Open Your Ears
Get personal by stocking up on the tunes
By Tina Benitez -- Playthings, 10/1/2005
The melody stays the same. The beat is still strong. Music is personal and ever-present in kids’ lives. From MP3 players that let them carry thousands of favorite tunes in their pockets to playing CDs on a video game console, everyone is making room for music.
Retailers with tunes in stock will hear music to their ears: the ring of sales. From karaoke to dancing games, ethnic songs and animated series soundtracks, music is just as “fun” as any other plaything.
In the seriesThe AcceleRacers team battles the Racing Realms to save the world from the evil Racing Drones. The Hot Wheels AcceleRacers TV movies can be seen on the Cartoon Network, Atlanta, or played with the line of AcceleRacers toys from Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. Now, fans can listen to the AcceleRacers with the Hot Wheels AcceleRacers CD, Sony Music Entertainment, Los Angeles. Inspired by the animated series and toy car line, the CD features 13 Rock, punk and rap tracks inspired by the race teams, Teku, Metal Maniacs, Drones and Silencerz. Trading cards, a code to download a hidden song, a bonus poster and a coupon for $2.00 off the Hot Wheels AcceleRacers DLX Hyperpod are included.
Juanita and the apprenticeA lobster called Juanita and a sorcerer and his apprentice are two of the themes inspiring two new CDs from Magic Music Maestro, Washington, D.C. In Juanita the Spanish Lobster, for ages 6 and up, the music tells the story of one lobster's journey to land via the music of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The CD, available this fall, also features additional tracks and a program book. In early 2006, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, about a feared sorcerer and his apprentice, Fritz, who learns the secrets of the sorcerer's magic, will be available. The Magic Music Maestro CDs will retail for $16.98.
An education in rock and rollThe catchy tunes of the Teacher and the Rockbots CDs, from Power Arts Company, Kansas City, Mo., feature rock n’ roll that helps teach kids about America, science and multiplication—favorite topics, we’re sure! These are the first in the line of Rockbots educational CDs. Songs like “Multiply by Two,” “Easy Thing to Do,” “Nine Planets” and “Branches of Government” are set to rock rifts. The Rockbots line (SRP $12.97), performed by Chris Bihuniak and Bryan Mace, also features Smart Kids Worksheets that can be downloaded from a Web site.
Dance revolutionThere’s a revolution in dance, and its name is Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2. The new interactive game for PlayStation 2 from Konami, Los Angeles, lets two or more players compete in karaoke-esque dance competitions. Last one standing, or moving, wins. The Extreme 2 ($59.99) for PS2 features more than 70 songs and 100-plus minutes of dance music, access to compete online and chart Internet rankings.
A Workout mode, Advanced Mode and Dance Master Mode are also available, as well as a playable demo of Karaoke Revolution Party. This November, Dance Dance Ultramix 3 debuts for Xbox. The Ultramix 3 ($64.99) is for two to four players and features Freestyle Mode, Quest Mode and Jukebox Mode. More than 65 songs, including remixes, online play options and Workout and Edit modes.
On the jukeboxKids can have a customized music-listening experience with Kid’s Juke Box, Carlsbad, Calif. The Kids Juke Box line includes seven to 12 personalized CDs that feature six to eight songs that mention kids’ names 40 times. Each song is performed individually for close to 4,000 names in the company database. The CD can help children build name recognition and speech patterns. Morning and bedtime songs are included to take kids from early morning to nighttime. The CDs will retail for $19.95 and include a Marvel and Bratz characters later this year.
A jump start on readingIn JumpStart Reading with Karaoke kids learn how to read by using karaoke. The software, produced by educators and software programmers, was created using research that links a child’s own voice and building reading skills. The software from Knowledge Adventure, Torrance, Calif., features a small microphone that can be plugged into any computer.
By using Jumpstart, Val the literate cat guides kids through activities like reading letters aloud and mastering 200 words that are essential to beginning readers. Kids can learn the alphabet, the difference between uppercase and lowercase, comprehension and more. Progress reports to track reading success are included in the package. Jumpstart, which retails for $29.99, also includes 24 karaoke read-along songs with videos.
Kids do the singingThe 4 Kidz by Kidz Two tracks are just that. All the music, from 4 Kidz by Kidz, Charlotte, N.C., is sung by kids, and it’s for kids. How about “Let’s Get it Started” by the Black Eyed Peas or “Inside Your Heaven,” originally voiced by American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood? The CD, sung by the All Starz All Kidz Group, retails for $10.99.
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