Music for Little Mozarts [Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD] Review

This is a two CD set each CD is 30 minutes long.The second CD is for the "music discovery book", I love this CD, it is just perfect for group music classes and it is a fun CD for kids to just listen to.There are 25 songs: a hello song (mentions mozart mouse and beethoven bear), a goodbye song (could be used for any program), 8 rhythm instrument songs, 5 movement/music appreciation songs, and 8 listening/ear training songs.

The first CD is essentially a "book on CD" of the "music lesson" book and I don't see why you would ever use it because a teacher could read the story herself much more entertainingly.

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Product Description:
Two compact disc recordings (sold as a two-disc set) support the concepts introduced in Level 4. The disc for the Music Lesson Book includes the narration for the story, as well as two performances of each piece-an acoustic piano version and an orchestrated version. The disc for the Music Discovery Book contains all of the songs and the "Listen and Sing" examples in the book performed by a teacher and students. In addition, professional performances of all listening examples for music appreciation and movement activities are included.

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Music for Little Mozarts: Music Discovery Book 1 Review

I'm a music teacher with over 12 years experience teaching young children.I useThe Music For Little Mozart's Series for my youngest students first.To ensure that you have adequate coverage of all the materials presented, make sure you get most of the books in the series.The Lesson Book is a great start, but this is the next most important book.It has Great songs to sing and play along with.Don't worry if you don't sing, your child will, with encouragement, and the help of the CD that comes as a two CD set (the other CD goes with the Lesson Book).These are very important for teaching steady beat and the joy and fun of music, and can "bring them back" to the keyboard when interest wanes.No kid can resist the racing car song with the Glissando's where they run their fingers over the keys after the song says, "Ready, set, go!"

The next most important book is the workbook that gives the student the chance to show off their new skills and has some great listening exercises you can do with them.It is not the coloring book, which is really just a coloring book. Lastly, I recommend also the Recital book.It tells you at the top of the page which page in the Lesson book it corresponds with (they all do), and it gives the student one more song to practice their skills with.

I recommend sitting down with the student for no more than 1/2 hour breaking it up into 5 min. each of review of previous topics, lesson book, recital book, workbook and Music Discovery Book with CD.You can play the CD with the lesson book to review the material on a later date and the CD of the Music Discovery Book at any time while they are playing with their toys or doing "homework" in their workbook.

I like Book 2 set as well, and you can continue through 3&4 or move to Alfred's other Piano books 1A-6 .

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Product Description:
The unique Music Discovery Book contains songs that allow the students to experience music through singing, movement and rhythm activities. Music appreciation is fostered through carefully chosen music; Mozart, Beethoven and Sousa are introduced. Melodies to sing, using either solfege or letter names, help students learn to match pitch and discover tonal elements of music. Correlates to the Music Lesson Book 1. Familiar songs include If You're Happy and You Know It, Mexican Hat Dance and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

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Mikrokosmos Volume 4 (Pink) (Mikrokosmos (Boosey & Hawkes)) [Paperback] Review

Hungarian composer Bela Bartok, whose reputation as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century is now firmly established, composed the Mikrokosmos between 1926 and 1939 with the express purpose of teaching his son, Peter, how to play piano, though level IV is the last volume (of VI) intended purely as instructional material.

These pieces are pedagogically and aesthetically impressive.Beginning in book one, Bartok makes remarkable artistic use of the most simple tools, often limiting himself to a set of five notes per hand (exercises without shifts).The works are not all diatonic, encouraging trust in the eyes and a true ability to read not always achieved by more predictable exercises.Skills are developed systematically to tunes beautiful to the ear, delightful to the theoretician, and engaging to the student.

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Product Description:
The definitive edition (1987) of the piano teaching classic. Includes an introduction by the composer's son Peter Bartok. (English/French/German/Hungarian text). In 1945 Bela Bartok described Mikrokosmos as a cycle of 153 pieces for piano written for "didactic" purposes, seeing them as a series of pieces in many different styles, representing a small world, or as the "world of the little ones, the children".Stylistically Mikrokosmos reflects the influence of folk music on Bartok's life and the rhythms and harmonies employed create music that is as modern today as when the cycle was written. The 153 pieces making up Mikrokosmos are divided into six volumes arranged according to technical and musical difficulty. Major teaching points highlighted in Mikrokosmos 4: Thumb undervention, crossed hands, triplets in 9/8 time.

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The Kids' Music Collection [Paperback] Review

A great way for young and old alike to learn to play fun songs on the piano.Easy to read notes and words make playing fun.

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Product Description:
Titles are: America the Beautiful * Animaniacs * The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle * The Batman Theme * C is for Cookie * Can You Read My Mind * The Chicken Dance * Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead * (Meet) The Flint- stones * Fuzzy Wuzzy * Mighty Morphin Power Rangers * Happy Birthday * High Hopes * I Believe I Can Fly * I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat (I Thought I Saw a Pussy Cat * If I Only Had a Brain * I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony * I'll Be There for You (Theme from Friends).

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Piano for Kids (Jewel Case) Review

This is a first-stage beginner's program with an excellent presentation.The cute characters provide a very good education about piano basics and how to play the piano.For the software version, screen animations provide a level of interest for kids.Recommended for age 6+, but I believe it could start younger for those that can read a little.The software version features printable sheet music, tempo adjustments, puzzles, games, and an option to download other free MIDI songs (but on Windows Vista with a broadband (cable internet) connection, this option did not work).SelectSoft/ArcMedia's website also did not produce a listing for free MIDI music downloads.If the download MIDI songs function works for you, this would be an excellent choice for long-term teaching.Piano for Kids (Jewel Case)Piano for Kids

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Product Description:
Meet Professor Rhythm and his staff: five cheeky characters who will open up the world of music and make playing the piano as easy as pie-ano. Children learn to readand play music with the help of an amazing magic piano that shows which notes to hit and when.
Features:

Adjust the tempo bar to match learning speed.
Left and right hand movements taught separately and together.
Watch the ladybug follow the notes as the tune is played back.
Look up musical terms in the glossary.
Well-known, recognizable tunes plus printable sheet music with finger positions and notes that kids can color.
Introduction to the basics of general music theory.
Puzzles, games and drag & drop exercises with fun sounds and animations to support the lessons.
The unique touch & click piano helps kids learn where the notes are onthe piano keyboard and the staff.

System Requirements for Windows

Windows 98, Me, XP
Pentium PC or faster
32 MB RAM (48 MB recommended)
100 MB free hard disk space
800x600monitor, 16-bit color
Windows-compatible sound card & speakers
2X CD-ROM drive (4X recommended)

System Requirements for Macintosh

Mac OS 7.5-9.2, OS X Classic mode
PowerMac or faster
32 MB RAM (48 MB recommended)
100 MB free hard disk space
800x600 monitor, thousands of colors
2X CD-ROM drive (4X recommended)

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Perfect Wrong Note - Learning to Trust Your Musical Self (Softcover) (Amadeus) [Paperback] Review

I am a professional musician, a retired piano teacher of 25 years. In October of 2004, I produced my first cd of pre-Baroque pieces into an album called, "Carry the Light."Recently, I found out about "The Perfect Wrong Note" by William Westney from a friend. The book is stunning, progressive and suffice it to say, it will rub some traditionalist the wrong way.Westney totally challenges traditional teaching methods and rightly so. There is a revealing "Question and Answer" section in the book on pp. 95-97 which provides an astute summary of Westney's teaching philosophy. I found the following Q and A challenging to some very traditionalist teachings on using the metronome; "Is it a good idea to use a metronome?"Westney's replies, "Only for short periods, as a check of tempo consistency.If we use it too much we become passive slaves to it, and our inner rhythm stays dormant."Westney emphasizes that playing the piano is a "whole body, whole brain" experience.In terms of Westney's approach being a "feel good" philosophy, nothing could be further from the truth. When asked (p. 97), "Can your approach be simply stated as, "Just don't fret about wrong notes, after all nobody's perfect.?"Westney's response is clearly direct; "No.This isn't a feel good philosophy: it's a pragmatic problem-solving plan along the road to artistry.Control, accuracy, and refinement are still the goals."Westney takes a groundbreaking approach to teaching piano without killing the hope and aspirations of the student.That is to be herald and this work will be deeply respected by teachers willing to take on new and exciting challenges that take heed to an important ethos Westney holds for anyone practicing the piano."As you practice sense that you are taking care of yourself at every moment.Expect musical performing to be fun and feel good.Question any part of it that doesn't feel that way.Think of yourself as a healty athlete. Relax frequently and take stock." (p.227) I can't think of any performing philosophy that is more hope filled than that.

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Product Description:
In this groundbreaking book, prize-winning pianist and noted educator William Westney helps readers discover their own path to the natural, transcendent fulfillment of making music. Drawing on experience, psychological insight, and wisdom ancient and modern, Westney shows how to trust yourself and set your own musicality free. He offers healthy alternatives for lifelong learning and suggests significant change in the way music is taught. For example, playing a wrong note can be constructive, useful, even enlightening. The creator of the acclaimed Un-Master Class workshop also explores the special potential of group work, outlining the basics of his revelatory workshop that has transformed the music experience for participants the world over. Practicing, in Westney's view, is a lively, honest, adventurous, and spiritually rewarding enterprise, and it can (and should) meet with daily success, which empowers us to grow even more. Teachers, professionals, and students of any instrument will benefit from this unique guide, which brings artistic vitality, freedom, and confidence within everyone's reach.

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Theory Lessons, Book One [Paperback] Review

I had this book 25 years ago. Now I am teaching piano and this theory lesson book is still the same; which is great! So glad to see it still has removable pages for easy lesson work. Highly recommend and would buy this item again.

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Product Description:
Time honored and time tested, the Theory Lessons book has earned a face lift. Completely re-engraved, with color highlights on each page, the book is fresh and new-looking, while retaining the valuable theory studies which have made it an indispensable tool in studios across the land. Pages are perforated for optional removal from the book, allowing the teacher the opportunity to send home just a page at a time if desired. Progression of skill building is logical and easily presented. This is a theory book that takes a minimum of lesson time, a definite plus.

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Music for Little Mozarts: Deluxe Starter Kit [Paperback] Review

I am a mom that sings, but not a pianist.The price of piano lessons prevent us from having our kids take lessons at young ages.I looked at one of the lessons from a local studio and they said they use this series, so I ordered it.

I know how to play a little, and this book/cd/notecards, etc... is absolutely perfect for us.My 4-year-old son is learning at an amazing speed and he loves it.The cd that comes with it helped with the excitement.The dry-erase board that you can learn the letters of the keyboard with is wonderful because you can erase and don't have to use papers over and over.Plus, the little magnets that come with it are a great tool in getting them to understand that they can compose their own little measure or two, then I can play it for them.

I'm a huge fan and will be using this for my 2-year-old when she's old enough too, and I'll be ordering the next levels soon.

And we're saving TONS of money.I figure that once they are old enough out of these books, and are still interested and beyond my capabilities of teaching, we'll pay the high price of lessons.

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Product Description:
A student who begins lessons with the Deluxe Starter Kit will have the best chance at success in music lessons because the student has all the key components that provide a comprehensive learning experience and make the course come alive. The vinyl tote bag includes: Music Activity Board with marker, Beethoven Bear and Mozart Mouse, Music Lesson Book 1, Music Discovery Book 1, Music Workbook 1, a CD 2-disc set (for the Lesson and Discovery Books) and Flash Cards for Book 1.

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