Jan. 15, 2009 - Product Review -- Kinderbach Online Music Program
Kinderbach
What is Kinderbach? Kinderbach is music education, either on-line, via dvd, or in the classroom. We were provided with a five month trial of Kinderbach Online. Kinderbach is designed to be preschool piano lessons.
What is Included? Online lessons, printable activities, games, and sing-along songbook.
What I like: My preschool-aged children, ages 2 and 5, absolutely adored Kinderbach Learning Center (online). The price is very reasonable. I can definitely see how this program might have value for a Mom with no musical background who is not ready yet to step out and define her own curriculum.
What I didn't like:
Hmmmm. Maybe I should preface this section with some background information. I have studied private music for well over half of my life, and in fact graduated in 1996 with a Music Performance degree. I took private piano lessons for 12 years, and have so far taught private private lessons in piano for five years. I have very strong opinions about what music education and piano education should look like!
I did not like the quality of the recorded videos. The sound was very poor, the quality of the sound recording was very poor, and without extra speakers we could barely hear the teacher. With extra speakers, we experienced distortion. The picture quality was clearly entry level, the "blue screen" effect of an outline was visible around the teacher. The animated characters were not inspiring. The teacher was stilted and in-experienced with video acting. The songs themselves were repetitive and annoying; and in some cases seemed to just be time fillers. All of these faults might be fixed in later upgrades.
I am not a fan of video learning for music. Music is to be experienced. Music heard is enjoyable, music felt (physically or emotionally) is powerful, and music created is exhilerating. With video learning, you can only reach the first step at best.
What's My Bottom Line: Any parent of a preschool child can provide a better introduction to music education through the following cost-effective methods:
- purchase used or borrow a variety of classical music cds and dance together
- listen to Classics for Kids podcast for free on your computer or in the car or play the games on-line at http://classicsforkids.com/
- download free classical music from http://www.classicalarchives.com/ (up to five songs per day free)
- create some rhythm instruments and play with them. Copy each other's rhythm. Some ideas include sand blocks (sandpaper on blocks), rhythm sticks, (short dowel rods), pans, lids, and wooden spoons.
- take your child to child-oriented concerts. Check your local university or orchestra venue for times and dates of the concerts for school children. These are often free, daytime events and the venues do not reach out to home educators; but are happy to provide tickets for homeschool groups who ask. If you live in a rural area, be willing to drive a couple times a year; though you might be surprised at what is available near you!
- put your child in a (low stress) children's choir at church or through a local venue
- wait until your child is a just a little older to start actual piano lessons.
- find more ideas here.
|
