BOOMWHACKERS Boomophone XTS Whack Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)Just as the product's package states, Boomwhackers Tuned Percussion Tubes are indeed "instant musical fun," no matter what your age is! (My mom, at 71, enjoyed slapping the C-note boomwacker minutes after we unpacked the product.) This was our family's very first set of boomwhackers. First time boomwhacker buyers should truly consider this nice little set because it totally gives you all the start up items for maximum enjoyment and fun. This package includes eight boomwhackers--diatonic Scale, C Major; two mallets; one octivator / tube cover to change the sound of an individual tube; an information sheet; a XyloTote carrying case; and a "Whack--a--Doodle--Doo! Color-Coded Children's Songbook Volume 1," which contains 20 fun songs. Of course, more boomwhacker products and accessories are available, so in time your initial set can grow in size, range, and ability. For more information, just search for boomwhackers on Amazon and / or visit the Boomwhackers official website, which is one of the most creative places on the Net! At that webpage, you can hear the tubes, and you can find a plethora of fascinating products and ideas.
The designers of this set planned very well, and I am impressed with the musical opportunities that this kit can provide for children, families, youth groups, or school classes. The box displays a seal: "Parents' Choice Gold Award" from the Parents' Choice foundation. With just a quick review of product information, one can begin to see the potential for many musical adventures and team-building. Homeschooling parents / guardians who want to add music to their curriculums may truly appreciate this product. The included song-book is written in a very fresh, user-friendly way, and tubes are easily matched to songs / notes. Some basic music lessons are included in the "It's Time to Play Music Section." The enclosed information sheet offers insight on how to use and play the tubes as well as a humorous glossary of Musical Tubes vocabulary--- Boppin'; Carvin' the Air;" Duelin'; Groove....to name a few!
Features we love: The boomwhackers are sturdy, tuned musical instruments that are non-intimidating and approachable for anyone who simply has the ability to whack / hit something. They are well-labeled and colored coded with the songbook, which allows even people new to music access to song playing! The XyloTote is a handy carrying case as well as an instrument unto itself utilizing your boomwhackers in a grouped way. You can choose to play the tubes individually away from the tote or group together in scale order with the tote. You can carry the tubes, the mallets, and the book all together. The XyloTote has a pocket for the songbook. // In the Boomwhacker world, music can be as simple a tapping a basic rhythm or as complex as the songs on the CD WhackTracks: The Boomwhacker Sessions by Ralf Illenberger and Craig Ramsell.

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BOOMWHACKERS C Major Diatonic Scale Set (Upper Octave) Boomwhackers Tuned Percussion Tubes Review

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(More customer reviews)Boomwhackers are a great product enjoyed by music teachers and their students. They work best under supervised use by a music teacher rather than just giving them to two- and three-year-olds to be randomly whacking away. Also, though they're pretty durable, they are not meant to be in a contest to see who can whack them the hardest. As they get a bit flattened with use, they will work better if you round them out again.
In a music class of grade school children, simple melodies can be taught, but an easier use, and best for young children, is to have a group whack out simple chords while everyone sings a simple song. Can be used with simple I, IV, and V chords. They become even more useful if you purchase the set of chromatic notes, so you can do some tunes in other keys or that require a different part of the scale for the melody. Add a second set, buy and insert the "octavators" (small inserts in one end), and they'll sound one octave lower. This gives you a second octave with which to work.

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With these 8 polyethylene percussion tubes perfectly tuned to the C Major scale, musical fun can begin by simply whacking each on one's thigh, hand, table, chair, etc. The 8 differently colored tubes are labeled with their specific note and measure. 12 L. to 24 3/4" L. x 1/2" diam. Set of 8 Boomwhackers(R) Tubes only. Ages 3 yrs. +."

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Remo Set of 4 Paddle Drums Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a professional composer, percussionist and father of a three year old, so I am probably more critical than most when it comes to educational musical instruments. My wife bought me the Paddle Drums 8 and 10 inch Set w/ 3 Balls over ten years ago, and they're still going strong. In fact, my set is so old that they didn't even come a birdie (shuttlecock used in badminton), just the foam balls. We lost the balls years ago, but it's pretty easy to find replacements here on Amazon, such as these Monkey Business Foam Replacement Balls.
A digression about the drum heads: they are made by Remo, one of the oldest and most respected drum head companies. They are pre-tuned, meaning they have distinct pitches, and they hold their pitches quite well. The heads are textured FiberSkyn? Heads, so it's actually possible to play them with drum brushes (you probably wouldn't, but I thought I should mention it). You can even play these heads with drumsticks, if you'd like. However, if you constantly play the heads with real drumsticks day after day, eventually the heads will "detune" and the pitches will lower slightly, as ours did. The pitches of ours are lowered by ca. a whole step, but they still sound good and are very playable. Replacement heads are probably available from the Remo company (just search Remo on the internet and give them a call). However, unless you take a knife to these heads, they should last a very long time. The supplied drum key is used from removing or replacing the drum heads, which are a cinch to replace. As for the exact pitches, since these detuned over ten years, I'm not sure what the original pitches were, but you could probably contact Remo to find out.
Back to the review... the description here is vague as to which balls this set will come with, but it will probably ship with at least three foam balls and two short mallets, it might also ship with a synthetic shuttlecock (the little feathered-looking projectile used in badminton). You can use other balls with the drums, including ping pong balls, and even squash balls, although they don't bounce much. Tennis balls are a little too heavy. The light foam balls are wonderful since they allow kids to use the paddles inside without breaking anything. The blue and white ball floats in water and has a harder consistency (and is louder when paddled), so it's better for using outdoors. The spongy yellow and red balls are porous and will absorb water, but they produce a soft, gentle sound and are better suited for indoor use. In theory, you can use these in a pool or even in the ocean, but they might get a little dirty. The heads will not be affected by water.
Finally, the age group this is most appropriate for is probably ca. age 5 on up, and adults with have fun using these as well.
All in all, I give these an enthusiastic five stars. I wish more toys were this inventive, fun and well-made.

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