What is Kinderbach?
- Kinderbach is a piano curriculum for preschoolers. It is comprised of 6 levels, each with 10 weeks, which in turn have 4 lessons. Level 7 is being created.
From the website:
"The KinderBach curriculum is a proven teaching method which gives children a solid music foundation, aligned with the MENC National Standards for Pre-K, that can translate to any instrument. Basics are basics and KinderBach covers them using language children understand. Youngsters will learn music vocabulary, note reading, rhythm, physical technique, ‘do, re mi’ singing, listening skills and music composition plus the joy in making music. "
- Kinderbach is available as an online curriculum that can be used on any computer or portable devices such as Ipad, or Blakberry playbook. No download necessary.
- Kinderbach is geared towards kids ages 3-7.
- Kinderbach is available for music education in classroom setting or music education at home.
- For curriculum detail click here.
- It is full of games. Every concept is reinforced with games.
- Within the curriculum the author made sure to include story lines to cement the concepts studied.You are introduced to characters to follow all along the curriculum.
- The curriculum is very interactive. The lessons are not lectures. The author invites the student to join in all the time, so as to keep the child interested and engaged.
- The lessons are rather repetitive, which is a must when dealing with preschoolers. Repetition helps retention in young learners.
- The lessons are short, 6-9 minutes, great for the attention span of young learners.
- It is very hands-on. The curriculum comes with printable sheets for coloring, cutting and pasting activities. The child is also invited to play rhythms with things around the house, to use their bodies, to clap hands, and as you progress, to play on a keyboard or piano.
- It includes also visual and auditory aspects. You listen to sounds, sing songs, you learn sound differentiation and do a lot of different activities as part of the learning experience.
- You learn all the basics of music theory in a very friendly, playful way.
Our thoughts:
I think that Kinderbach is a great way to introduce piano to youngsters. It is very suitable for 3 and up kids. Once you hit 6 or 7 though, it might be a bit harder to sell to them. My boys (6 and 8) thought that the songs were a bit too much for them. However, the information and the teaching that is given is still rather appropriate and they can learn quite a bit from it. My boys still enjoyed learning from it.
The teacher (s) is very nice and pleasant. She really relates to the kids and bring them in. Enough time is given for the kids to respond and interact. The amount of hands-on is just right and the length of the lessons as well. With older kids you can easily do more that one lesson in one sitting.
I found that the lessons did not move as fast as I would want but, for younger ones, I guess it is an appropriate pace.
All in all I would recommend this product if you have youngsters to whom you wish to introduce or teach piano. It is a great starter.
How much does it cost?
Kinderbach comes as an online membership or as a DVD with printables on CD.
- Year Membership: $95.88 annual or $19.99 monthly
- Day Pass: $5.95 for a single day
- Different DVD packages are available at a price
- They also have lots of extras for sale such as songbooks and activity packages.
Kinderbach has been very generous and is offering you, my faithful readers, a %30 discount off any order - homechool, classroom or online - by using this code all year: TOScrew2012
Make sure also to read what other homeschoolers have to say about Kinderbach.
Disclosure: I was given a 3 months subscription to Kinderbach, free of charge, in return for an honest review.
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