wood.

Castanets and Rattles [See Figure 2]