From Discovery Toys: Welcome to Jam Session: a rousing and playful introduction to rhythm band music. Easy-to-grasp Jam Session instruments are perfect for small hands. Each piece creates pleasing percussive sounds that promote sensory stimulation, hand-eye coordination, listening skills, and musical awareness.

Claire and I had the opportunity** to try out Jam Session by Discovery Toys. This is a nice, durable, plastic set of musical instruments including a tambourine, castanets, a drum & mallet, and a guiro & mallet. What’s a guiro? I always thought those things were called Ridged Fishies. Now, I know.

The set also includes a Play Along Music CD.

At $45, this set may be a little more expensive than some other musical instrument sets out there, but these pieces are showing absolutely NO wear and tear, so I’d say the added cost is worth it. The other set we had (from a different company) met a worse fate, and it didn’t even come with a really cool Play Along Music CD. Claire loves the CD as stand-alone CD, with or without the accompanying instruments.

What they say about the “percussive sounds” being “pleasing” is true! I’ll be brutally honest here. When I read that, I rolled my eyes. “Only if the set includes earplugs,” I said to myself. I mean, have you ever heard musical instruments in the hands of preschoolers? “Pleasing” is not the first adjective that comes to mind. Well, these instruments proved me wrong! I couldn’t believe it. The instruments are not annoying; they’re mesmerizing. They don’t make the adults run in fear. If anything, they cause everyone in the house to come and join in the fun. It’s impossible to play these instruments alone. As soon as you pick one up and play a few beats, you’re joined by other willing band members.

So, pop the CD into your player and set it on repeat. Grab an instrument and play to your heart’s content. It’s okay if you’ve misplaced your earplugs. You won’t need them with this set.

**I was not monetarily compensated for this review. I was given a free Jam Session set in exchange for an honest review. Photo provided by Discovery Toys.