Musical Gifts for Kids: A Christmas Buying Guide for Parents and Grandparents
The best musical gifts for kids match what the child already does when music is on. A kid who pokes at every keyboard they see wants keys. A kid who drums on the kitchen table wants beats. A kid who just wants to make a noise and show everyone wants something that fits in a pocket.
This guide is for parents and grandparents who don’t play an instrument themselves. It covers three gifts we stock, which one suits which child, and the small things that spoil Christmas morning if nobody thought of them: flat batteries, a box too heavy to hide, and a return you can’t make.
For a child aged about 3 to 10 who wants to play the piano, the Artesia Fun-1 is the big gift: a 61-key digital piano that comes with a bench, headphones and a sustain pedal. For a smaller gift that needs no lessons at all, get a Stylophone S-1 pocket synth. For a kid who’s into beats, the Stylophone BEAT is a pocket drum machine. Both Stylophones run on 3 AA batteries that aren’t in the box, so buy them now.
How to choose a musical gift for a child
Skip the question “what’s the best instrument?”. Ask three easier ones instead.
- What do they already do? Pressing keys, tapping rhythms, singing along, or pressing every button on anything with lights. Buy for that habit, not for the instrument you wish they’d learn.
- Will an adult be around to help? A digital piano needs assembling, and if lessons follow, someone sitting beside them now and then. A Stylophone needs batteries and nothing else.
- Where will it be played? Anything with a headphone socket saves the rest of the household. All three gifts in this guide have one.
When people buy a music gift from us, it’s usually a Stylophone: the BEAT or the S-1.
Best first piano for kids: Artesia Fun-1
The Fun-1 is a 61-key digital piano that Artesia designed for children aged 3 to 10. The keys are full size and touch sensitive, so pressing harder plays louder, the way a real piano behaves. That matters more than any feature on the box. Small toy keys don’t match what a piano teacher will put in front of them later.
It has 8 sounds (piano, electric piano, organ and strings, plus a few animal sounds and an applause effect), 2 built-in speakers and 32-note polyphony. In the box you get the stand, a matching bench, a sustain pedal, headphones, a power supply and a USB cable. The USB port connects it to a computer or iPad for piano learning apps.
Plan for its size. The piano weighs around 13 kg and the bench about 3.5 kg, and the stand needs putting together. Build it on Christmas Eve, not Christmas morning.
Pros
- Full-size, touch-sensitive keys
- Bench, pedal and headphones included, so there’s nothing else to buy
- Headphones mean practice doesn’t take over the house
- Comes in white or pink
Cons
- 61 keys, not the 88 of an acoustic piano
- Heavy and bulky to hide and wrap
- Made for ages 3 to 10, so an older child may outgrow it quickly
If the child already has piano lessons, ask the teacher before buying any keyboard. Some teachers are happy with 61 keys for a beginner. Others want 88 weighted keys from the start.
Best small music gift: Stylophone S-1 pocket synth
The Stylophone is played by touching a metal stylus to a metal keyboard printed on its front. There’s no technique to learn. Touch a note and it plays, which is why it suits someone who has never played anything.
The current S-1 covers 3 octaves and has a vibrato effect, a built-in speaker with volume control and a headphone socket. It runs on 3 AA batteries and is under 12 cm wide, so it fits in a stocking, a backpack or the glovebox for summer road trips.
There’s a story to tell when it’s unwrapped, too. Brian Jarvis invented the Stylophone in 1967, and David Bowie played one on Space Oddity in 1969. We cover the whole range in our Stylophone guide.
We stock the standard Stylophone S-1 and a pink special edition.
Best music gift for kids who love beats: Stylophone BEAT
The Stylophone BEAT is a pocket drum machine. Instead of a keyboard it has a round touch pad, and each segment plays a different drum or bass sound when you tap or slide the stylus across it. There are four drum kits and four bass sounds, covering rock, techno, hip hop and beatbox styles.
Kids can record in layers on the fly: kick and snare first, then hi-hats, then a bassline on top. A click track and tempo lock help keep it in time. It has its own speaker, a 3.5 mm output for headphones or a computer, and runs on 3 AA batteries. It’s about 18 cm wide.
The BEAT came out in 2023. It’s less about playing a tune and more about building a loop, so if the child taps rhythms on everything, this is the one.
Musical gifts for kids compared
| Artesia Fun-1 | Stylophone S-1 | Stylophone BEAT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Kids 3 to 10 starting piano | First-time players of any age | Kids into drums and beats |
| How it’s played | 61 full-size, touch-sensitive keys | Stylus on a metal keyboard | Stylus on a round touch pad |
| Power | Power supply included | 3 x AA, not included | 3 x AA, not included |
| Headphones | Included | Headphone socket | 3.5 mm output |
| Size | About 92 cm wide, around 13 kg | Under 12 cm wide | About 18 cm wide |
| Setup | Assemble stand and bench | Insert batteries | Insert batteries |
Christmas gift tips most guides skip
Both Stylophones need 3 AA batteries and neither ships with them. Tape a pack to the gift so it works the moment it’s unwrapped.
- Keep it sealed if you’re unsure. At 10dB, change-of-mind returns are accepted only when the item is unopened, unused and in its original packaging, and the buyer pays return postage. If you’re buying without checking with the parents, don’t open the box to have a look.
- Allow time for postage. Our orders leave the warehouse the same day and usually arrive in 3 to 5 days with Australia Post. December is busier, so check Australia Post’s Christmas send-by dates for your state and order well before them.
- Think about the household. A Stylophone at full volume on a long car trip tests everyone’s patience. Pack a pair of wired headphones.
- Match the gift to the space. A digital piano needs a spot near a power point and room for the bench. Check that before you buy, not after.
For a big present from Nan and Pop to a younger child who wants a piano, the Artesia Fun-1 is the complete package. For a stocking filler, or a gift for a kid who has never played anything, get the Stylophone S-1. For a kid who drums on every surface, get the BEAT. Stuck between the two Stylophones? The S-1 plays tunes and the BEAT makes loops.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good musical instrument for a 5 year old?
Something they can get a sound out of straight away. A kids’ digital piano with full-size keys works well if they’re drawn to the piano, because it also suits lessons later. If you’re not sure they’ll stick with it, a pocket synth is a cheaper way to find out.
Is 61 keys enough for a beginner?
For a young beginner, usually yes, since early pieces sit in the middle of the keyboard. If the child is already taking lessons, check with the teacher, as some prefer 88 weighted keys.
Do Stylophones need batteries?
Yes. The S-1 and the BEAT each take 3 AA batteries, and they aren’t included. Buy them with the gift.
Can kids use headphones with these instruments?
Yes. The Artesia Fun-1 comes with headphones. The Stylophone S-1 has a headphone socket and the BEAT has a 3.5 mm output, so any wired headphones will work.
Can a kids’ digital piano connect to an iPad?
The Artesia Fun-1 has a USB port for connecting to a computer or iPad, so a child can use piano learning apps alongside it.
Not sure which one to get?
Start small. The Stylophone S-1 suits almost any child who likes making noise, and it fits in a stocking.
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