9 Musical Instruments Your Kids Could Learn That Are Way Cooler Than Piano

Armed with proficiency in one of these babies, your son or daughter will be Harvard app ready and a talent show baller!

1. Hurdy Gurdy

Wikipedia / Via Wikipedia.com

Straight from the Renaissance fair, this blinged out medieval crowd-pleaser is perfect for spritely jigs and general awesomness

Youtube / Via Youtube.com

2. Harpsichord

National Music Museum

Before there were pianos, there were harpsichords. If you take an ordinary piano and put thumbtacks on the hammers, you might get a sound kinda similar... and you might also break your piano.

This girl's parents knew what's up.

Youtube / Via Youtube.com

3. Glass Harmonica

Via finkenbeiner.com

When he wasn't inventing electricity, and sleeping with every woman in France, Benjamin Franklin found time to invent the Glass Harmonica. AND, unlike most musical instruments, practicing this one, might literally drive you crazy!

Via Youtube.com

4. Musical Saw

Via Wikimedia.org

Somewhere between a violin and an electric guitar, suitable for parties, cherry trees, or an alien funeral.

I dare you not to be turned on by Britain's Got Talent star Austin Blackburn's Ave Maria!

5. Ocarina

Via stlocarina.com

Zelda nerds rejoice.

Via Youtube.com

6. Steel Drum

Via Wikipedia.com

Jamaica your friends crazy and busk like a pro with this Caribbean caterwauler.

Via Youtube.com

7. Erhu

google.com / Via Wesleyan.edu

Leave General Tso in the dust with an authentic Chinese erhu that will compliment budding sinologist and hipster alike.

Via Youtube.com

8. Theremin

Via zzounds.com

It kinda looks like a (really) old cellphone, or the cable box on your dad's TV that he refuses to get rid of, but don't be fooled. The Theremin's awesomeness, which comes by plucking invisible electric "strings," is so bizarre that you just have to see it to believe it!

Via Youtube.com

9. Zeusaphone

Via Zeusaphone.com

Maybe save this one for the older kids or if the Theremin was too pussyfoot for you. Believe it or not, it's surprisingly easy (and dangerous) to make your own Tesla Coil, which is all a Zeusaphone really is!

You'll never play Fur Elise again!

Via Youtube.com