Music is one of the most powerful, yet mysterious forms of art. Nearly everyone enjoys it in one form or another, but few artists can make it both unique and accessible, especially on a mass scale, which is why the worldwide success of the Blue Man Group seems all the more improbable. When the trio first came together as an abstract art experiment in the 1980s, few could’ve predicted that the Blue Man Group would go on to win over audiences across the globe. Now, with shows in seven cities and more than 60 Blue Men in rotation, this international musical juggernaut in conjunction with ToyQuest is launching the Blue Man Group instruments, aimed at its youngest fans.

On the surface, it might seem odd that these renowned conceptual artists would pursue the school-age demographic. Your kids, however, probably won’t have much trouble making the leap from Blue’s Clues to the Blue Man Group, especially after they start playing with these top-of-the-line musical instruments.

The Keyboard Experience is a synthesizer that incorporates nine instrument modes: Blue Man Tubes, Blue Man Drums, Blue Man Piano Smasher, Piano, Organ, Guitar, Trumpet, Violin, and Strings. The Percussion Tubes includes five percussion instruments: Blue Man Tubes, Drums, Xylophone, Steel Drums, and Marimba.

Both items bear tubes that allow your child to mix the tune, add percussion, change the tempo, and control the volume simply by waving their hands over the pipes. The instruments can connect to an MP3 player so that your littlest virtuoso can groove along to their beloved tracks, or they can put their own spin on the 10 included preprogrammed songs. When playing by themselves isn’t enough, they can hook up the instruments to speakers, earphones, or even the TV and broadcast them to the world, as well as record their creations for later listening. And for even more inspiration–or just a good time–your kids (or you) can sit back and take in the included Blue Man Group DVD.

It may look like pure play, but young composers are actually getting the chance to experiment with their musical impulses, develop their abilities, and express themselves as artists. And with so many school music programs falling prey to budget cutbacks, fewer and fewer students are allowed such a luxury these days. More important, the tykes are exercising their inherent curiosity–one of the most valuable qualities a child can have.

As one of the few kid-friendly shows on the Las Vegas strip, the Blue Man Group has dazzled and inspired thousands of fans of all ages. This wonderment doesn’t have to end with the performance, however, when you have these ToyQuest instruments at home. Let your kids slap, push, and pound their hearts away on these toys/learning devices. Just remember that the face paint is optional.