January 2010 Notable Toys — Music

The Versus Scoreboard is a fully digital scoreboard and time-keeping device with a powerful audio system. Special sound effects are designed to bring the feel of the stadium home. Featuring state-of-the-art MP3 playback, this sleek and highly-portable device functions as a classic boom box. Awards: 2009 Design Exchange Award for Engineering. Launch date: July 2009.

YBUDS is the first music-sharing earphone that allows you to share music from your MP3, IPOD, PSP, CD or DVD player with up to two other people. It's designed to be great for use on the airplane, on a cruise while laying on the deck, on the beach with friends, in the back seat of a long car drive or just hanging out with friends. Launch date: October 2009.

"Eat A Bowl of Cherries" is from Rhythm Child, an award-winning family band and real-life "Partridge" family group of musicians. Featuring 10 high-energy songs, the CD is created to promote positive music and personal growth for kids by incorporating pulsating rhythms and movements that encourage parents and children to sing, drum and dance together. Launch date: August 2009.
— "Bowl of Cherries" single ranked #1 on SIRIUS/XM's Kids Place Live 13 Under 13 Countdown, and remained on the charts for 13 consecutive weeks (2009).

A smaller version of the Chimalong, the Mini Chimalong comes attached to an illustrated full-color spiral-bound songbook that can be propped up for both the player and the singers to read their parts simultaneously. It folds into a traveling toy.

Rebecca Frezza & Big Truck's latest musical endeavor. A jam-packed, rockin', rollin' enhanced EP. Includes six new songs, two re-mixes, a guest appearance by Roscoe Orman, a.k.a. Gordon of Sesame Street, and an animated music video.  Launch date: November 10, 2009.

13 original children’s songs that take you on a toe-tapping trip through a diverse range of musical styles, with terrific tunes, rockin’ rhythms and enough energy to make the whole family want to come along for the ride.

On "Road Trip," Rebecca Frezza and her band, Big Truck, continue to accomplish their goal of creating children's music that adults can also enjoy.

Road Trip includes two songs that have been featured on NOGGIN's "Jack's Big Music Show".

In Dr. Nicolas Bazan's first novel, neuroscientist Alvaro Cruz finds himself haunted by a recurring dream of a banjo player in a cornfield that leads him on a personal quest to uncover the mysterious past of a New Orleans street singer known as Una Vida. Stricken with Alzheimer's, Una Vida can only offer tantalizing clues about her past through her mesmerizing vocals, incredible recollection of jazz lyrics, and the occasional verbal revisiting of a fascinating life that's fading quickly. As Cruz searches for Una Vida's true identity, he learns profound lessons about the human psyche, the nature of memory, and himself. "'Una Vida' is filled with delightful twists and unexpected turns, all centering around one of the greatest gifts New Orleans has offered the world — jazz," said Five Star's Lisa Goldman. "But the story will also deeply touch anyone who has had to witness the heartbreaking deterioration of a loved one's memory as it is consumed by the unforgiving encroachment of Alzheimer's." Launch date: November 4, 2008.

"Dave Pratt, Behind the Mic: 30 Years in Radio" is the life story of a small-town boy who beat the odds to become the most prolific name in the history of Arizona radio. Over three decades, The Morning Mayor has been honored with more than 100 awards, sold-out arena and stadium concerts, topped ratings in three different formats, become one of the highest paid radio personalities in the nation, defeated cancer, and has raised millions of dollars for charity. More important, Dave has never forfeited his personal beliefs and has never sacrificed his personal character. The loyalty of his listeners and the love of his family have continued to be his driving force. Refreshingly, Dave Pratt has proven that an incredibly successful career and a deep love for family can find balance in one of entertainment's most turbulent industries. Enjoy this sometimes tear-jerking, sometimes humorous, but always sincere ride with one of radio's legendary performers. Launch date: November 1, 2008.

Contagious musical fun. Delightful characters help put those germs at bay! Original, easy to learn songs that really connect with young children.

Bilingual fun for young children. Includes songs for Spanish/English Alphabet, Colors, Numbers, Opposites, Dancing, and more.

A twist to new and old holiday favorites. Holiday fun that children will want to play over and over.

Celebrate the outdoors with music, movement and imagination as children explore and experience nature’s musical symphony featuring songs with movement and delightful character interactions like Let’s Go Green, Quackadoodlemoo, the Ugly Buglies and Waddle Waddle.

Encouraging young children to explore, experience and create through music and imagination for ages 2 to 8. Includes songs to use with rhythm sticks, drums, and lots of fun creative movement activities.

Available in black, candy apple red, midnight blue, three tone sunburst and black sparkle, this Fender electric guitar a maple neck with 22 frets, die-cast tuners, a five-way pick-up selector switch, a multi-ply pickguard and more. It's packaged with an amp and various accessories.

The Woodstock Kid's Accordian has true authentic sound and a 2-octave range in the key of C. The adjustable strap ensures a comfortable fit. Comes packaged in a 4-color gift box and includes a songsheet with instructions and 8 songs. Additional songs are available for download from the Woodstock Chimes website. "This children's instrument has true authentic sound and comes with detailed playing instructions and eight easy-to-play songs so your child (or you!) can play songs the first time you use it," Peggy Daniel, Web Development Director of Woodstock Chimes, told TDmonthly.

Sized just right for the next generation of pickers and strummers, the Woodstock Folk Guitar is a great kid's instrument at a really great price. It looks just like a full size guitar and comes with a guitar strap, pick and vinyl carrying case. Also included is an easy-to-follow instruction booklet that teaches how to hold the guitar, the basic guitar chords, and 11 songs. Additional songs are available for download from the Woodstock Chime website. "This realistic-looking guitar will make any child feel like a pro," Peggy Daniel, Web Development Director of Woodstock Chimes, told TDmonthly.
— "It was a newer item for us and they were gone shortly after Thanksgiving," Chris Cahalane of Cape Cod Toys told TDmonthly in 4Q 2010. “We sold about 8 or 10 in the last month.”

Tuned to a C Major scale, the Chimalong is an 8-note metallophone that can be played by number, color or notes. The youngest children will use the included 15-song songbook to play by color; older children can play by number. As they progress, they'll learn to read the music and play by note. Additional songs are available on the Woodstock Chimes website. Packaged in a 4-color window box. Comes with 2-mallets, 15-song songbook and an extra #7 tube, which changes the B (for key of C) to B flat (for key of G), giving greater musical flexibility. Chimalong is "recommended for its educational value by many professional musicians, including John Sebastian, Marilyn Horne, André Watts, Peter Schickele and the late Jim Henson," Peggy Daniel, Web Development Director of Woodstock Chimes, told TDmonthly. The Chimalong has received the following awards: 2003 Parent's Choice Top 25 Toys in 25 Years; 1995 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Classic Toy, Blue Chip Award; 1995 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum; 1995 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal; and 1987 Parent's Choice Gold Award. Launch date: 1986.
―  Karen Park, owner of Zaks Gifts in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., only recently began selling Chimalongs, she told TDmonthly in 4Q 2010; she sells about four per month.
— Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Games & Books, Inc. in Oklahoma City, Ok.,  told TDmonthly in a January 2015 survey that the Woodstock Chimalong is their store's best-selling musical toy.