During the last two or three years of elementary school, most children try out an instrument. It might be a violin, a flute or a clarinet, but typically there are only about a dozen options at school. Certainly, it is still a great idea to select one of these instruments and learn how to play, but if your child wants to play something a bit different, consider finding a local music school that allows them to try out something they cannot do at school.

Many kids these days would love learning how to play the guitar, and there are several different types of guitars to consider. You could opt for the acoustic guitar which is a great way to start out, or perhaps your child dreams of performing in a rock band and wants to learn how to play the electric guitar or bass guitar. In the last few years, many people have been taking ukulele lessons, as well, and this can be an excellent option for a very young musician.

Piano lessons also typically are not taught at school, so private piano lessons are the only option. Some schools offer keyboarding lessons, as well, and students can learn how to use this electronic instrument which is highly versatile, offering many different sounds and even drum beats.

If you don't mind the bustle of practice time, learning how to play the drums can be great fun for a child with a good sense of rhythm. Children can learn percussion instruments at school, including bass drums, snare drums, symbols and other important parts of the percussion section. But if you are hoping to play like Ringo Starr, Lars Ulrich or Keith Moon, you'll need to find a private teacher at a local rock music school to truly learn how to keep the beat. Students are typically very enthusiastic about private drum lessons because they get to accompany songs they really love rather than what the school music instructor selects.

There are plenty of other interesting instruments to consider, such as the autoharp or even an old-fashioned instrument such as the accordion. Perhaps your child loves music, but would rather learn how to sing songs than play them on an instrument or perhaps even wants to write music. Songwriting or vocal classes are a good option for a child who would rather perform the song itself or actually create original music. There are local schools, including San Juan Capistrano's own Los Rios Rock School, that offer these types of lessons.

If you are searching for music lessons in Dana Point, music lessons in San Clemente or music lessons in Laguna Niguel, Los Rios Rock School can be an excellent option. The tuition not only includes a weekly, one-hour private lesson but students also can opt to become part of an actual rock band. The bands perform concerts around Orange County at venues such as The House of Blues in Anaheim and The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.