How to Play on a Children's Xylophone

Purchase a children's xylophone appropriate for the age of your child. A basic four- to-six-key instrument is appropriate for children between 1 and 3 years of age. A xylophone with up to 13 keys, like the glockenspiel, is appropriate for older children.

Grip one mallet in your dominant hand. Hold the mallet in your fist, the way you would grip a bike handle. Do not stretch your index finger or rest it on top of the mallet.

Strike the bottom key on the xylophone with the mallet. The head of the mallet should bounce off the key if you are holding the mallet properly. The note should resound clearly.

Move up the xylophone, striking each key with equal force. Once you have become familiar with the sound each key makes, try striking the keys more gently to produce softer sounds and with more force to create louder sounds.

Experiment with the xylophone. Strike the keys in various orders to create a melody.

Transition into using two mallets. Grip one mallet in each hand with the same technique used for one mallet. Strike the xylophone keys, alternating between the use of your left and right hand until you become used to using two mallets.

Practice playing songs on your children's xylophone or glockenspiel if you are able to read music. Purchase a basic piano book or one specifically designed for children's xylophones and begin to play. Xylophones that have the names of each note engraved on the keys are best for playing written music.