Sunday, January 4, 2009

KinderBach Review


KinderBach is a music program developed for 2-7 year olds. It will teach your child rhythm, note reading, singing, keys on a keyboard, and composition all online. It is also available on DVD and in a classroom curriculum.

As I reviewed this program with my 8 year old son, I noticed one thing for sure. My soon to be 2 year old daughter gravitated to the computer and soon became obsessed with KinderBach. She would climb up in my lap and move to the beat of the music or try to sing along with the songs. She became particularly attached to Do-Dee the donkey (one of the many characters used to introduce music concepts) and begged to see him everyday. My son (even though he was a little older than the age recommended for this program) sat still and watched the videos also. The format is similar to Blues Clues with a person standing in the middle of a cartoon like scene. This made it fun, easy to watch, and very attractive to a preschooler. The music is catchy and the lessons are short, which we like in our household! I have a mover and a shaker and sitting for too long would not go over well.

Along with the videos, there are games and printable worksheets that go along with many of the lessons. Every concept is introduced in a very simple format and reinforced over and over. They are presented in a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic format making it a multi-sensory approach. The only materials needed are a keyboard, occassionally a homemade instrument (such as a wooden spoon and a bowl or a shaker of some sort), and the printable sheets when necessary.

I would definitely recommend this program to families with children in the preschool age range. It's a wonderful way to introduce music concepts and build a foundation for future skills. If you are not sure this is something your child would enjoy, they have a no risk trial offer. This is something I appreciate! I think you will be surprised how much your child enjoys this program and how much he learns. Music is something that can sometimes be overlooked and this is a great way to incorporate it into your week.

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