Schoenhut Piano Company could easily rest on its well-earned laurels; since 1872 it's been producing high-quality toy pianos that last for generations.
But Len and Renee Trinca, owners since 1996, know that being great isn't enough to ensure success in today's markets. They continue to grow their company and help their retailers compete by offering a variety of well-made instruments that appeal to all kinds of kids. Their latest offering is a series of Electronic Pianos that feature adorable cartoon animals.
"We had a great response to the Electronic Pianos at Toy Fair 2014," Renee told TDmonthly. "One musician who stopped by our booth even told us they were the best electric toy pianos he'd ever heard!"
Schoenhut's other instruments also get rave reviews from parents and kids. In December, Schoenhut was in a Holiday Toy Testing at Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coer D'Alene, Idaho, where they earned a straight 5 out of 5 stars for every category: packaging, materials, appearance durability, and fun factor.
"This guitar makes me wish to be young again," said Jeff Schoengarth, a Figpickels customer who tried out Schoenhut's electric "axe." "I know my son will drive me crazy with it, but I welcome the noise."
"I've played guitar for 10+ years and would love to give this [Schoenhut electric guitar] to my son," noted Chris Goodrich, another Figpickels customer.
The drumset was a "hit," too – neither adults nor kids could resist banging on it.
"The drums are loud. Yeah!" proclaimed Cayden G.
Watch kids rock out to the sound of real Schoenhut instruments:
Don't count out adult musicians! They love Schoenhut, too:
Music Builds Neural Network
Numerous studies have shown the benefit of learning a musical instrument. In 2008, a study presented at the annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society found that children who studied music and diligently practiced a 2-handed instrument, such as a piano, showed an increase in the corpus callum - a bundle of axons that connects the left and right sides of the brain. The region that increased controlled movement in both hands. In a study from the University of Toronto, of 144 children randomized into groups that either studied voice, piano, or drama, or did not participate in these activities, those in the music groups demonstrated an improvement in IQ by the end of the trial.
Schoenhut helps kids learn piano by providing color graphs and color-coded music books so they can learn to pick out simple tunes. Their new Twinkle Tunes Piano, Limited Edition Raggs Model even has a CD with the Raggs band rocking out and singing the songs, so kids can play along.
And It's Fun!
But as impressed as Mom and Dad may be by thick corpus callums and high IQ scores, kids just want to know, "Is it fun?" And, of course, it is!
Not only does Schoenhut design instruments that can be played by kids, they offer them in a variety of styles and colors that appeal to kids at different ages. From the cartooned Electronic Pianos and Piano Pals to the 44-key stringed piano, from ukuleles to electric guitars, there's something for every budding musician.
Here is just a small sampling of the myriad instruments Schoenhut can offer your musically minded customers:
Schoenhut recently added versatility to their product line by introducing a collection of electric toy pianos painted with adorable characters. Rave reviews from visitors at Toy Fair 2014 proved the popularity of these instruments.
Whimsical and appealing for children, these unique and fun instruments will provide hours of musical enjoyment. Included in the selection are a Dog, Elephant, Bird, Alligator, Lady Bug, Zebra and Princess. The 25-key piano sits safely and squarely on the floor within easy reach of little hands...a great choice for beginners.
Schoenhut recently added versatility to their product line by introducing a collection of electric toy pianos painted with adorable characters. Rave reviews from visitors at Toy Fair 2014 proved the popularity of these instruments.
Whimsical and appealing for children, these unique and fun instruments will provide hours of musical enjoyment. Included in the selection are a Dog, Elephant, Bird, Alligator, Lady Bug, Zebra and Princess. The 25-key piano sits safely and squarely on the floor within easy reach of little hands...a great choice for beginners.
Schoenhut recently added versatility to their product line by introducing a collection of electric toy pianos painted with adorable characters. Rave reviews from visitors at Toy Fair 2014 proved the popularity of these instruments.
Whimsical and appealing for children, these unique and fun instruments will provide hours of musical enjoyment. Included in the selection are a Dog, Elephant, Bird, Alligator, Lady Bug, Zebra and Princess. The 25-key piano sits safely and squarely on the floor within easy reach of little hands...a great choice for beginners.
Schoenhut’s popular Twinkle Tunes Piano book enhanced with a limited edition song book and CD featuring the music loving characters from the award winning children’s television show Raggs. Twinkle Tunes is a 1-octave (8-note) keyboard that electronically produces lovely piano sounds. This instrument, designed for the child who has no previous piano study, is paired with Schoenhut’s patented Tri-Play Learning System. Easily portable for young children, this unique toy provides hours of musical fun. Battery included. Additional hardbound books featuring 12 simple songs are sold separately.
Three 24-page full color, hardbound books featuring 12 simple songs that are ideal for all Schoenhut toy pianos but are specifically created to correspond with Twinkle Tunes Piano Book snap-in, snap-out interchangeable design. These delightful Raggs song books utilize the Schoenhut patented Tri-Play Learning System for the child who has no previous piano study. Each book features activities to accompany the songs and a corresponding Raggs CD to assist the child while learning the tune. Titles include: Sing-A-Long Songs, Celebration Songs (holidays) and Learning Songs (ABC’s, numbers).
STRIKE UP THE BAND! This assortment of musical instruments is a great way of introducing children to music. Encourages rhythm and social interaction. Provides lively entertainment for all ages. Fun for jam sessions and group play. Makes a creative, reasonably-priced gift.
STRIKE UP THE BAND! This assortment of musical instruments is a great way of introducing children to music. Encourages rhythm and social interaction. Provides lively entertainment for all ages. Fun for jam sessions and group play. Makes a creative, reasonably-priced gift.
STRIKE UP THE BAND! This assortment of musical instruments is a great way of introducing children to music. Includes castanets, a triangle, and more. Encourages rhythm and social interaction. Provides lively entertainment for all ages. Fun for jam sessions and group play. Makes a creative, reasonably-priced gift.
These 49-key stringed pianos feature perfect pitch with true piano sound (without the use of electronics). The keys are the same dimensions as those on a full-sized piano, the keyboard half the width. Baby Grands are available in White, Black, Red; Upright in Black, White. Includes cushioned bench.
This could be a first guitar for kids and a travel guitar for players of all ages. It includes eight dot position inlays, 1/4 pin pickup, and a silkscreen logo. No assembly is required. Launch date: August 2009.
The perfect instrument for a JUNIOR ROCK STAR. Delivers great sound and incorporates many of the same features as a full-sized professional drum set. Built to last, constructed of high-quality hardwood shells and sturdy chrome-plated steel hardware. 8” Mounted Tom Drum & 10" Mounted Snare Drum, tunable w/ precision, adjustable, double-braced mounting arm 16” Bass Drum, tunable w/ two stabilizers for adjustable angle 10" Crash/Ride Cymbal, tunable, adjustable, Bass Drum Pedal, adjustable spring action Assembly required. Includes: Easy set-up instructions w/ illustrations, adjustable padded foam seat, tuning key, drum sticks.
This dynamic, new line of 44-key baby grand and upright pianos, launched to coincide with Schoenhut’s 135th anniversary, features true piano sound … without the use of electronics. The mid-sized piano is less intimidating for small children who want to learn to play the piano. This line is not intended to replace Schoenhut’s vintage models that feature chime-like tones, such as those originally developed by Albert Schoenhut in 1872. Rather, the introduction is in response to requests from customers for a “new” sound. It’s available in black, white or red. Launch date: January 2007. — If parents wish to start their kids on the piano before they’re ready for the real baby grand, this stunningly beautiful instrument with authentic piano sound is the way to go. It received a TDmonthly Top Toy 2007 award for innovation in mechanics and design within the category of musical instruments for children, as well as its ability to grace any space while furthering a young child’s music education.
Schoenhut's beautiful Pineapple Ukulele with four nylon strings provides clear, authentic Hawaiian tones. The innovative design incorporating a molded composite body with dual curves greatly enhances sound and durability. A birch soundboard which offers excellent tone and resonance, hardwood neck (for rigidity), and molded composite fretboard ensure proper height and spacing of the frets. Available in several vibrant designs. Includes: Pick & Extra String.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 33479 (added 1/19/2012)
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Writer's Bio: ALISON MAREK is an award-winning writer, director and cartoonist whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks, and viewed worldwide in film festivals. See her short films and print work on www.alisonmarek.com. Watch her nefarious villains in the web series www.MuggsMovers.com. Get inspired by her cartoons "Daily ARFFirmations to Unleash Your Inner Fido" at www.ARFFirmations.com. Phew! And then ... Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: ALISON MAREK is an award-winning writer, director and cartoonist whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks, and viewed worldwide in film festivals. See her short films and print work on www.alisonmarek.com. Watch her nefarious villains in the web series www.MuggsMovers.com. Get inspired by her cartoons "Daily ARFFirmations to Unleash Your Inner Fido" at www.ARFFirmations.com. Phew! And then ... 
