June 2009 New Specialty Toys — Musical Toys

This petite piano is designed with many textures and moving parts to foster tactile sensitivity. Baby gets a lesson in cause and effect by pushing on the white keys and hearing one of three classical music selections from Beethoven and Mozart. The blue and purple keys light up as the music plays. The textured handle is shaped like a baby grand. Two large, colorful beads slide around on the handle for added play value. Like a player piano, this one has a moving cylinder on the top. Baby can spin it and watch beads rattle and pop inside, or hold the rattle by the handle and shake it to make a baby’s own music. "It fosters tactile sensitivity through multiple textures and moving parts," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2, 2009.

Featuring a performance by Tony-nominated actress Sharon McKnight, this accompaniment CD allows children to sing along with the music of the Disney Broadway musical. In addition to well-known songs from the animated movie, new songs were added by composer Alan Menken. Two versions of each song are provided; the student can learn the song by singing along with guide-vocals, then practice on their own by singing with the accompaniment tracks. It was named a Top Ten Cast Album of 2008 by TalkinBroadway.com. "All songs are fully-orchestrated and recorded in the original show key — ideal for Broadway fans. [It] works well as a learning tool when paired with the sheet music," Malinda, marketing director at Stage Stars Records, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2008.

These floating drums introduce kids to rhythm while they bathe, and can be pitch-adjusted according to the amount of water in the drums themselves. They come with a waterproof rhythm chart.
— “We sell tons of Alex's bathtub musical instruments. A dozen or so [per month],” Mary Porter, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in spring 2009.
— In March 2009, eight of 64 retailers named instruments by Alex-Panline as their best-selling bath toys.
— Alex products are always top sellers for Melody’s Choices, Owner Steve Melody told TDmonthly in spring 2009. “Stock it well and it will sell well,” he said.