November 2008 Notable Toys — Musical Toys

Suitable for ages 6 months and up, one of these colorful maracas plays a tune when moved or shaken; the other makes a rattling sound.

Woodstock Chimes re-introduces the Remo Kids Drums to its award-winning Woodstock Music Collection® The Kids Bongo Drums feature two drum heads, which produce two pitches, and come with a shoulder strap, allowing children to play this Konga either standing or sitting. By drumming with different parts of the hand, children will find themselves surrounded by a variety of tones produced by the Konga Drum.   All of the Kids Remo Drums feature a fabric covering of vibrant colors and lively rainforest design. Remo is the most famous drum maker in the world.  These truly are the best drums available for young players. They range in size from 6.5" to 15" tall and are priced between $55 and $68, depending on the model.

Kids can celebrate the magic of music with this handcrafted guitar that can be used for guitar classes, private lessons and study, or for play in a child's first “amateur band.”  A quality instrument is always beneficial when beginning the study of music, especially when the student is young. "This guitar is easy to play, tunable, and will help to keep a child pursuing one of the most rewarding pastimes in history: making music," Manager Kristy Schaffer of Schoenhut told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.

This soft, plush roll-up musical snail has eight musical note chips for enhancing the discovery of sound. It comes with six Melody Music Cards. The product measures 5 1/2" x 17 1/2" and is suitable for ages 6 months and up. Launch date: 2008.

Martha™ Mom and Baby is a 10.5” fluffy mom duck with an orange beak and feet. She sports a yellow and lilac chiffon neck bow. Her chick is crafted of yellow plush and wears white and pink bunny ears. When you press mom’s wing, mom’s mouth and body move to the music “How Sweet It Is” while the chick’s wings flap up and down. It includes three replaceable AA batteries. The product's "animated movement" and "design concept" set it apart from similar items, according to Shallu Chhabra, marketing manager for GUND. Launch date: 2009.

The thumb piano or marimba is easy to play and has a quiet soothing sound. By gently striking the ends of the keys with your thumbs, you can play familiar melodies and rhythms or improvise your own. It is a fun instrument to play since anything you play on it sounds good. "The Schoenhut Thumb Piano has twelve metal tongues or keys," explained Kristy Schaffer, manager of Schoenhut. "It is primarily a percussion rhythm instrument. Simple songs are easily tapped out using only your thumbs. It is tuned to the C key. Each instrument is handcrafted." It won a 2005 Dr. Toy Best Children's Vacation Products. Launch date: 2005

Kids clip the Jammer onto their hips and then DANCE to make the music play. Three different types of play included: 1) Dance to Jam Mode: Start moving and the music plays, 2) Beat Box Mode: Hip Pop’s rhythm goes on as fast as you do, and 3) Freeze Dance Mode: Dance until the music tells you to stop. Kids can wear it and dance to 3 different HSM 3 songs: “Scream,” “Night to Remember” and “High School Musical.” 'The Jammer provides great fun and exercise at the same time, using the most popular movie of the year for tweens!" enthused Scott Goldberg, PR and promotions manager for Zizzle. Launch date: 09/01/2008

Kids can play simple tunes on this durable, wooden instrument by just covering different holes to play various notes. It's an excellent instrument to add to a child's band. Launch date: October 2008.

NutQUACKER plush duck is dressed in his felt soldier outfit complete with embroidered details. "This Christmas plush entertains as it waddles around and quacks out the Christmas tune, 'The March Of The Wooden Soldiers,'" explained Stephanie Araujo, marketing coordinator for Russ Berrie U.S. Gift, Inc. Launch date: 2008

This beautifully illustrated and designed music box features four drawers for storing treasures as well as a main compartment for jewelry, etc. "The unique design and illustration of our products make them ideal for the specialty market," said Liz Bjornstad, sales administrator for Enchantmints. This product won a Creative Child Magazine top toy award for 2008. Launch date: 2008.

Kids can sing along with 10 High School Musical songs from all three movies, singing solo or with the High School Musical characters. It plugs into the TV to show lyrics and cast photos on screen. Launch date: September 2008.

This colorful, five-note xylophone is solid wood, yielding a gentle sound when struck by the included mallet. Made from sustainably harvested materials and safe for children under 3, the simple instrument is a great first tool for young children to begin exploring tone and rhythm.
— Denis Hofsetter, owner of The Toy Store in Atlanta, told TDmonthly in summer 2008 that Plan Toys is his top supplier of musical instruments for children. “We don't always have them in stock, but they always do well when we have them.”
— “More and more parents are aware of the importance of interaction with sound, both visually and textually,” said Mary Ellen Cerney, owner of Dear Friends and Children in Duncan, Okla.
— Meredith Zellweger, owner of Toy Jungle in Manhattan Beach, said she has noticed an increase in Plan Toys as people search for greener products for their children. Three of 52 retailers named products from Plan as best sellers in their stores when surveyed in November 2008.

Small, light, and shaped with an easy-to-grip handle, these compact maracas invite rhythm and dance in kids of all ages. Safe for children under 3, Chick-Itas make a nice, simple rattle for babies and a great early instrument for preschoolers. Just the right amount of filling gives them a nice tone and allows for a variety of different sounds to be made.
— “We sell hundreds of LP baby maracas,” said Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids in Madison, Wis.
— Six percent of retailers named maracas as their top musical toy.
— Teresa Ford, owner of Kids Ketch in Lewes, Del., told TDmonthly in July 2008 that maracas are her music section’s best seller, with as many as two dozen per month going out the door.

Bright colored and bright sounding, this simple beginner’s harmonica from Hohner is an easy, portable, durable introduction to musical instruments for a young child. The translucent plastic casing comes in a variety of cheerful colors, and will stand up to being carried around for a little bit of music anywhere. A classic diatonic harmonica, this is a great way to start kids learning about blues music and beyond while having fun creating their own unique sounds.
— “Harmonicas have been selling very well this last year or so,” David Campbell, owner of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., told TDmonthly in summer 2008.
— “Our translucent harmonicas are really popular,” said Donna Stone, manager of The Treasured Child in La Grange, Ky.
— Laurel Marvin Jacobs of Science to Go in Tampa, Fla., named harmonicas as a hands-down best seller in her store: “They always move; [we] probably sell 100 harmonicas per month.”

Sized for small people, the 30” acoustic guitar from Trophy Music has six steel strings that are tunable with durable metal pegs. It stores well in the heavy cardboard box it comes in, and is also offered in a 34” size.
— “Guitars are big sellers,” Paul Faustine of Red Dragon Toys in Brunswick, Maine, said in summer 2008.
— Retailers surveyed sold an average of six guitars per month.
— Nine percent of 68 retailers named guitars as their best-selling musical toy for children.

The Remo Floor Tom is a professional quality drum made to fit smaller hands. It can be played with the two included mallets, hands, or the stick side of the mallet for a variety of sounds. Manufactured with Remo Acousticon®, a proprietary material made with 100% recycled wood fiber and a durable synthetic drumhead. Measures 7.5” tall x 10” diameter. Drumming is a great way to start learning basic musical skills and explore counting. It has been shown to channel energy in a positive way and help kids express themselves.
— “Tom Tom drum by Remo; [we sell] about 100 per year,” said Joanne Farrugia, owner of JaZams in Pennington, NJ, of her top-selling musical toy.
— “I think drums as a category are strongest,” Tara Friese, assistant manager of Tree Top Toys in Redmond, Wash., replied when asked about her store’s music category in July 2008.
— “[My customers] prefer cymbals and percussion instruments,” said Anna Barr, owner of Anna's Toy Depot in Austin, Texas, who credited her clients’ preference for basic acoustic instruments over more electronic or battery operated toys.