Melissa and Doug Band in a Box

The thin paper on the tambourine tore before we even had it all the way out of the box. I don't see how it could have stood up to even the most gentle use, much less to an enthusiastic child. It is also really small, even compared to other toy tambourines I've seen. One of the maracas split open along the seam, though we put the beans back in and it sticks together pretty well. I guess some glue might fix it better, but I'll be sure to add more beans - the skimpy amount in there just doesn't make a satisfying "shake".

The triangle is very large and looks sturdy, but it sounds awful, not at all like the pleasant sounds of the ones at our child's preschool. The lengths of the sides are uneven; perhaps that's why it is out of tune with itself. It's also pretty heavy for a small child to hold. Let's see what else... the hollow wooden rhythm stick also broke, during normal use, but it at least lasted about two weeks of occasional use. The clapper stick is still intact but probably because my son hasn't used it much. The cymbals seem sturdy enough although the screws that hold them together are a bit rusty (they arrived that way) and the brass finish scratches off immediately so they look really beat up.

The wooden box was not a selling point for us, though I suppose it could be a good storage solution for some families; for us it is easier to put the instruments in a bin or basket, since we have some other instruments, jingle bells etc., that won't fit in the box.

So, while I can't recommend highly enough giving your child rhythm instruments, skip this product and either get find some better quality ones or just get out the wooden spoons and plastic containers from your kitchen - they last longer and are more fun.


Not so durable Band in a Box   July 18, 2003
28 out of 28 found this review helpful

This item was purchased for as a Christmas gift. Within the first day the head of the tamborine was destroyed by light to moderate tapping. Not too worried, figured not everything is toddler proofed. But six months later, with minimal use, one of the handles from the maracas came off, beans everywhere. Thankfully my son came to me right away to tell me it had broken. The handle just comes right out of the head, the seal is gone. I'm in the process of tracking down the manufacturer's website. But if you have little ones, check these handles!!!!


For younger children with supervision!   January 20, 2005
KSL (Seminole, Fl United States)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

My daughter got this for her 1st birthday last year and these musical instruments are well made. I don't let my daughter play unattended with the triangle and it's metal stick in fear she might run with it, but other than that this is a nice set. My brother's son did break the Spanish shaker by hitting too hard . So, if you get this as a gift just watch your child, as you'd do with other toys and you shouldn't have any major problems.


Good but not great   November 29, 2003
Nat's Mom (Newton, MA United States)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful

I bought this for my almost 2 year old when he was just 18 months. He uses it nearly every day. I play CDs while we are playing with his toys and he likes to go over to the box and play along with different instruments. Sometimes we make a little marching band around the living room.
Like other reviewers, we had a problem with the tambourine almost immediately, but I taped the entire top with packing tape and it is fine. We have had no problem with the shakers even though he likes to knock them together and on other things. And they are plenty loud! The only thing we don't like is the triangle. The string comes off constantly and is hard for him to hold - not heavy just a problem because of the string - but he likes to bang it while I hold it. This is not high quality, but makes a nice first introduction to musical instruments.