KinderBach....music education for little ones...

As a TOS Crew member, I received a free membership to KinderBach, an early music education program. During my free membership period, I've had access to the online video lessons as well as the printables.

Karri Gregor, the creator and founder of KinderBach, has developed a program that engages young children and makes learning connections using friendly characters, visual images, and catchy words and phrases. For those who find a more traditional music program for young students boring or dry, this is an effective alternative.

This is a year-long curriculum that covers the following goals in musical education:

• music vocabulary



• notes



• rhythm



• listening skills



• music composition

........and more! These skills are taught on a level that young elementary students should be able to understand and learn. The lessons are presented in a video format. Karri takes the kids through each lesson at an easy pace, taking time to review key concepts through visualizations. Kids learn musical concepts as their imaginations are engaged in stories about a young boy named Frisco and his friends who live on the piano. The names of these friends correspond to letters of the scale, such as Dodi, for D, and so forth.

This program is geared toward upper preschool/lower elementary students with no to very little musical background knowledge or experience. And if you're a parent who's intimidated by your own lack of knowledge or experience, fear not! First, you can learn right along with the kids. Plus, Karri has a pdf parent/teacher guide, so you don't have to let on to the kids you don't already know all this!

What is needed?

• either a piano or keyboard--it doesn't have to be top of the line.



• either a dvd player or access to the Internet, depending on which mode you are using



• access to a printer and computer to be able to take advantage of the computer activities and printables that go with the lessons



• commitment



• consistency

What do I like about this product?

• To a large degree, it is self-paced. Parents monitor each lesson, and Karri herself points out that some kids need longer than others.



• It involves multiple intelligences, including aspects that reach out to different learners and to multiple senses.



• It catches the interest of young learners through the use of color images and friendly characters, which takes away a little bit of the scare for both parents and kids who haven't been exposed to music lessons.



• The program has a large amount of printable resources and online activities.



• The website is easy to navigate.



• Karri sends out lots of newsletters, not an annoying amount, but she keeps you informed of great deals and news.

Does this take the place of formal music lessons? No, but it is an introductory program which will prepare kids for more traditional programs. However, if your kids already have a basic understanding of music theory and concepts, then I recommend moving on to a more advanced program.

What's the cost? That depends of which version is chosen.

If you pay up front for a one-year subscription to the website, the cost is $95.88, which comes out to $7.99 a month.

If a month-to-month payment method is preferred for the website subscription, the cost is $19.99.

If the dvd version is preferred, the cost is $40.45 per level when bought individually, or $112.75 for levels 1-3 or 4-6 combos or $142.45 for levels 1-3 or 4-6 and 3 songbook cd packages, the Everyday, Christmas, and Hymns songbooks. You can also just buy all 6 levels for $202.88. Each level also comes with a cd of printables.

To check out all these options and find out more about the specifics of each, click here.

You can also access free printables and even try it out for free. See what you think before buying. See if it fits your child's age and level of music knowledge.

To read reviews from other Crew members, click here.

Maestro Classics

Maestro Classics is a cd series which combines story-telling of the classic style with rich orchestra accompaniment. Stephen and Bonnie Ward Simon created this series, with years of experience and a long list of qualifications in the fields of both music and children. The TOS Crew was asked to review a sample of their Maestro Classics series, and my kids and I received The Tortoise and the Hare.

The classic story is given a new touch by Mrs. Simon, while Stephen Simon provides an original musical score. Yadu, who has narrated the Stories in Music concerts at the Kennedy Center, as well as other Maestro Classic selections, shares the story is a calm but expressive voice. The cd has a running time of about 53 minutes and has an accompanying 24-page program. The program includes basic information about musical notation, instruments in an orchestra, a few activities to go along with the story, and short bios of the Simons and the narrator, Yadu. The cost is $16.98.

While this is a quality product, the cost is an issue. Also, my kids, who love music and have enjoyed our classical studies thus far this year, had difficulty getting engaged in the story. Having said that, I would therefore recommend this for a younger audience, say, Pre-K/K. Also, this particular story was one that my kids are very familiar with, and so there was no sense of wonder about what would happen.

I don't want to dissuade anyone who truly might benefit from the Maestro Classics series, but I need to be honest. Check out the website and listen to the samples they have available. The Maestro Classic series currently contains several tales, including Mike Mulligan, Casey At the Bat, The Story of Swan Lake, Juanita the Spanish Lobster, and more! They currently are running a special--buy three cds for $45, which saves about six dollars overall. The code for that special is MAESTRO45.

Please, check out what other TOS Crew members have to say here, as well.

All About Spelling....foster spelling skills that are the real deal!

The TOS Crew has been given the opportunity to review All About Spelling, the Multisensory Program for Spelling Success, by Marie Rippel. Spelling is one of those subjects that just is not stressed like it should be anymore, in my humble opinion. In my years in the classroom, I attended workshops and read articles about how we shouldn't stifle creativity by insisting on correct spelling in our students' work, particularly writing. I knew I would like Marie Rippel when I read in the Level 1 book that she instructs teachers and parents to have students correct misspelled words which they should already know. All About Spelling encompasses quite a bit more than the typical spelling program, focusing on the structure of the word, the sounds and syllables that combine to form words students learn to spell, rather than the theme-related lists that students get with many other programs. As I have examined this program, I have been very impressed at just how multisensory it really is, too. Students have the opportunity to build words with tiles, to say sounds aloud, to write the words themselves, and to hear the words used in phrases for dictation practice.

Just what do you get? The core of this program is the teacher book, which is sold with the student material set for $29.95. Additional student sets for multiple students are $14.95. In addition to the leveled teacher/student materials, you also need the starter kit, which includes letter tiles, magnets, and Phonogram CD-ROM. The starter kit is $26.95 and can be reused year after year.

I normally don't quote the sites for these products I review, but I do want to share this from the All About Spelling site because it just really explains how all the components of the program work together to reinforce learning.

"Level One in the All About Spelling series brings together the three pathways to learning—auditory (hearing), visual (seeing), and kinesthetic (touching). This multisensory approach, combined with a built-in review system and reinforcement activities, ensures that students retain what they learn and understand how to apply it in practical situations.

In a practical, hands-on way, your student will learn:

How to say and write the first 32 phonograms
How to segment words into their individual sounds
Short and long vowel sounds
How to identify and count syllables in a word
How to choose between c and k at the beginning of a word
When to double f, l, and s
How to spell /k/ at the end of a word
How to form plural words by adding s or es
Compound words
Open and closed syllable types

and more!

The multisensory learning tools and activities included in the program help your student master important spelling concepts.

The Flashcards provide a visual and hands-on way to help your student learn and review phonograms, words, and spelling rules.

The Spelling Review Box helps you organize the flashcards so you can quickly see which words, phonograms, and spelling rules your student still needs to learn and review. (Flashcards and dividers are included; you supply the 3x5" index card box.)

The Segmenting Words activity helps your student identify the individual sounds in a word so that he can spell more easily and accurately.

Concept-oriented spelling lists that are grouped by similar phonograms and spelling rules accelerate learning by organizing ideas in the student’s mind and allowing the student to concentrate on and master one or two main concepts before moving on.

Key Cards clearly present key ideas, concepts, and spelling rules that help your student thoroughly understand why a word is spelled the way it is and how to apply that knowledge to many other words.

The More Words and Dictate Phrases sections reinforce current and previously learned concepts, increase the student’s repertoire of words, and allow the student to apply his knowledge in practical situations.

Tips for the teacher anticipate and provide answers to your questions and give you on-the-spot strategies for helping your student overcome stumbling blocks. Worked seamlessly into the lessons, tips are placed right where you need them, when you need them, so you can continue your teaching uninterrupted.

The Progress Chart gives your student a visual reminder of how far he has come and motivates him to master the next step. "


Are there any additional materials to buy with this program? Well, you will need lined paper and some sort of index card box, as well as a magnetic surface.



What's a typical lesson plan like?

Students begin with a review of past concepts with the aid of the various cards in the student materials pack. After that, the lessons may vary a little bit as to the order of activities, but new information may be introduced, and then practiced with the tiles and writing. Lessons generally conclude with dictation practice. The time frame is reasonable for school-age children, but I can't see this with most preschool kids.

What do I like about this program?

• Each activity, each phase of the lessons is about learning, not fluff. As a classroom teacher and now as a homeschool teacher, one of my soapboxes is the need to teach to as many senses as possible. All About Spelling gets the eyes, the ears, the mouth, and hands, and the arms all working toward the goal of spelling mastery. In the course of one lesson, they are arranging tiles, looking at cards, writing words, listening and writing what they hear, and playing games that reinforce learning.


• Also, each lesson is concise, straightforward, and easy to prepare for.


• Level 1 begins with the foundation, the sounds of the first 26 phonograms. Younger students or students needing remedial help will benefit from this as this simply strengthens their reading and writing foundation.

Now, I really like this program, but I do not recommend switching spelling curricula midstream. If you've got something you really like right now, stick with it, but check All About Spelling out for next year. Money-wise, I think you get your money's worth with what I've seen of this program. I am normally a little bit leery to encourage anyone to spend money, but I do think this is a quality program that our kids will learn from rather than simply be entertained by. In fact, before you buy, head on over to the their site and check out some free lessons here and a scope and sequence for Level 1 here. You can check out sample lessons and scope and sequence for other levels by clicking on each product description and scrolling to the end.

I also think that if you wanted to add any additional activities, such as puzzles or alphabetical order sections, that could be easily done. You can also add to the word lists as well, as long as you maintain the same organization.

You can check out all the products they offer here, including All About Spelling Levels 1-5, at the All About Spelling site. Marie Rippel also offers other language arts materials, which you can check out on that site. You can also find out what other TOS Crew members have to say here.