Whether you’ve got a budding Mozart or whether you’re trying to figure out if she’ll only ever be a backup tambourine player, musical toys and instruments make playtime both entertaining and educational.
Our guide to toy buying includes musical toys and instruments as one of our six categories to foundational toys because music can stimulate brain development, enrich lives, and is just so fun!
Why We Love Music
Music is a great way to play with your child, create new experiences, encourage exploration moments, and just spend time together.
Bond with your child by making up songs together, drumming to the beat of a song, or having a dance party! These are the memories you’ll love looking back on with your child when he or she is grown.
Because my husband and I both play and sing, we were optimistic about having a musical child. It’s still too early to tell what instrument our two-year-old will be drawn to, but we can already tell that she’s got rhythm (so essential!) and she’s starting to match pitch!
Putting this list together really excites me for the possibility of both our girls being musical. Of course, even if they’re not, I’ve included a few musical toys that will make anyone sound good 😉
With so many musical toy options out there, I’ve carefully selected the ones that are the LEAST annoying and the MOST fun.
Because there’s nothing worse than hearing the same song over and over besides hearing a terrible song with slightly off-pitch singing over and over and over…
How Do I Pick the Right Music Toy for My Child?
It can be hard to shell out cash on an instrument when you’re not even sure your kid has any musical inclination or ability at all.
As you go through this list of gift ideas, here are a few things to consider as you decide which musical toy or instrument is right for your family.
- Do I want my child to play music or make music? Meaning, do I want my child to listen to pre-made songs or have a chance to make up his own?
- Should my child use an electronic or a “real” instrument?
- Is this toy appropriate for my child’s age and ability? Not just musical ability, but gross/fine motor and mental ability as well.
- Is this toy safe for my child’s developmental stage? If you’ve got a kid who puts everything in her mouth, maybe a pair of drum sticks is not the right toy for her.
Get ready to sing, dance, and clap along to these best musical toys and instruments.
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Electronic Musical Toys
These are your standard, battery-not-included-but-definitely-needed (why is the battery never included??!) musical toys.
Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick and Play Piano Gym
We have an older version of this musical toy, and both of our daughters love it. This new deluxe version looks even better!
There are four music options: 20 minutes of continuous music; short songs about animals; short songs and phrases about colors, shapes, and numbers; and (what I wish our older version has) real piano notes.
The dangly bar can be put in two different places, plus all the animals and the mirror can be re-positioned as well.
The mat is easy to detach and toss in the wash. The piano part also easily detaches so toddlers can carry it around with them. We used it in the car with our oldest, and it was the perfect size to sit on her lap in the car seat.
Baby Einstein Take-Along-Tunes
This Take-Along-Tunes player can play seven short and sweet classical favorites and lights up with the music.
The central button is large and easy for even the littlest of hands to find and press.
There is some volume control (loud or soft), which I appreciate, but I don’t like how the speaker is located on the back because it almost totally mutes the sound when the toy is on its back on a soft surface.
We used this musical toy with our oldest exclusively for going out because she HATED getting in the car seat. I only let her play with this toy when she was getting in her car seat and it was seriously the only thing that kept her calm and happy. A year later, and now this is our youngest daughter’s favorite car toy. Somehow I don’t think we’ve even had to change the batteries. It just keeps going and going.
Ours has been dropped many, many times on concrete and asphalt, and it has held up beautifully. It has a scratch and a black mark that I can’t get rid of, but it still works!
Mirari Pop! Pop! Piano
My toddler loves this piano! We first noticed it at the bookstore and the colors are what caught Ella’s eye. I had a hard time peeling her away from this musical toy!
Mirari’s Pop! Pop! Piano features two different sound modes when the keys are pressed: piano tunes and silly sounds.
The best part is when you press a key, a star pops up out of one of the brightly colored pipes!
I love how the colors on the keys coordinate with the colors of the pipes, which really helps children understand cause and effect. Plus it makes the piano look pretty.
Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube
This music toy helps children explore music composition. Sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? It’s really very simple. Pushing a button plays a different instrument sound (harp, French horn, piano, flute, or violin), while the “Orchestra” button plays all the instruments in, you guessed it, a Mozart orchestra.
There are eight different Mozart masterpieces included. The sides light up in time with the music. This Mozart Magic Cube also has two volume levels (yes!).
VTech Kidi Star Karaoke Machine
So maybe you’ve got a future pop star on your gift list. Check out this Karaoke Machine by VTech.
All you do is plug in your phone (or MP3 player if you still have one) and the “Music Magic” mode will turn down the main voice of the song so you can add your own leading vocals.
What’s fun about this karaoke machine is that it includes five different voice effects and has a disco light.
Instant party.
Fun Fiddle Violin
Yes, your toddler CAN play violin, the most hauntingly beautiful musical instrument of all time.
The Fun Fiddle Violin can play seven classical songs while teaching the basics of handling a violin bow. Kids can also make their own original masterpieces by pressing buttons.
There are three different activity modes including a Duet Fun mode with three different background accompaniments.
Bonus: two AA batteries are included (SCORE!).
Little Tykes Pop Tunes Guitar
OK, let’s take a break from classical and rock out!
This kiddie-rocker approved PopTunes Guitar is an edgy smoky gray color with red and blue LED lights. Each string plays a rock n’ roll riff, while the whammy bar will do three different special effects.
Wanna-be rockers can play pre-set melodies or rock n’ roll riffs.
No Batteries Required Musical Toys and Instruments
Plan Toys Solid Wood Drum
This is first on my list of non-electronic musical toys because it is a well-made, solid wood and simple, yet foundational toy.
Depending on where you hit the drum, the sound will change, which is a pretty cool. Also, the drum isn’t super loud and has a pleasant sound when hit with the rubber tipped drumstick.
The bright red and blue pattern makes it very kid-friendly and appealing. So appealing, that maybe now you’ll be able to use your pots and pans for cooking again and not for toddler drumming.
Britenway Percussion Instruments Set
If you suspect your child has little to no musical ability, perhaps its time to turn to the good ol’triangle and tambourine instruments. After all, backup tambourine players still get all the fun of being in the band without actually having to play anything that requires real skill 😉
Or maybe you just need to work on rhythm with your percussion enthusiast. This sweet little set includes a tambourine, 2 egg shakers, 2 wrist bells, 2 claves, 2 finger castanets (so you can get your flamenco on), 2 maracas, a large sleigh bell and a small sleigh bell, a handled castanet, a triangle, and a carrying case so you can take your future vonTrapps on the road.
Note to parents: There is no volume button, so prepare for a lot of joyful noise.
Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone
This musical toy is a twofer: you get a pound and tap bench and a xylophone (or glockenspiel, to be more accurate).
We got this for Christmas last year and it was a hit. Literally. You use the hammer to tap on the balls and they slide down the xylophone.
There are seven tones on the xylophone, which is enough to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, but not enough to play an octave. (You’ll be waiting for that last “do” forever.)
Our favorite way to play is to name a color for Ella to tap and in that way we can get her to play a real melody, work on her hand-eye coordination, and learn colors.
Hape Kid’s Wooden Toy Ukulele
Don’t be fooled by the word “toy.” This is a fully functional, tunable, and sturdy ukulele with non-toxic finishes. It is the perfect size for toddler hands and has a very realistic feel.
Grab a Learn to Play book so you can learn to play the ukulele alongside your little one and start playing real songs!
Pro tip: Pick up a pack of these BoloPick Ukelele Picks for easy strumming. Bonus, the felt picks easy to grip and will soften the tone in contrast to the vibrant sound a regular plastic pick will make.
Hohner Clearly Colorful Translucent Harmonica
A kid’s instrument list would not be complete without a harmonica. And this is a pretty one.
It comes in four bright colors: blue, green, red, and yellow. I love that it has a quality sound and a low price tag. Hohner makes “real” grown-up instruments too, so I would expect an accurate scale from this instrument.
Schoenhut 25-Key My First Piano II
Piano is the best instrument to start with if you are serious about teaching your child about music. This tabletop piano is a fun way to start. It’s not too intimidating and it is pretty darn cute!
A removable color strip is included with this piano to teach kids chords using Schoenhut’s play-by-color teaching method. The strip can be used with adult pianos as well.
I like that Schoenhut’s piano keys are the same width as regular paino keys. This makes it easy for little ones to transition to a real piano when they are ready. A songbook of familiar tunes is included.
This is a lovely little piano to get children interested in piano and music. There are three color options and the price is far, far less than any upright piano or baby grand!
My favorite item on this list of musical toys and instruments is this piano, which one is yours?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at choosing toys, take a peek at our complete toy buying guide and make your Christmas shopping list easy to fill out this year.
Our other toy guides and gift ideas include the 5 best kitchen and food toys, classic building toys, the best dolls and stuffed animals, and more!
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