Schoenhut Toy Pianos
For most people today, a children keyboard usually conjures up images of brightly coloured plastic keyboards with electronic, out-of-tune sounds. Let us hark back to a simpler time without batteries and weird sound effects. Enter the Schoenhut® toy piano...
The Schoenhut toy piano has a mechanism which is similar to the full-sized pianos, except with tuned steel rods instead of strings. Invented in 1972 by German emigrant Albert Schoenhut in Philadelphia, USA, the Schoenhut toy pianos are purpose built for young children. Schoenhut toy pianos are chromatically tuned to conventional standards, allowing children to learn the correct pitch early. The keys are of similar width as a full-sized piano allowing for an easy transition. The hammer mechanism in the toy piano allows for control of volume by the child. The natural vibrations felt while playing the piano provide a tactile learning experience important for a young child’s development. They are of low fragility and high durability, and exceed the US standards for child safety.
Schoenhut has a slew of awards to their name in their country of origin, USA: Mom’s Choice Award, Dr. Toy’s Seal of Excellence, Best Toys Winner, Creative Child Magazine’s Top Toy of the Year Award in 2005 and 2011, Teachers’ Choice Award in 2005 and 2008, and the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval in 2011. This year, Schoenhut Piano Company celebrates its 140th year, and continues to be considered with high repute as a manufacturer of the highest quality children’s instruments. Apart from their famous toy pianos, they also manufacture other instruments for young children, such as drums, harps, and children percussion sets.
Beyond being a children’s musical instrument, the toy piano is well-loved by professional musicians. World-renowned professional pianists Phyllis Chen (who used one of her eleven toy pianos for her doctoral recital) and Singapore-born Margaret Leng Tan (the foremost performer of toy pianos and the first woman to earn a doctorate degree from Julliard), amongst other professional musicians, perform on and endorse Schoenhut toy pianos. Today, there are toy piano festivals and competitions all over the world, toy piano websites and blogs, and even a special call number in The Library of Congress (USA) allowing toy piano scores to have their own shelf space.
Strongly believing in the developmental value of the Schoenhut toy piano, Music 4 Tots (sole distributor of Schoenhut toy pianos in Singapore) has developed a Play-By-Colour system that allows parents (even those without music background) to teach their child how to play the piano at home. This system uses coloured stickers that sit behind the piano keys, with each note represented by a colour. This sets the stage for perfect and unique bonding activities between parent and child.
An educational tool, a child’s first step into the world of music, a perfect gift, an instrument for precious bonding between parent and child, a serious professional instrument, a piece of history – the many facets of the Schoenhut toy piano.
Come view our full product range and enjoy unbeatable deals at Baby Expo from 14 to 16 December 2012 at Singapore Expo Hall 5B!
Website: www.m4t.com.sg
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