Do Kids Need Expensive Gear To Start Making Beats?
Music production has never required anything more than what you were born with. You can clap or slap your thighs to create a beat. You can use your voice to hum, sing, scream, or make a variety of sounds. In theory, making music does not need to cost a thing.
However, if your kid wants to start producing music in 2022, they probably have an idea of what gear they need. Depending on what type of music they enjoy, this may include an expensive laptop, a midi keyboard, a guitar, a grand piano, a drum set, or many other instruments and devices.
Do you need to get them expensive gear so that they can get started? Or are cheap options available? Here’s what you need to know.
Protecting your investment
Before discussing the options available to you, it is important to remember that kids are kids. There is a much higher risk that they will lose or damage their gear than most adults would. As such, you need to get musical instrument insurance. This is only prudent, as you don’t want the loss of an instrument to mean the end of their hobby.
Of course, it is also necessary to educate them as to how to maintain their gear and keep it safe. That said, do not go overboard. While they are safest keeping everything at home, they can benefit tremendously from jamming at a friend’s house or even practicing at school.
Do it all with music production software
If your child is not drawn to a particular instrument and simply wants to produce music from scratch, they may enjoy experimenting with music production software. Anything is possible with music production suites today. They can create all kinds of sounds without touching an instrument, with the software providing a playground for experimentation.
Music production software does not need to cost a thing. We teach Soundtrap and Bandlab, which are free. If your child has a MacBook, GarageBand comes free. Otherwise, Audacity is a good place to start for audio production. To level up, you can get Logic Pro X for just $199 or Pro Tools or Ableton Live for even less. You should be able to get student discounts as well. Music production software will allow your kid to create full tracks from scratch. It is all they need to start creating and recording beats.
Play music with a MIDI keyboard
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and refers to anything that creates music in digital form. A MIDI keyboard is a keyboard that connects to a computer and can be used to make music. With any music production software, this means that your kid can play music on the keyboard using a range of different instrument sounds.
The Akai MPK Mini MK III is a great affordable option. It has 25 keys and 8 pads for making beats. At only $119, it offers your kid a way to play and make music through exploration. There is also excellent software that can help them learn to use it to the maximum, such as Melodics which provides lessons for both keys and pads.
Buy a starter instrument
What if your kid wants to learn to play an instrument at a higher level? In that case, you can get them a cheap instrument to start. The simple reality is that the difference between a cheap guitar and expensive guitar will not be noticeable to beginners. The same is true with most instruments.
When you get your kid cheap gear, you also create the opportunity for them to expand beyond one instrument. Instead of spending a ton of money on a top-of-the-line drum set, you can buy a cheaper option and remain open to buying a guitar, keyboard, or other kind of instrument in future if they want to try something new.
There is no reason to spend a ton of money on buying your kid expensive equipment. Making beats requires nothing more than a cheap instrument or music production software. Get them something that allows them to explore rather than an expensive item that remains their only option.