Zezok Publishing - Stephen Foster/Edward McDowell

Often when one thinks of famous composers, they think of Beethoven, Chopin, and Handel. We do not realize that even in America's history, we have some amazing composers that wrote songs that we have sang over and over and never even thought of the person that wrote them.

The Crew was asked to review several different composers and when I received a set about Stephen Foster and Edwards McDowell, I have to admit I had no idea what they had composed or who they were. Once I started reviewing the materials, I was excited to learn that these two were American composers.

Stephen Foster grew up in the South and started showing interest in music at the age of two years old. One of the things that I loved about his story was that he played the flute like I do. He wrote songs such as Camptown Races and Oh Susanna.

Edward McDowell grew up in the North and also showed a profound interest in music at a very young age. He was taught and mentored by some of the most famous musicians of the time. He wrote songs such as Duet from Hamlet and Ophelia and Visit of the Bears.

I received two storybooks and review guides for each of them. I also received a CD with music from the two composers as well. I love the way that the author tells each of the young men's stories. The books are so captivating and put you right into the time period.

The set of two books, two study guides and CD is $35.80. You can purchase the items separately, but I would strongly recommend getting the entire group as you will not be disappointed.

See the Great Musicians Series at the Zeezok Publishing Website

This product was provided to my family as part of my membership in The Old Schoolhouse Crew review team. The opinions expressed in this review are mine after our family has had a chance to review this product together.

Kinderbach is Music to My Ears!!

Bang, Bang, Bang went the piano and up went the mom's frustration as she tried to show joy in her child's interest in music. She wanted to teach the child to play the piano, but most of the piano books just were too difficult for her budding musician to understand. She searched and she searched until an e-mail came in from the Crew that saved her aching ears and set her little boy into the start of his musical journey.

Our Crew had the amazing opportunity to review Kinderbach an online keyboarding lesson program. I have to say that this is absolutely the best piano/keyboarding program that I have ever found.

I took piano lessons as a very young child and even then, the books were boring and the notes and where they were on the keyboard were really difficult to understand. Kinderbach takes those hard to grasp topics and puts them in terms and visual pictures that children can understand. I absolutely love the associating the keys on the keyboard with animal friends!!



In addition to the great workbooks above, Kinderbach has fun and exciting videos for your children to enjoy. Fun characters and bright graphics draw your child's attention into the screen and the best part is you can hook your keyboard right up beside the computer and let your little musican learn at his heart's content.



Online lessons are available for $7.99 per month when you purchase a year’s subscription in one payment of $95.88 for the year. Or, $19.99 per month when billed monthly for a year. You can try this amazing program out for two weeks for absolutely FREE! I highly recommend it if you are like me and would like the pounding on the keyboard to become music to your ears!

VISIT THE KINDERBACH WEBSITE

This product was provided to my family as part of my membership in The Old Schoolhouse Crew review team. The opinions expressed in this review are mine after our family has had a chance to review this product together.

Worship Guitar Class for Kids

If you are wanting to teach your children guitar, but are having a hard time teaching at their level or getting them interested. Worship Guitar Class for Kids is absolutely perfect for you. Jean Welles takes your child step by step through the process of learning to play the guitar with her amazing DVD series. Our children were absolutely thrilled with this series. I have been wanting to learn guitar myself and so this was a great way to for my children and I to learn to play together at the same time.

We reviewed the online streaming class as well as well as the e-book with all the music and lessons to review. I highly recommend it for any musical family like ours!! The only mistake that we made is trying to teach with the adult sized guitar. We will be getting a smaller guitar so that our youngest can learn and finger the chords better.

The Worship Guitar Class for Kids is $29.97. There are also packages available to purchase child-sized guitars and other materials that will help with your child's music eduction.

VISIT THE WORSHIP GUITAR CLASS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

This product was provided to my family as part of my membership in The Old Schoolhouse Crew review team. The opinions expressed in this review are mine after our family has had a chance to review this product together.

Maestro Classics - Review of The Tortoise and the Hare

As a enormous fan of classical music, I was absolutely thrilled to receive this CD to review for Maestro Classics. Each member of the Crew was given various titles to review. Our family reviewed The Tortoise and the Hare. This is one of my favorite fables and so it was great to have it animated with music by the London Philharmonic Orchestra!! It reminded me of the joy and excitement I had the first time that I had heard Peter and the Wolf animated in the same manner. I think my favorite part of the CD is where Stephen Simon talks about how an instrument and tune was picked for each character in the story. It made listening to the story even more fun as the children were listening for the various animals and their tunes. I would recommend this CD for any family!

They have several titles available:

• The Tortoise and the Hare (the title we reviewed)
• Peter and the Wolf (a favorite of mine)
• The Story of Swan Lake (would be perfect for the little girl in your family)
• The Sorcerer's Apprentice (a classic that would be perfect for any family)
• Casey at the Bat (would love to hear this one with all the boys in my house)
• Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (love the book would be perfect for any boy!)
• Juanita the Spanish Lobster
• Juanita la langosta española (the above title in Spanish)
  

Each CD is $16.98 a very great price for something that your family will want to listen to over and over again. Even better you can get THREE CD's for $45.00 using the coupon code MAESTRO 45. I highly recommend any of the above titles for your family. If you travel a lot like we do, this is the perfect thing to plug into the DVD or CD player for the children to listen to.

VISIT THE WEBSITE TODAY!!

Our family was given this CD to review as part of our participation in The Old Schoolhouse review team. The opinions are mine after reviewing this product with my family.