Product Description

Inspired by the ever-popular Blue Man group, this tabletop electronic keyboard provides the perfect introduction to music making. New technology interfaces give it an edge on other keyboards of its kind, and keeps beginners excited about music. The Blue Man keyboard features savvy styling, unique play patterns and engaging musical interactions. Furthermore, its... More MP3-compatible, meaning you can play music on top of your favorite MP3 tracks. Keyboard plays pre-recorded songs, and lets you record and play back your own musical masterpieces.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #69619 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Manley
• Model: 27495
• Released on: 2007-09-01
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: 26.63" h x 9.38" w x 13.00" l, 15.00 pounds

Features

• New Technology interfaces makes music fun, easy, and exciting
• Unique styling like nothing in the category
• Unique play patterns and engaging musical interactions
• I-pod compatible! Play your music on top of your favorite MP3 tracks!
• Plays pre-recorded songs and lets you record & play back your own musical masterpieces

Amazon.com Review
When is an electronic piano more than just a piano? When it's the Blue Man Group Keyboard Experience. This 37-key synthesizer keyboard offers a variety of instrument voices, including organ, guitar, trumpet, violin, strings, drums, slap bass, and others. Motion-sensitve tubes line the top and side of the keyboard. These tubes are used by waving your hands in front of them and can function as different drum voices, to "remix" one of the ten pre-programmed songs, or to adjust tempo and volume. It's a lot of fun to hit a drum snare or cymbal without actually touching anything, but it lacks the ability to simultaneously play both the drum and piano, cutting one off for the other. As for remixing the pre-programmed songs, motion in front of the tubes merely shuts on or off the different orchestral voices--nice, but not very useful. The little iPod drawer under the keyboard is a surprising feature--the built-in headphone plug pumps tunes from your music player (iPod or other) through the keyboard's speakers so you can play along to your favorite song. There's also a stereo out port, so you can pipe the music big into a home theater set-up or small into a pair of headphones. A bonus DVD of the Blue Man Group playing their instruments is included to inspire your creativity. --Porter B. Hall

From the Manufacturer
Inspired by the ever-popular Blue Man group, this tabletop electronic keyboard provides the perfect introduction to music making. New technology interfaces give it an edge on other keyboards of its kind, and keeps beginners excited about music. The Blue Man keyboard features savvy styling, unique play patterns and engaging musical interactions. Furthermore, its... More MP3-compatible, meaning you can play music on top of your favorite MP3 tracks. Keyboard plays pre-recorded songs, and lets you record and play back your own musical masterpieces.

Customer Reviews

wow! my son loves it...
My 5 year old son loves music and this keyboard has many features compared to an ordinary piano..It simulates many types of instruments, has some pre programmed classical music, some rhythmic drumming sounds, and a place to jam with your mp3 player..Yes my son is only 5years old, but children of all ages will like this keyboard and what a wonderful present this was from my sister in law this holiday season..

Son loves it for now
I got this for my 11 year old son. It was one of this year's Chanukah presents. He is an aspiring guitarist who is also interested in keyboards/piano. He loves this and has played with it for a quite a few hours already even though he hasn't had much time yet.

It's a great concept. I'm not sure it's actually a great TOY or instrument, though, even though it actually can keep one's interest for quite a while.

The video shows the boys making music with Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Actually, that's the most fun feature on there, yet it's not really making music-- it's using the sensors to create the preprogrammed music that is already on there. I think there are 10 demo songs and this is one of them. Demo mode is fun.

Using all the features together while trying to create your own music is definitely a little more difficult. I think the tools are there, though. It will just take a lot of practice.

The little iPod drawer is only big enough to hold iPods. Not zunes, for instance. And, the included speaker that plays your own music is not good. It can plug into another speaker source, though-- either your own headphones or some other speaker system, so this is a good option.

I think this is a great gift yet at the same time I have reservations about this. Since my son (who is 11 and hard to please) likes it and since it really can keep your interest for quite a while, I'm rating this four stars. Personally, I would rate it about 3 stars, but I see how much my son (and my other children) like it, so I'm giving it four stars.

We liked it!
This item was a very good purchase for our family.My son was asking for this for Christmas and I was having second thoughts because he seemed too young for an item like this.But let me tell you HE LOVES IT, and so do my other 3 kids.My kids are ages 6,8,12,and 14-(2 boys and 2 girls) so boy or girl doesn`t matter they will love it.It hooks to the kids mp3 players and they just love that idea!They play for a long time with this keyboard and always come back to it.It is a little heavy for the younger kids but that doesn`t seem to bother anyone.Oh and make sure you have lots of batteries because my kids play this so much I change the batteries like every week (but they play alot)and it`s because I have 4 of them taking turns playing this so batteries tend to go a little faster that way!But Overall I think it was well worth my money!Hope your kids have as much fun as mine do,Oh and it gets them away from the video games for awhile too.(which is really great!)