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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Known for making innovative and educational children's toys, LeapFrog has introduced the "LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School". This colorful toy can be used, according to the description, to compose music and to play music and games. The recommended age range for this toy is 3 years and older. A handle at the top of the unit allows a small child to carry the "LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School" wherever they choose to go. There are no loose pieces to lose which can be a real plus.
The "LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School" operates by touch. Turning on the unit requires a bit more pressure on the small on/off "button" than expected. Initially, younger children may not exert enough pressure to turn on the button and may become frustrated. The instruments, small keyboard, and other functions activate with a much lighter touch.
In the "compose" mode, the user is told to touch one of three instruments and listen to what happens. Then the child is told to spin the fish to make the music go faster. However, there is a fish playing a horn and a circular school of fish neither is capable of "spinning", but if you move your finger rapidly around and around the school of fish, the music speeds up. Touching the "song" key and then one of the six animals causes a portion of a familiar childhood song to play. The "game" mode directs the child to touch an item or color; if correct, the voice gives positive reinforcement. The toy ignores, by saying nothing, an incorrect answer.
I was not impressed with the "LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School". Although targeted for ages 3 and older, my 3 ½ -year old grandson was quickly bored by the "LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School". The questions in the game mode, for example "touch something red" or "find the harp", asked him to identify things he was able to do beginning at age one. In my opinion, most children in the recommended age range would also find the game mode too simple to be interesting. The compose mode does not provide a wide scope for or means of composing original music; the keyboard is limited to one octave. It is also small and oddly shaped. Adults who dislike tinny sounding musical toys and annoying repetitious songs will thoroughly dislike the "LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School".
I would not recommend the "LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School" for the targeted age group. It might be suitable for much younger children, but I have reservations with respect to its overall educational value and interest-longevity. In both my opinion and my grandson's, the B. Meowsic Keyboard is a much better toy for encouraging musical interest and composition. He is still playing enthusiastically with his "piano" after two years. The "LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School" was relegated to the corner after only a short time.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program When this arrived as toys go I didn't have too many problems coming out of the box. Batteries are included. The whole surface is smooth on the toy. I do wish that there was a slight texture on the animals etc. The on button needs a little more pressure to switch on than the other areas. There also is a switch at the back to reduce the volume. The activities are simple and easy to grasp. There are three little stars that light up next to the horn, drum and the guitar. To me they seem a little strange as nothing else lights up. My one year old had fun touching everything although she is not doing the educational piece. The questions and actions are a little on the basic side but can still be fun. Overall this is a nice toy.Best Deals for LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The top surface of this toy is smooth. There's no way to see or feel where the 'buttons' are to activate various features. Granted, it's pretty forgiving. You can tap anywhere on the animals, anywhere on the keys, to make sounds. But after a few seconds of watching a kid trying to tap the light next to the drum kit instead of the drum kit itself, even i was frustrated.As with most LeapFrog toys, the voices are shrill and it defaults to being noisy and pestering. With a few taps, you can make it quiet so your child can explore the different musical notes and sounds, but unless you do, it's just an endless loop of noise.
There are three modes, 'Compose', 'Song', and 'Game'.
Compose is a sort of free-for-all. It starts with the 'guitar' loop playing, and kids can bang on the keys or the animals-with-instruments to add more noise.
Song encourages kids to touch the different instruments to hear little samples of sound, or they can touch an animal-with-instrument to play a song. (Now this would have been a great opportunity to actually teach something. If, for example, the keys lit up to show which note was being played in the song. But no, it just plays a song like 'twinkle twinkle'.)
Game involves the device telling the user to touch a certain color. There are pretty much only two options the key of that color, or the animal/instrument of that color. The device then tells the kid what they touched (the key color, the animal name, the instrument), and starts again. Given that there are only 8 keys, 6 animals, and 4 instruments, the options are limited.
There's pretty much nothing this toy does that isn't done by every other toy on the market these days. Hit a button, hear a song. The only interesting education option, using the playing song to teach a little basic keyboarding, isn't one of the features.
And in a bid to lighten the toy or lower the cost by reducing the material requirements, the back of the toy is mostly empty space with thin plastic bands for structural support. While not actually sharp, they do dig into a kid's lap if they're wearing shorts instead of long pants. I'll post a picture of this (the toy, not the red lines of my child's legs after using it).
If you want your kid to experiment with music, get them a keyboard. There are some pretty cheap, pretty good ones on the market these days that actually do teach kids how to play some simple songs. If you just want more noise in your life, this one'll do.
Honest reviews on LeapFrog Touch Magic Ocean Music School
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The minimum age for this product is 3 years old, so I had a reasonable expectation that it would be fun for a just-turned-four-year-old. Not so.Overall, I think it's an interesting idea. It lies flat, and is probably easier to transport than a keyboard or drum form factor. It is inspired by tablet computing. However, the lack of knobs and keys made it difficult for my child to grasp its purpose.
When I showed him how it was used, he said it was a boring toy. This is a boy that loves music, that likes to dance, play with a real drum and ukelele. After seeing this toy, he asked me if we could use the REAL keyboard (a synthesizer I own) instead.
Overall the product felt like it was trying too hard to be educational.
If marketed at very young children 1-3 it might be a good toy.


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