![]() I would expect something like that in a place selling just cheap plastic objects. It is sad, that these products sell in a store that I consider to be a unique place full of original, imaginative toys fostering creativity – which are otherwise not quite available in the Czech Republic. From relatively eco-friendly sources, they make toys that are not children hearing friendly. On top of that, the Janod company manufactures the toys from sources certified by FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) – meaning wood that comes from responsibly managed forests, maintaining biodiversity and the rights of local citizens. As a result, they represent a danger that parents without more sensitive musical hearing and even the CTIA may not detect. These toy instruments don’t usually appear on the list of defective toys though, they do meet the usual criteria: they don’t consist of small parts which the child could swallow, they can’t harm him, they are not toxic, they are easy to wash, and most of the time, they are unbreakable. Children who come to contact only with substitutes – out of tune xylophones, and selfplaying twinkly whatnots – and do not have the opportunity to hear actual musical instruments, will have a problem refining their tonal feeling in the long run. In connection to those little toy instruments, a problem arises that is almost not spoken of: out of tune kids’ toy instruments may affect proper forming of musical hearing of the child and the ability to perceive, or rather not perceive, whether or not the melody is in tune. Sometimes with curious headlines such as “CTIA warns about a furry frog with a sucker” or “Revolver – a toy that threatens your child’s health”. On The Czech Trade Inspection Authority website, you can find tens of articles covering this topic. While purchasing a toy for a child, you are most likely to encounter a number of criteria regarding safety, health harmlessness, durability, washability, or eco-friendliness. ![]() To this day, my grandmother regrets that she had nothing but an old flute, which was almost impossible to play – and the instrument had discouraged her completely. The quality of the first instrument and the ability to handle it often determines whether or not the child will want to pursue music at all. And when they aren’t provided with a quality instrument, the result cannot possibly satisfy the child nor those around him – parents who have out of tune trumpets or “playing organ” at home surely know what I mean. In case of musical instruments though, it is more than “playing to be in the Chocolate Factory.” The children don’t play that they are playing music they are actually playing it. On their website, they place them in the “Role Playing Toys” section – a section of toys that let children play the game of pretending to “be someone”. The French company Janod, apart from harmonicas, also makes little pianos, xylophones, accordions, ukuleles and drums. I was stunned – “Are you serious? Does that mean that toys for children don’t have to be in tune?” I realized that there is a far wider problem rising ahead of me that I – as a music teacher – should reflect on. ![]() After all, they are just toys,” she said smiling, and suggested I go to a music store. “Yes, I can hear it too, they are out of tune. She was very helpful and willingly went through all the harmonicas she had displayed, even the more expensive kinds with a picture of a tiger from a company Djeco, and she let me blew in them. I went back to the store, telling the sales assistant it was out of tune and I wanted to change it. What followed was nothing but a major disappointment: the dotted, visually delightful thing gave off just tuneless screeches. I didn’t want to put it to my mouth at the store and try how it sounds. ![]() Eliška Svobodová: Better buy him a real instrument, these are just toys
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