What are the Best Instruments for Schools in 2024?
February 5th, 2024 | 4 min read
The pBone Music team made the trip across the Atlantic to exhibit at NAMM 2024, the biggest music industry trade show in the world.
As you can imagine, there was a vast array of performers and products, demonstrations and drums...lots of drums. The event is a chance to see the latest releases, innovative new instruments, and sophisticated software that musicians around the world will be getting to grips with in the year ahead.
But away from the walls of guitars and synthesizers, what instruments would make a good fit for the classroom environment? It's unlikely you'll be picking up the latest plugins or pricey pianos, so which gear should you be keeping an eye on in 2024?
We've rounded up five of our favorite instruments from this year's show. Let's see which instruments might be inspiring the next generation.
Yamaha FGDP-30
Ever hear your students drumming their fingers on the table and feel the veins in your head bulge?
Maybe you need the FGDP-30 from Yamaha, which takes the age-old art of finger drumming into the world of music technology. Students can pick up this lightweight controller and create incredible drum performances by using their fingers and thumbs.
The ergonomic layout means that students can play the FGDP-30 their way, although Yamaha recommends the three-finger method: thumb for the kick, middle finger for the hi-hat, and index finger for the snare. Aftertouch effects give pupils the ultimate control over the sounds - the perfect platform for working on their rhythm.
This controller is lightweight and fuss-free for the classroom, powered by a rechargeable battery and featuring a built-in speaker. And with more than 1200 voices and 39 preset, high-quality kits, there's a sound for every student.
The FGDP-30's accessibility credentials do not just lie with its portable design and user-friendly controls: there is also a practical voice assistant to guide students using the drum pads.
For more advanced features, RGB performance pads, and a wider selection of sounds, the FGDP-50 is also available from Yamaha.
You can find out more about the Yamaha FGDP-30 on the Yamaha website.
Buy the FGDP-30 for £165 from Gear4Music.
Teenage Engineering EP-133 KO-II Sampler
The next instrument that caught our eye was a little left field. After all, Teenage Engineering is more associated with synthesizers and sequences for the professional market...often with a price tag to match.
That's what makes the new EP-133 KO-II such a knockout. This heavyweight sequencer and sampler is available for under £300, giving students who are stretching themselves into the world of music tech.
Yes, this is probably not the kind of kit you would use for whole-class lessons with younger children. But the touch-friendly interface has the feel of an arcade controller - in a similar way to the über accessible CMPSR by Digit - and would add some real quality to your instrument arsenal.
With 6 voices, a built-in mic for sampling and a speaker, 12 velocity-sensitive pads, and built-in effects, there is a wealth of sonic opportunities at your students' fingertips.
Learn more about the EP-133 KO-II from Teenage Engineering.
Buy the EP-133 KO-II for £299 from Gear4Music.
Chord Board
Think you've tried every way of teaching your kids how to compose and perform music? Chord Board is the unique way of creating chords on the fly.
This interface allows players to use one hand and create an endless array of chord sequences and patterns. The visual guide can teach students about intervals, cadences, and other fundamentals of music-making. Think of Chord Board as the sophisticated older sibling of our own chord stacking interface, Soundbops.
Chord Board is currently available on beta release, ahead of a launch that will allow users to play Chord Board on their iPads and tablets. This flexibility makes it a great option for the modern classroom, and one to watch in 2024 for delivering music theory classes.
Find out more about Chord Board on their website.
Otamatone
Sometimes an instrument comes along that leaves you pretty speechless. At NAMM 2024, that instrument was the Otamatone.
This Japanese synthesizer is shaped like a musical note, and players can use one hand to control the pitch on the stem, while the other squeezes the head. Like a guitar, a higher hand position on the stem creates a lower sound.
Players can also use a number of other effects with their Otamatone. Altering the pressure on the head creates a 'way-wah' effect, and shaking the instrument produces a vibrato sound. It's incredibly intuitive and easy to pick up.
Yes, the Otamatone is more of a toy than a technical tool. But the fun, colorful designs, lightweight, wireless feel, and simple introduction to more complex ideas could make it an unlikely fit for your music lessons.
Available in a range of sizes and designs, you can learn about Otamatone on their website.
Buy the Otamatone from Amazon.
Yamaha YDS-120
Our last pick from the instruments at NAMM 2024 comes from Yamaha. The YDS-120 is a digital saxophone that has enormous potential in the inclusive classroom.
This instrument has up to 73 unique sounds, giving students the chance to explore a number of different instruments such as soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone sax.
The innovative mouthpiece helps children produce a sound without having to worry about embouchure. The breath sensor even detects pressure and helps players to articulate.
This digital sax is light and portable: the YDS-120 can be powered by 4xAAA batteries or a USB cable. But the real magic comes when you connect the YDS-120 to the YDS Controller App. Here, students and teachers can configure the instrument to suit the player, such as adapting the fingering. This gives all students the chance to enjoy playing the saxophone in the classroom.
Find out more about the specs and details of the Yamaha YDS-120 on the Yamaha website.
You can buy the Yamaha YDS-120 for £399 from Gear4Music.
As 2024 takes shape, we will keep you posted on the latest and greatest instruments. From brass to beats, pianos to percussion, we'll search out the tools that can help you inspire youngsters to make and create music.
- CMPSR by Digit is the accessible controller that brings the arcade to the classroom. Read what Sound On Sound made of the innovative instrument.
- Want to find out more about Carry-on, the 49-key portable keyboard? Check out the Carry-on product page.
- pBuzz was also on show at NAMM! Find out how progressing from pBuzz can create a legion of brass players...as seen in Swansea at their end-of-year bonanza!
Adam is the Content Manager at pBone Music. This should mean that he’s the ideal person to write about himself, but he finds boasting in the third person a little awkward. He honed his word wizardry with a degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds. He has since written copy for clients and businesses across the land, from awards to something beginning with “z”. He also spent a number of years as a musician. He has written pop songs and even jingles for kids, performed more first dances at weddings than you could shake a pBuzz at, and once played a gig for a pie company at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester. When he’s not reminiscing about those good old days, you might find Adam enjoying the football (although as an Everton fan, that can be difficult). He also loves spending time with his partner, Jen, and his family and friends, and sincerely hopes they feel the same way.
