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.
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