Review on Music Together

About Music Together:

Family Favorites

Family Favorites contains nineteen songs from the nine Music Together song collections. "This CD has won eleven awards including a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor award and includes a 32-page booklet with fun music-making activity suggestions for every song for use at home, in the car, or in the preschool classroom."

Family Favorites 2

"Family Favorites 2 is a compilation of nineteen (19) best-loved songs from all nine (9) Music Together song collections." The award winning CD features songs that could be played at home, in a vehicle, or in preschool classroom.

Lullabies

Music Together Lullabies has won 11 awards including Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Audio-Video Products for 2009. The CD contains eighteen lullabies from the nine Music Together song collections. 

$14.95 each

Price subject to change without notice.

Contact Information

Our Homeschool Experience:

We loved every single one of these CDs. One of our favorite songs was the "Hello Song". I would put a puppet on my hand and sing the song with my 3 year old. Another song that we loved was "All Around the Kitchen". A few weeks ago, I had my sister and her two kids over. I took out all of my pots, pans, and spoons and listened to this song while the kids tried to follow the beat and banged the spoons on the pots and pans. My 11 year old niece said "You guys do this all of the time? This is fun!1"Another song that we loved was "I've Been Working on the Railroad". I would play the song and we would go around the house and act like trains. "Dancing with Teddy" was another song that my 3 year old enjoyed listening to. On a few nights, I would play the Lullabies CD while she slept. The picture below is of her wearing the dress she wore when dancing around the house while listening to the CDs. 

I have been given this product free of charge for review purposes.

Back to School Giveaway

Back to School Giveaway

Have you heard of Awana, Study Smarts, Classical Composers, Institute of Excellence in Writing, Music Together, and See the Light? For this month's giveaway, the vendors mentioned have kindly donated items for me to giveaway.Thank You!!!!

"Whether you attend a public school, private school, homeschool, on-line school or a combination of a few, Study Smarts will help you maximize your education."

"While the DVD cover and workbook are the same for 5-8 and 9-12, the content and the delivery is age appropriate in the DVD presentation. We figured high school students could have a little fun with the characters because the content is college preparatory!"

See the Lightshine brings artists with different specialties together to bring a variety of techniques, art history, chalk artistry, performance arts, gospel chalk art (with black light), crafts, and creative lettering. Musicians include songs they have personally written, performed, arranged, and produced. "The SEE THE LIGHT team is dedicated to bringing scripture and biblical principles to viewers in a fresh, engaging way. . . and promising to teach some exciting art skills along the way!" See The Light offers 5 Bible Stories that incorporate hands on art lessons.

Read more about See The Light on my blog. 

"Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age 7—and the grownups who love them™. First offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement."

"Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning."

Now families may enjoy learning about fine art. Fine Art Pages Collection 1 provides an easy and inexpensive way to introduce your children to amazing artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, and Claude-Oscar Monet. With this collection you will receive a printable collection of 25 famous paintings. All you would need to do is print out the fine art pages onto regular paper or card stock. Then stick the art pages anywhere in your house.

Read more about the Fine Art Pages Collection on my blog. 

 

Excellence in Writing Teaching the Classics uses short stories and the Socratic approach as a model to teach about character, plot, theme, and other elements of fictional and literal analysis.

Read more about the Institute of Excellence in Writing on my blog. 

    "Looking for a complete ministry for preschool to high school
    or seeking a program for a specific age group?
    Needing curriculum that changes young lives through God's Word
    And interested in reaching the community with the gospel?"

Read more about one of the products Awana offers.

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Review of Adventus Music & Piano Learning Solutions

 

Adventus is an exciting and interactive award-winning children's 3 volume series music program. The music program is designed for children ages 4 -10. The Music IQ Homeschool version was specifically designed for homeschoolers ages 4-18. The volume that I reviewed was Children's Music Journey 1. Each volume features 18 of the greatest composers/performers who teach the child about their lives, works, and how to read music, play piano with both hands, compose, and improvise. The piano and music program ensures that the child will have fun by taking part in the interactive lessons, activities, and games. "Children's Music Journey makes use of a MIDI piano keyboard connected to a computer. The computer presents music concepts and provides immediate and intelligent feedback on the students' performance."

 

About Adventus:

Windows XP/Vista/7 or Mac OSX

Each volume includes:

• 95 Interactive Lessons taught by 18 famous composers (Beethoven, Bach, Joplin, Mendelssohn, Villa-Lobos, Satie, Dvorak, Mozart, Beach, Tchaikovsky, Handel, Chopin, Scarlatti, Haydn, Bartok, Chaminade, Debussy, & Schumann)
• 95 Practice Sessions with ‘Miss Melody’ the friendly practice room teacher.
• 150 Learn-to-Play Songs and famous pieces.
• 30 Games to reinforce theory and make learning fun.
• Composing and Improvising with dozens of instruments, sounds, beats, and pre-loaded arrangements from classical to rock ‘n roll.

$69.95 Each
or
$10.95 a month
Prices subject to change.

 Resource Video

Adventus Contact

Our Homeschool Experience:

Oh my gosh, I LOVED this program and so did my 7 year old daughter. I was so very excited when I was selected to review this music program. The set up with the webinar was a bit frustrating but it was all worth it. When we first signed in, my daughter had an opportunity to select an avatar for herself. For lesson 1, Beethoven teaches the child the way around the piano. He also went over high and low sounds. (My daughter had already completed another piano program so this information was a review for her). My daughter loved that she was able to compose her own music and later on be able to hear it being played back using different background music. The song she created could be stored in the library so she was able to go and listen to it as often as she wanted. She was also able to see the music she had composed on a music scale. I loved that every lesson was taught by a famous composer. The initial lesson was started with a piece of music being played that the composer had created. The games and "Miss Melody" incorporated the lesson she was just taught. One of my daughter's favorite games was "Bongo Boy." In "Bongo Boy," my daughter was required to repeat the same beats the boy was playing on his bongo. If she did not complete this activity correctly, there was a crab that would pinch her toe. "Jungle Girl" and "The Princess" were two other games my daughter enjoyed playing. After every lesson, there was another game introduced to her selection. The program also provided an opportunity for my daughter to review the musical alphabet. I really appreciated that the lessons used the music scale from the very beginning. This gave my daughter a visual of where the notes are suppose to be on the scale. The lessons gave her an opportunity to learn, practice, and apply what she had learned. She really enjoyed that the lessons where interactive and she had an opportunity to compose her own music. I loved that she was introduced to the lives and music of famous composers. We LOVED this program and we would recommend it.

I have received this product free of charge for review purposes.

"Read what the rest of the Crew had to say about Adventus Music & Piano Learning Solutions"

Schoolhouse Review Crew

Teaching Kids To Sing

             

Teaching Kids To Sing: 

Teaching Kids to Sing 2-DVD/1-CD set teaches your children and their leaders about the child's voice. The materials are the result of over 40 years of study and teaching by Chris & Carole Beatty.."They are a unique blend of proven principles and fun, interactive exercises presented by Chris & Carole Beatty and the Vocal Coach Kids." The program is for children ages 5 through 6th grade. All the foundations from posture, breathing, tone, rhythm, diction, dynamics, and vocal health are introduced and demonstrated. The CD contains all the music used on the two DVD's in two versions: With vocals and track only. This allows the children to learn, then perform the songs.The first DVD "Building Foundations That Last" helps the student experience how the voice is designed to work. "Building Foundations That Last" guides the singer through posture, breathing tone, and warm -ups using interactive exercises. "This will lead to an understanding of the voice as well as muscle memory that will serve for a lifetime." "Essential Skills for Growing Voices" is the second DVD and it introduces rhythm, diction, and dynamics. It uses the same format of presenting a topic as the first DVD. As the singer becomes comfortable with the lesson being taught, the topic could be reinforced by listening to "Teaching Kids to Sing Accompaniment CD." "This is a convenient way to access the warm-ups and songs the student has been learning anywhere you can use a CD. For full flexibility each exercise and song is offered in two formats. First, with Chris and the Vocal Coach Kids singing with you. Second, with just the accompaniment. This gives you accompaniment that your kids can use even in performance situations."

$44.99

customerservice@rede-commerce.com

615-280-0554

Homeschool Experience:

"Teaching Kids To Sing" helps children learn how important proper posture and breathing is on the sound  their voice makes. While watching the DVD, Mr. Beatty is helping the children understand the importance of standing up straight when singing. He has the "Vocal Coach Kids" bring in items they use when involved in an extra curricular activity. Mr Beatty asked each student to take  the different stance they would have to make in order to perform their activity correctly. My daughter has been in dance for a few years. I had her stand up right and show me a dance step. Then I asked her to shrug her shoulders and perform the same step. This activity helped her understand how important it is to stand upright. We also sang the song "Upright Child of the King." This song would not only review the lesson but also helped her to remember that she needs to keep proper posture. After this little exercise, I asked her why it was important for her to have proper posture and she said "cause it helps me sing." We also enjoyed the different exercises used to help us understand how our bodies vibrate when making sound. We both made silly sounds and touched different areas of our body to feel the vibration. I have a piano and my daughter asked me to play some keys while she placed her hand on the piano. She was able to feel the piano vibrate which was pretty neat. The lessons were interactive and after each lesson, Mr Beatty would check for comprehension. Most of the topics were reiterated at the end of the lesson by using a song. One of the songs was "Breathing Rap." The "rap" helped the kids remember the body parts that move when breathing. My 6 year old daughter also learned how the tongue, teeth, and lips are used when singing. In order to show the kids how these parts of the mouth are used, Mr Beatty had students say silly phrases such as "The bigger the burger, the better the burger." Another one was "Tuna on toast taste terrific." My daughter also learned that when a certain note is accented, it changes the feel and sound of the beat. What I loved about "Teaching Kids to Sing", was the ending in the second volume. It ended with Scripture Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." My daughter and I would recommend this product and it is complete for its purpose.

Endorsement

 Endorsement

I have received this product free of charge for review purposes.

"Read what the rest of the Crew had to say about Teaching Kids To Sing"

Schoolhouse Review Crew



KinderBach Piano Lessons

 

KinderBach:

"Starting early with Music and Piano for Children is the best thing you can do for your child's brain development."  KinderBach is an online, DVD, CD, or Activity Book program that teaches children 3-7 years old how to play the Piano, read notes, learn intervals, rhythm, and music patterns. The kids will enjoy the simple songs, identify music direction, learn notes, and their beat. Level 1-6 will cover proper hand and finger position, staff note reading by pattern, and the keyboard. KinderBach does not use color, sticker, or number keys to teach your child how to play the Piano. The program simply teaches the notes and keeps the lessons fun by implementing games, puzzles, coloring, and singing. Musical experience is not required to teach KinderBach. This music program offers a free trail, coloring pages, and song books. For $7.99 a month or a one time payment of $95.88, the annual membership offers 6 levels of music education through 22 hours of video and interactive coloring pages. If you desire to get a feel for the lesson style to decide if this program will suit your family, you could pay for a one day pass for $5.95. For $99.75 KinderBach also offers music for groups such as private music studios or educational facilities. This classroom music program offers the teacher’s materials including teacher aids, lesson plans, and teacher’s guide. KinderBach also provides the common core standards for music."Research clearly shows Piano is the best instrument with the most benefits to brain development."

 

KinderBach

P.O. Box 181 Le Claire, IA 52753 

1-563-332-0587

 KinderBach Video

My Homeschool Experience:

A few months ago my girl friend was introduced to KinderBach and she mentioned how much her son loved it. I really wanted my daughter to learn how to play the Piano but traditional lessons are so expensive. I signed up for the trail and my daughter loved it. We stopped using it after the free trial because we had so much going on. So when I had the opportunity to request to review KinderBach, I jumped on it. When I was selected to review this product, I was so excited. My 6 year old and I really enjoyed learning how to play the Piano together. We loved it so much we would complete several lessons in one day. The lessons were interactive and short which my daughter loved. They kept her singing, coloring, and physically engaged. My daughter loved all of the characters. Her favorite was Dodi the donkey. She also enjoyed using rhythm instruments. I appreciated the introduction at the beginning of every week  and the opportunity to print out the "print book" for every level before starting the lesson. I also appreciated how the lessons taught about sound, rhythm, and notes in a fun way. My daughter and I loved learning how to play the Piano together. KinderBach is complete for its purpose and we would recommend this product.

 

 

 

 

 

"Read what the rest of the Crew is saying about KinderBach Piano Lessons."

Schoolhouse Review Crew 

I have received this product free of charge for review purposes.

You Tube Video

 

 

Music Together Bringing Harmony Home

 

Music Together:

Music Together is a program that contains music for infants through kindergarten. This music program offers a movement approach to early childhood development. The internationally recognized music curriculum emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement. "Central to the Music Together approach is that young children learn best from the powerful role model of parents/caregivers who are actively making music." The program may be used in preschools, homeschool settings, early elementary classes, church groups, or clinical settings. Music Together Bringing Harmony Home also offers classes that are based on the understanding that all children are able to learn to sing a tune, keep a beat, and participate with self confidence. In addition, with the implementation of instruments, scarfs, and body movement the child is actively involved in the creation of the music. Music Together also offers a program for children with special needs. The cost for the Songbook is $29.95 and the cost for the CD is $14.95. If the music program is ordered as a combo (Songbook and CD K0227) you would save $5. If you purchase the combo and enter the code "Schoolhouse" at the check-out on the Music Together on-line store, you will save an additional $2. This is the URL that will take you directly to the songbook and CD web page Store.

Music Together Video

Contact

Our Homeschool Experience:
My almost 7 year old, my 2 year old, and I enjoyed this music curriculum. It's actually the first opportunity I have had to involved my 2 year old in our homeschool journey. The music was so much fun to listen to and dance. We marched around the house moving our shoulders to the rhythm of the music. With some of the songs we danced around and played with scarfs.We also used our instruments like the egg shaker, steel drum, and sticks. One of our favorite songs was "Palo, Palo." I'm Hispanic so this song was a lot of fun to dance to and sing. Using large movements and having her take the lead was very encouraging to her and a lot of fun. My two daughters and I also danced and did the Conga Line to this same song. We also enjoyed using our sticks on the kitchen pots and pans when we were listening to "Playin' in the Kitchen." "One Little Owl" was another wonderful song the two girls and I danced to and acted out. My oldest and I each represented two of the animals mentioned in the song. The first time around she selected to be the squirrel and the cat. When the song mentioned the word "squirrel" she would hold her "paws" in front of her chest as she chattered. As the cat she would pretend to lick her "paws" and run around the living room meowing. The second time around she wanted to be the crow and the oak tree. As the crow, she spread her arms out and flapped them like wings. Then she ran around the room saying "caw, caw." When it was time for her to be the oak tree, she spread her arms wide as if they were branches. At the end of the song, the tree was "tired" from having all of the animals sitting on her. My daughter (oak tree) fell to the floor from exhaustion. Acting out the song was so much fun. Music Together created such an enriching musical environment. We all had such a great time listening to the music, dancing, playing instruments, acting the song out, and more importantly spending time together. My two daughters and I LOVED this program and WE would recommend it.


Overall Thoughts:

Music Together Bringing Harmony Home provided an opportunity for me to actively participate in the girls' education. When utilizing other curriculums, I was the teacher and I would instruct my oldest in what she needed to do. I participated in the crafts and many other activities but the opportunity was not as enriching as the one we had with Music Together. I really had such a great time dancing, singing, playing with instruments, and playing with scarfs with my girls. The suggested activities were also a lot of fun. The experience was priceless. Watching my 2 year old dance around and shake her little body to the music was so cute. I loved how the program brought us together as a family. The songbook was great. It provided so many different songs and activities. It is not complete for its purpose since instruments will be used but its an awesome program and really worth it. 

Music Together Media

"Read what the rest of the Crew is saying about Music Together."

Schoolhouse Review Crew 

I have received this product free of charge for review purposes.

Juanita the Spanish Lobster

 Juanita the Spanish Lobster

 

 Product:

This musical work from England integrates flamenco guitar music with bel canto opera. The story is fun to listen to and my daughter enjoyed singing along. "You’ll get a kick out of the high level of quality music performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the dynamic storytelling and the multifaceted tongue-in-cheek humor." With the CD I also received a 24-page activity book which contains biographies, sheet music and words for an Elvis-style sing-along song, information on Flamenco and castanets, amazing facts about lobsters, and games. The story is also available in MP3 download from Maestro Classics website. The cost is $9.98. This option also includes the activity booklet in PDF format. The cost for the CD is $16.98.

Maestro Classics
P.O. Box 688
Falmouth, MA  02541

508-548-2811
toll free: 888-540-2811
fax: 508-548-2833

Experience:

My daughter and I were introduced to Maestro Classics by a friend. Our first CD was Swan Lake. My daughter really enjoyed listening to the love story. After our first CD, I wanted to purchase another one so I bought Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. We really enjoyed listening to the story together and talking about it afterwards. The next addition to our collection was Juanita the Spanish Lobster. This story is about a lobster that is bored with living in the ocean. One day she sees a lobster trap and enters it without knowing what it was. The lobster is trapped and rescued by an admirer. After this experience Juanita the Spanish Lobster never wants to leave the ocean again. After listening to the story my daughter and I visited the Maestro Classic web site. We found a link that displayed beautiful artwork by famous artists that spent time studying and painting the ocean. Some of the paintings by Monet where: "Pointe de la Heve en Sainte Adresse", "Terrace at Sainte Adresse", and "Cliffs near Dieppe" . While viewing the paintings I was able to ask her questions pertaining to the usage of shadows, light and dark colors, and the different textures. Vincent Van Gogh is another artist who studied and painted the ocean. "The Stevedores in Arles" was one of the paintings that Van Gogh created. While admiring this beautiful piece of work I was asking my daughter to focus on the usage of different colors. How colors depict the mood of the painting. I also asked her why Van Gogh decided to use orange in the background. She said "because the sun was going down." She is brilliant. :)



Overall Thoughts: 
I love the CDs!!!! They are such a kid friendly way of introducing youngsters to Classical music and different instruments. My daughter really enjoyed listening to the story and learning about the different artist. She enjoyed making a drawing of a lobster on card board and then cutting it out. Completing the activities in the booklet was also fun. Maestro Classics not only introduces children to music but also many other subjects such as art, history, math, science geography, and language arts. I really enjoyed having the possibility of integrating other subjects into my lesson on Classical music. I would definitely recommend Maestro Classics!!!!!

I have received this product free of charge for review purposes.