Music for Preschool Classroom

[tomzarbo]

My boombox that I used to play CD's in my classroom is dying rapidly and I need a replacement. But, I would like to improve the sound quality a little bit. The unit I have is a standard (fairly expensive as it is marketed to schools exclusively) CD player/tape player combo that sounds half decent.

I was thinking about various ways to go about this, and since I am in between houses and living with mom and dad, I was considering this:

http://store.cambridgesoundworks.com...B000ZN0D04.htm

I bought one for my parents last year for Christmas and it does a very admirable job for it's size, and it has a remote, which would be helpful for me as I need across-the-room access at times. The price is as low as I've ever seen it except for refurbs which I don't think have free shipping. It's still a bit more than I really wanted to spend.

Then as a cheaper alternative, I considered this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+X...ustomerreviews

Cheaper, but less quality I imagine. But, since it's my $$$, I could live with it. But now that I look further, it won't play MP3 discs, so that's out.

Most boom-boxes really leave a lot to be desired it seems, and many will distort badly and/or emphasize the voices on those cheap 2" speakers they use.
By the way, low bass response isn't needed, as it would carry through the building and bother others, so no sub is needed or desired.

I also thought about just using an iPod and T-amp and some Dayton $29 speakers, but I really need a durable CD player as well occasionally.

I'm wondering, how would you go about putting sound in a preschool classroom? Mostly child-themed music, teaching stuff; and not too loud. Keep in mind I really can't build anything at this point.

Any under $200 ideas?
TomZ

[Paul Carmody]

Man, I teach preschool kids for 1 hour a week. That's enough! You are a saint, Tom!

[arlis_1957@yahoo.com]

i was thinking the same thing! perhaps a couple of overnite sensations with a cd player and a t-amp would work.

[donprice]

Ask the parents if anyone has a disposable CD player, receiver, or appropriate sized speakers to donate. You know someone has stuff that is too good to throw away but not worth the trouble to sell. Or daddy needs an excuse to upgrade to 7.1 DD surround.

Where are you?

[tomzarbo]

Man, I teach preschool kids for 1 hour a week. That's enough! You are a saint, Tom!

i was thinking the same thing! perhaps a couple of overnite sensations with a cd player and a t-amp would work.

Well, I do have a partner to help me, but 15 3-year-olds is enough to really test anyone's patience. Also, most of them speak Spanish, which I do not. Ugh! I'm learning though!

I guess I could use an el-cheapo CD player w/remote and a T-amp. Heck, even a cheap DVD player might work, most play MP3 discs I think, but they are kind of slow accessing tracks in my experience. I'm irritated at myself because I had the stuff to throw together a decent little system before we sold our house, but almost all of my stuff is in storage. Double Ugh!

Ask the parents if anyone has a disposable CD player, receiver, or appropriate sized speakers to donate. You know someone has stuff that is too good to throw away but not worth the trouble to sell. Or daddy needs an excuse to upgrade to 7.1 DD surround.

Where are you?

My client's parents are very poor. Most are sons and daughters of immigrants and I doubt I could bring myself to ask them for anything; good idea though. I'm in Southern NJ.

I may visit the Walmart/Best Buy this weekend with my wife and see what they have quick and easy. I saw a few units at our local Salvation Army store and Goodwill stores, but I didn't need one at that time, and I kind of doubted if they worked.

She doesn't really want me spending $240 on a radio for my classroom, but like I told her, I'm there more than at home! Why not have a nice stereo there?

Thanks for the suggestions.

TomZ

[generic]

I doubt that I will ever own a portable boom box again, but if I had to for whatever reason, I'd probably get this.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CC4Q8wIwAA#

[mtmpenn]

Will you actually have to move the thing around? Or just find a spot and hook it up?

If you don't have to move it, consider this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882108360

I have no idea how it sounds, but it looks like it fits your requirements (other than possibly portability).

[tomzarbo]

I doubt that I will ever own a portable boom box again, but if I had to for whatever reason, I'd probably get this.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CC4Q8wIwAA#

That's a rugged looking unit, and I'm sure my kids would love to see that thing on my desk!

Will you actually have to move the thing around? Or just find a spot and hook it up?

If you don't have to move it, consider this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882108360

I have no idea how it sounds, but it looks like it fits your requirements (other than possibly portability).

Thanks for the link, I don't need to move it around, and I like the fact that it has a USB connector to play music MP3's from - that's even easier than an iPod in my opinion. I would'nt have to change the CD's very often.

Plus, I could always design some cool speakers for it later on after we move into a house. Maybe something like two great big Leggo blocks or something! That could be fun.

Thanks again, all.
TomZ

[tomzarbo]

Will you actually have to move the thing around? Or just find a spot and hook it up?

If you don't have to move it, consider this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882108360

I have no idea how it sounds, but it looks like it fits your requirements (other than possibly portability).

I just ordered this unit a few minutes ago. The wife mumbled a sleepy "okay" as she lay half-asleep on the bed...

This should work nicely, and allow me to build a set of nicer speakers in the future, and possibly even some Dayton "Exciters" stuck to some foam board with various kid-themed pictures laminated on them.... possibilities!

Thanks MTMPenn,

TomZ

[mtmpenn]

No problem! I hope it works out for you. My wife is in education - teachers are saints. Where in Jersey are you? I'm in Philly.

Mike

[tomzarbo]

No problem! I hope it works out for you. My wife is in education - teachers are saints. Where in Jersey are you? I'm in Philly.

Mike

Near around Bridgeton. Not too far from Vineland, in the country (cows accross the street) !

TomZ

[kduggan]

My inlaws have the protable system in the Newegg link and it is impressive for it's size and price. It's still just a cheap boom box but it is better than most

[tomzarbo]

My inlaws have the protable system in the Newegg link and it is impressive for it's size and price. It's still just a cheap boom box but it is better than most

Well as soon as I'm back in a house, I'll be whipping up some cool "fuller range" speakers for the classroom, if my director doesn't flag me coming in the door with them.

But it's nice to know, thanks! Something that small I didn't expect much from, but I don't think 3 year olds have very discriminating ears.

TomZ

[tomzarbo]

Just a head's up on this little unit I bought from Newegg for $59.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882108360
It works real well for my application - a preschool classroom. I just purchased three cheap flash-drives to put various music on: Sleep/nap music on one, movement games on another, and bean-bag/scarf music on the third. It reads from the USB port fairly quickly, and it sounds decent and goes loud enough.
The speakers are a little funky, but sound nice. By funky, I mean that even though the literature says that the grills are not removable-they are/I did. The grills have the speaker hole just as big as the driver, which makes the speakers act almost like they are in a tunnel. They are very directional, where my old boom box sounded loud everywhere.
But the quality on this unit is much better. The remote is handy for when I need to change songs or pause from across the room. All told, a good deal of features for $59. But I see it looks to be out of stock. Thanks MTMPenn for mentioning this one, it is working out great.

TomZ

[killersoundz]

Rock their little souls.