Approx. price: £129.99
Age range: 2-14
Website: www.keyskillspianos.co.uk
The Baby Grand is the first piano from Keyskills, spearheading a proposed line of more than 20 models in various colour schemes. The range was created by Sharon Abbott, who spotted a gap in the market when her own daughter took an interest in the full-sized baby grand piano in the family home.
Realising that there just weren’t any realistic, non-plastic toy pianos for her daughter to practise on, Sharon found someone to make one. The positive reception from friends and her daughter convinced Sharon that there was a market for a wooden toy piano.
The result is this very attractive piano, which is somewhere between a toy and the genuine article. It has a highly polished ‘piano black’ finish and very pleasing solidity. Construction is straightforward (although the music stand could fit a bit more firmly into the top) and you get the distinct impression that this piano will last a long time.
It instantly draws children of all ages, with our two- and five-year-old testers having to wait as patiently as they could manage while alternating turns. The sound from the 30 keys is pleasant, being created by hammers striking steel rods, and it is quite reminiscent of old-fashioned music boxes, or even the sort of pianos that feature in saloons in Westerns!
We think that the piano should really come with some sort of basic lesson book, to get children to move on from simply playing (the music stand incorporated into the design is just crying out to be used!). Most parents are unlikely to know how to play a piano and will therefore be unable to give any sort of guidance, so if the initial chance to hook a child’s attention is not to be lost, some beginner’s exercises and simple tunes would be very useful.
Apart from this omission there really isn’t anything to complain about. The price may seem a bit steep in a world awash with mass-produced plastic toys, but you’re paying for a little craftsmanship here.
We have no doubts that this piano will be popular with a great many children and who knows, it may even be the starting point for one or two future concert pianists.
Durability: 4/5
Longevity: 5/5
Value: 3/5
Score: 81%
Conclusion: A beautiful, stimulating toy that could well foster a love of music.
Courtesy of ToyTalk
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