Customer Reviews

BOOMWHACKERS Boomophone XTS Whack Pack

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

Boomwhackers are a great way for young children to play a musical instrument without much help. It gives them a good basic understanding of some musical principles. Fun for adults too! Case that it rolls up in is a great way to store them, very convenient.

My daughter asks for instruments every year for Christmas, but we aren't buying a pre-schooler violins and harps just yet! She wants a full drum kit as well (with cymbals of course) so we picked the boom whackers as a good alternative. They have turned out to be a lot of fun, and my daughter has started paying enough attention to the colors to actually follow the songs. We are firm believers in piano as a true beginner instrument, but the boomwhackers have been very good at letting my daughter play tunes and have fun without the rigor of having to learn notes yet. And they are not so obnoxious that even when she just whacks that the sound is displeaing. A very nice product for us so far.

Just a warning, these tubes are thin plastic not metal. The sound quality is much like hitting a paper towel tube, not like a xylophone. I am a little disappointed but probably won't go to the trouble of returning it since the toy is for my two year old. I wish it had said somewhere in the description that these tubes were made of plastic.

The instrument was given as a gift to our 4 year old grandaughter. My son told me "the boomophone is an awesome musical gift. The keys are big enough for a little kid to hit and it's not very loud.""

Introduces the concept of making music at a basic level; reading music. Has a group activity aspect that is fun in a classroom or elsewhere. Requires a basic music booklet with instructions, included, that should be enlarged and packaged with the product.

I got this for my nephew's first birthday. He's a little young to make any music, but likes to hit things, so he loves it! He also likes to dance to the "music" I play, which, by the way, is super fun for me too. Win-win.

My kids friends want to play with this whenever they come over and it was a big hit last Christmas from Santa. My daughter just brought it to show and tell in kindergarten and we have fun trying to make songs together. The mallets broke soon after we got it but I'm sure I could replace them easily, I just haven't had to try! Great gift and easy to cart around in it's case.

As an adult. I was not overly impressed with this product, but it was purchased for a young girl in Germany and she was overjoyed with it.