As a lyre enthusiast, I’ve been asked by a viewer on YouTube to suggest lyre harps for her students and kids. A lyre harp can be a great instrument to introduce music to young children. With its beautiful sound and simple design, it’s perfect for young learners who are just starting to explore the world of music. In this post, we’ll take a look at the best lyre harps for children, from the Kinder Lyre to the diatonic lyre.
The Kinder Lyre
The Kinder lyre is a 7-string lyre commonly used in Waldorf schools for introducing music to very young children. This lyre is tuned to the pentatonic scale, which consists of 5 notes that are always in harmony! This makes it easy for children to build confidence and play beautiful music mindlessly.
This video shows a child playing a Kinder lyre:
However, its pentatonic scale and 7-string design limit the melodies a Kinder lyre can play. For example, it lacks the notes for popular tunes like “Happy Birthday” or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”.
Get a Kinder lyre if you:
- want to introduce music to young children
- want to build your child’s confidence in playing music
- prefer a simple and easy instrument
- appreciate the beauty of the pentatonic scale
Don’t get a Kinder lyre if you:
- want to play a wide range of modern songs
- want something that can grow with your child’s musical abilities
Kinder lyres I recommend:
- Nisoria sells quality pentatonic lyres like the one used by the child in the video above. These lyres cost between US $160 to US $240, and are well-crafted by a luthier.
- For a budget-friendly option, consider a mass-produced lyre such as the Donner. I got mine on Amazon for US $60 and I made this video review.
Overall, the Kinder lyre is a great option for young kids who are just starting to explore the world of music. However, if you’re looking for an instrument that can play a wider variety of songs and grow with your child’s musical abilities, a diatonic lyre may be a better choice.
The Diatonic Lyre
A diatonic lyre features the “do re mi fa so la ti” scale, and is better suited for playing melodies and a wider range of songs. They come in various shapes and sizes, with some having as little as 7 strings and others boasting over 40 strings. I recommend 16 strings for children, which provides enough strings to play many songs and room for expansion as your child grows.
If you’re interested in teaching your child how to play the diatonic lyre, I have a video on my YouTube channel where I teach 8 children’s songs:
Get a Diatonic lyre if you:
- want to play a wide range of melodies and songs
- prefer an instrument that grows with your child’s musical abilities and provides a new challenge as they progress
Don’t get a Diatonic lyre if you:
- prefer a simpler instrument with fewer strings, or one that is easier to play mindlessly
- are looking for an instrument with a specific tuning or sound that is not available in a diatonic lyre
Diatonic lyres I recommend:
- For quality options, consider a diatonic lyre handmade by a luthier like Brandon John Luthiery. These lyres are available with custom orders and can cost around US $400.
- For a cheaper alternative, there are many mass-produced diatonic lyres available online, such as this one by Aklot that I own. These lyres cost around US $60 to $80 and offer good value for the price.
Overall, the diatonic lyre is a versatile instrument that can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. It’s important to consider your needs, goals, and budget before making a decision.
