This large, attractive cube demonstrates how musical instruments cooperate
to create lovely tunes. Featuring eight classical song pieces from Mozart, the
Mozart Magic Cube is a toddler-friendly toy that invites exploration
and exposes young children to the joys of music.
Each of the six sides of the interactive cube features a large, light-up button
that activates music. Five of the sides feature a musical instrument--piano,
french horn, violin, flute, and harp. The image of the instrument lights up
and flashes along to the tempo, offering kids visual reinforcement of the instrument
they are hearing. Children can push the piano button to listen to a solo piano
excerpt, for example, and then select the flute to hear the two instruments
play at once. Pushing the piano button as the music plays will disable it until
the button is pressed again, and touching the violin will add the instrument
to the mix. As children experiment with the toy, they learn how instruments
sound on their own and in tandem.
The sixth side of the cube features an Orchestra button. Press on it, and any
of eight Mozart selections plays with input from all five instruments. Kids
can subtract instruments to hear how the song is affected, add them back, and/or
add more instruments in any combination. Another tap of the Orchestra button
triggers a different tune.
The toy is well-designed with soft corners, bright colors, and responsive buttons.
It is rather heavy, however, so parents will likely need to monitor play to
prevent the toy from being thrown and causing injury. Also, we wish there was
a volume control setting. All things considered, however, this is a smart and
engaging toy that will please the senses of babies, toddlers, and their parents.
Also available from em-bry-on-ics, and similar to the Mozart Magic Cube,
is the Sing With Me Magic Cube. This toy is designed the same way, but
in the place of eight Mozart pieces is an equal number of children's favorite
songs like Pop Goes the Weasel and This Old Man.
