Product Description
A collection of more than one hundred melodic amusements, rhythmic routines, and philharmonic fun and games for parents, teachers, scout leaders, or anyone wishing to utilize the wonderful medium of music to elicit creativity and encourage learning among young people. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great! Use this everyday!
This book is so helpful and my kids in class have enjoyed every activity in this book we've done so far. I open this book up everyday to see if there is something fun to add to my class. I suggest this book for everyone who wants to add some fun to the music classroom!

I bought it as a Xmas present for my music friend
It seems those games are fun! My friend really wanna have this book. So obviously, it's quite useful in the classroom I guess.

What A Great Book!
I was highly impressed by the creative games shown in this book.A must have for any music teacher!

Basic Ideas
This book has many ideas that a creative music teacher could use as a jumping off point. The games are straight forward and in general easy to teach to students.

Used in my classroom and private lessons
I have used this book continuously over the last 3 years both in the classroom, summer camp groups, and private lessons. There are some fun ideas for groups not entirely focused on music as well. Church youth groups, non-musical camps, and non-musical classrooms can use this book to come up with fun game days or ice breakers.

[...] ... Read more

Product Description
An illustrated volume of storybook, and holiday songs, lullabies, marches, and rounds. Easy-to-read lyrics, piano arrangements, and guitar chords. Includes Simple Simon, This Old Man, and Take Me Out To The Ballgame. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Good but not exactly what I was looking for
My son who is 2 loves to sing and look at books.We have some other books that have the words to songs that he loves and I was looking for something really comprehensive.So, this is great because it has most of the songs I know plus many I'm happy to learn with the musical notes and chords so I can learn them.However, I was looking for something colorful and attractive - so he can look at the pictures while we sing the songs.This was the best I found but there really needs to be a beautifully illustrated book of songs and these illustrations are very basic and small.

Just Okay
I purchased several songbooks to use with my ukelele at the same time. I like the fact that this songbook has so many different songs, but many of the verses and chords are incorrect. The piano arrangements are relatively simple and can be played with little practice, but I found the suggested chords a little difficult to play on the ukelele. I tend to search for songs in Rise Up Singing: the Singing Songbook first when I want to play a song on the ukelele.

Children's songs
The book has more children's songs then I could possible imagine.The Library of Children's Song Classics

Return on Investment
Do you ever wonder what the return of your investment in children's piano lessons will be? Will the numerous pleas to practice be worth it?
Maybe you will be as lucky as I and get more back than you ever could have calculated.

I bought The Library of Children's Song Classics for my daughter for her first mother's day (and my first grandmother's day). Since then the two of them--Meghan and Molly B-- have enjoyed many magical and musical moments together at the piano. The music is easy enough for Meghan to play without practicing but complex enough to be satisfying.

When I am lucky enough to be with them, the well known songs make it easy to sing along. Fantastic family time!

Nice Collection,Bad Organization,Terrible Guitar Chords
The book has about 95% of the songs that kids like to sing. So if you're just singing along with the kids and you only want one book this is probablygood. But if the kids want to' get down' with just a certain song like right now, finding it fast is a real problem. The songs are collected by theme rather than alphabetical. You have to flip to the index and then back to the music fast,keeping the interest level going can be challenging. The accompanying guitar chords are provided by someone who did not play guitar. It is obviously piano fingering that has been named as the appropriate guitar chord, so the chord voicing is off. You will want to go thru and correct the chords before you try 'comping' with the kids on their favorite tune. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Book..Great Price
The book came the very next day. I was ordering it for someone else and he was very pleased. ... Read more

Product Description
Lesson Book 4 is the last in the Music for Little Mozarts series.After a review, the new concepts taught are: Flat and sharp sign; Tie; Crescendo and diminuendo. After reviewing C position and Middle C position, G position is taught.All three positions are used alternately throughout the rest of the book, with flat and sharp notes incorporated.When the student is finished with Lesson Book 4, he/she moves into Alfred's Basic Piano Library, Prep Course, Level C or Alfred's Premier Piano Course, Level 1B. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

great
I think this book and its series is fun for little children. It does move a little slow, but that works fine for average children. If your child is really quick, though, I would consider another series.

Music for Little Mozarts Review
I'm a piano teacher and have been using this method ever since it came out. Although this method moves very slowly students quickly "catch up" after finishing the series and move to another method.My middle school students are playing early advanced literature in middle school!They just flew thru the method I used with them after Music for Little Mozarts.Waiting to begin lessons when a child turns seven almost seems too late.Most are quite eager to learn and play.Parents should capitalize on this wonderful time in their child's life.It's really a joy for the parents and this teacher to see!

Fun intro to piano
My son really likes the characters and the grown-up feeling he has when he learns to play the piano. I think there is a little too much reading (words, not music) and usually skim it and summerize when I explain the contents to him.

Great for very young students
I bought this book and also the workbook and discovery book for my niece who is four years old.I am a piano teacher, and normally tell parents to wait until their child is at least in kindergarden before beggining piano lessons, but my sister-in-law begged me to start her daughter earlier.I was already teaching her older sister, so I thought I would give this mehtod a try.The lessons proceed very slowly, and are very basic, perfect for a four year old with a short attention span.The lesson book moves at a slow pace introducing basic concepts such as steady beat, higher/lower, finger numbers, quarter note rhythms and rests through whole notes and rests, measuers, times signatures, groupings of black keys, and white notes one at a time.There are duet parts for the teacher to play with every student lesson.Each lesson begins with a continuation of a story begun on page one.One concept is introduced at a time.There are coloring activities in the lesson book as well as in the workbook to reinforce the concepts.The discovery book has songs for the teacher to play, while the student performs movements which reinforce concepts from the lesson. The book moves a slow pace while keeping the student interested and learning.I am very impressed with this method and have ordered level 2 for my neice who is about to complete level 1.

Great for 3 - 4 year olds
This is a great 'teach it to your child yourself' book even if you're not a pianist. As a piano teacher, I recommend it to parents/aunts/uncles/grandparents who want to expose a young child to playing the piano or keyboard. The story of Mozart Mouse and Beethoven Bear makes the lessons even more interesting - keeps the student's attention longer. ... Read more

Product Description
This book explores the musical interest and needs of children in their daily lives. Based upon their expressed thoughts and actual "musicking" behaviors, this text examines the songs they sing, the rhythms they make, and the roles that music plays for them. Blending standard education field experiences with ethnomusicological techniques, Dr. Campbell demonstrates how music is personally and socially meaningful to children and what values they place on particular musical styles, songs, and functions. Sh0 explores musical behaviors in various contextual settings, and presents in notated and narrative forms some of the "songs in their heads," balancing music learned with music "made," and intentional, purposeful music with natural musical behavior.

Songs in Their Heads is a vivid and engaging book that bridges the disciplines of music education, musicology, ethnomusicology, and folklore. Designed as a text or supplemental text in a variety of music education method courses, as well as a reference for music specialists and classroom teachers, this book will also appeal to parents interested in understanding and enhancing music making in their children. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent
Patricia's approach with children is sensitive and perceptive. I found this book personally helpful with children in my studio. Ms. Campbell's approach encouraged me to ask my students questions and I was pleasantly surprised by their honest and passionate ideas about music. I changed my program in response to their ideas. I appreciated that Patricia interviewed students of different abilities not just elite performers. The main idea is that they all had a meaningful connection to their music-making activities.

Not an easy read
I read this book for a music education class.The book is divided into three sections.The first section describes scenes the author witnessed in various schools; the second section describes one-on-one interviews with children about music; the third section makes recommendations for music teachers based on her ethnographic observations of children.The third section has some compelling ideas in it, and the first two sections support her ideas there.However, if I hadn't been required to read it, I wouldn't have gotten through the first two sections in order to benefit from the third.

I agree with an earlier review - check it out from library rather than investing in the book yourself.

Library Book
I enjoyed this discussion of children's natural bent for improvisation.However, this isn't the kind of book you refer back to a lot later on.I would suggest getting it through your local University library.

By the way, if you are a University librarian and your school has a music education department, you should definitely get this book! ... Read more

Product Description
The Music Workbook contains pages of coloring, tracing, matching, ear training and listening that have been carefully designed to reinforce the musical concepts introduced in the Music Lesson Book 1. In full color, 48 pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

great
I think this book and its series is fun for little children. It does move a little slow, but that works fine for average children. If your child is really quick, though, I would consider another series.

Piano for Young Student
My student was very excited about the music books.They enhanced the knowledge she gained earlier in preschool about high and low and music symbols. She especially loves the Mozart Bear and sleeps with it.Thanks.

Excellent book for 4 to 6 year olds
I have been teaching from this book for several years and find the students love the activities in it that back up the concepts introduced in the Lesson book with fun written activities. I would highly recommend it to children in this age group and I have had much success using this book.

I used this book to get ideas for my lessons
This workbook contains 45 worksheets that can be completed by a 3-5 year old in 1-5 minutes.The suggested pacing is 20 piano lessons.The concepts range from "curve your fingers", high and low, forte/piano, quarter/half/whole rests, quarter notes, repeat signs, to the notes A,B,C,D, and EThey compliment the little mozarts core curriculum contained in the "music lesson" book.

The value in this workbook according to me is that in order for such a young child to internalize these concepts you need to think of at least three different learning methods to teach each concept, the coloring/tracing in this book accomplishes one modality (writing/kinesthetic).The pages won't challenge an artistic child, but you don't want them to color all day long during lessons anyway.I personally will not be using most of the worksheets, but each page gave me an idea for a game I could use instead (the worksheets were colorful and appealing for a child, but I think games are better and you can reuse them unlike the workbook).I appreciated having this book to give me ideas for my lessons, it saves me time.Older kids don't require so much "learn through games" as 3-5 year olds, so this program is helpful for meeting the needs of the youngest students.

Makes piano lessons fun!
The workbook is a must when teaching from the lesson book.The workbook follows the lesson book Music for Little Mozarts: A Piano Course to Bring Out the Music in Every Young Child (Music for Little Mozarts)and includes coloring and and exercises to reinforce what your child learned in the lesson book.

I gave it 4 stars because once you use it, you can't reuse it for another student. ... Read more

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; Brahms, Chopin, Elgar, Tchaikovsky and Verdi are introduced. Melodies to sing, using either solfege or letter names, help students learn to match pitch and discover tonal elements of music. Familiar songs include Head and Shoulders, Hush, Little Baby and She'll be Comin' 'Round the Mountain.Correlates to the Music Lesson Book 4. Full color, 48 pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great collection of music and movement activities, this book contains...
This book was designed with group lessons in mind and could be adapted for private lessons. It contains a hello song, a goodbye song, 8 songs for the children to clap or use rhythm sticks with, 5 songs for creative movement, and 8 songs for ear training/listening exercise.There are also introductions to the composers Mozart and Beethoven.There are about 3 different activities suggested for each song so it can be used in different ways to reinforce different musical concepts in different lessons.I have taught lots of music and movement classes and can't wait to use these songs, they look soooo fun.I also purchased the CD and my kids love listening to the songs.

A+ method for young students
I just got my first 5-year-old student and thought that the Basic Prep Course might be too advanced for him, so I decided to experiment with Music for Little Mozarts. As I began to look through the book, I was favorably impressed with the way the book balances musical concepts with a story about "Mozart Mouse" and "Beethoven Bear" that I'm sure will intrigue and inspire my new student. Each musical concept is presented simplistically and repeated for several lessons with review even when new concepts are presented. As an example of the logical presentation of material, the first white key that is introduced is D, which I've found has always been the easiest for children to learn since it's nestled between the two black keys. I would heartily recommend this Alfred Method to any teacher beginning a young student.

The best for preschool/pre-K piano students
I adore Music for Little Mozarts series, especially the discovery book.The activities include singing, moving to music, clapping/tapping, playing instruments, and music listening.It also has do-re-mi songs,which are good to develop the ear and prepare students in learning scales and intervals.My students love it and I use the series for all my preschool-age students.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
This guide offers everything future classroom teachers and music specialists need to use musical experiences and activities to develop music skills, talents, and appreciation in young children, including nearly 300 carefully-sequenced songs, games, rhymes, and chants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Leading Young Children to Music (6th edition)
Although this book has a lot of singing possibilities, the layout is not very friendly. The type is small (I guess to compensate for all the music pages) and the variations on the classic children's songs (changing a note or two to avoid royalty fees) is a little obvious. I plan on keeping it, however, as a resource. Musical words were not defined when used for the first time. ... Read more

Product Description

The inspiring story of Rex, a boy who is not only blind and autistic, but who also happens to be a musical savant.

How can an 11-year old boy hear a Mozart fantasy for the first time and play it back note-for-note perfectly-but struggle to navigate the familiar surroundings of his own home? Cathleen Lewis says her son Rex's laugh of total abandon is the single most joyous sound anyone could hear, but his tortured aversion to touch and sound breaks her heart and makes her wonder what God could have had in mind. In this book she shares the mystery of Rex and the highs, lows, hopes, dreams, joy, sorrows, and faith she has journeyed through with him.

Endorsements

"This memoir documents a musical savant in a way we have not seen before, allowing us to reconsider the limits we place on people with disabilities. Highly recommended for all public libraries and academic libraries with autism and special needs collections." -- Library Journal, 11/25/2008

"Two of the most extraordinary and uplifting people I have ever known. Their story shows the amazingly moving struggle and success that proves love and faith can achieve miracles." -- Jane Seymour, actress, artist, author, and entrepreneur

"The remarkable story of a mother's love and a child's indomitable spirit, told in a writer's style that riveted me to the page, is singularly the most important work ever written on the relationship between a parent and a child with disability. For me, as a person who happens to be blind, the experience of reading Rex was an eye-opener I will never forget. Bravo, Cathleen! Bravo, Rex. Your work and your lives will forever change the future of disability in America. -- Tom Sullivan, author of Adventures in Darkness and Together

Customer Reviews (63)

Awesome book!
What an awesome TRUE story of a mother's unconditional love for her child.I recommend this book to any mother of a child with disabilities, be they physical, emotional, etc.This mother is an inspiration to keep fighting for your child, even when others didn't know what to do with him/her.Rex is also an inspiration!

REX - amazing!
When I first got the book, Rex: A mother, her autistic child, and the music that transformed their lives by Cathleen Lewis (Thomas Nelson)... I had very little expectations. I wasn't expecting anything great and I wasn't expecting anything bad - I guess I was expecting ... predictable.

I was wrong.

This book touched me from the prologue.The battle that Cathleen Lewis went through for her precious son was nothing short of heroic.Through the mysterious creation of music Cathleen found the key that unlocked the prison her blind, autistic son had called home.Without giving too much away - this book was a treasure.Not only for those people who are currently facing huge mountains in the lives with their children but for those of us who are facing huge mountains in our own lives. The way Cathleen writes I felt like I was right there in every Dr. Appt, every music lesson, feeling every frustration and celebrating every victory however small. With faith, courage and persistence we can conquer anything!I can't wait to let other friends know about this inspiring book,REX.

This is great summer reading and I recommend this book for the beach or a staycation on the couch.

An Inspirational Story
I read books about autistic kids always with a little caution. I have two autistic sons and nothing we have ever tried has "cured" them. Believe me, I wish we could have.

This is an inspirational story about a mom who doesn't stop and a remarkable child. If you read it for that--then it is great. Really special and inspirational. What I caution you about, is if you have a special needs child in your life, don't think you didn't do the right things to "cure" them. We don't know why things happen they way they do--but it isn't because we don't work just as hard with our own kids.

Amazing and Heartwarming
I'd put off reading this book for far too long. Not because I didn't want to, just that life happened. Too many times. But I finally read it--not nearly in the time that it took to read the last book, The Noticer, but then again, I wasn't trapped within the confines of a coast-to-coast flight either.

After reading this on the (relative) heels of The Noticer, I have this to say: I think I may need to start picking different types of books. Like the previous book, this one made my eyes leak...

Rex is the story of a boy born blind, was autistic and suffered from apraxia, and the struggles he and his mother faced as he grew as they discover his extraordinary gift as a musical savant. It is a truly touching and absolutely amazing story with virtually every emotional up and down imaginable.

It hit home with me not just because of the amazing story that it is in and of itself, but because some of those struggles are ones that we faced with our oldest son a few years ago, so the story was that much more poignant for me.

This is another must-read from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

An education in Hope, Faith and Love
Rex is a mother's reflection on her struggle and joys as a parent of an blind and autistic boy.Cathleen walks the reader through the hardships, the internal struggles, and joys of understanding true love and peace that hope and faith can bring, despite life's many struggles.Rex is an autistic and blind child that has one strong connection to the world around him through music as a savant.

While not an easy book to read due too the emotionally heavy content, this is one book that I believe should be added to the required reading list of learning young adults.The book is an instant and reaffirming acknowledgment for those that have learned what unconditional love really is.But the book is also an opportunity for those that do not quite understand unconditional love, due to a lack of experience, to experience it through a mother's own struggle with the pains of this world and the joys of children despite the hardships and struggles that come with being a parent.

I especially recommend this book for individuals that desire to grow in areas of helps ministry.This book will work on your empathy more than anything.
... Read more

Product Description
The latest volume in Black Dog’s successful book-and-CD series combines the mesmerizing stories of the world’s great ballets with fun facts, dancing how-tos, history, profiles— all accompanied by charming original watercolors.

From Swan Lake and The Nutcracker to Peter and the Wolf and Fancy Free, the of twenty-five of the world’s best-loved ballets are told, accompanied by corresponding tracks on an enclosed CD. These are the charming stories that bring ballet to life on the stage, along with the music that has made them into enduring classics.

Surrounding the stories is a captivating, illustrated history of ballet, each page filled with information, artwork, and profiles of the world’s great dancers, choreographers, and composers. There are even instructions on ballet positions and the key moves that every dancer needs to know.

The musical selections included on the CD are keyed to specific points in the text, making the book uniquely interactive, educational, and fun. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A beautiful book
I gave it to my 5 year old daughter who has enjoyed dancing to the CD and learning a little about each of the ballets (although as the other review pointed out,I have had to be aware of what information to tell her).

CD of Ballet Selections Inadequate for What it Could Be
This book was a gift to my granddaughter.I have only read the section on Giselle, as that ballet was the one we were preparing to see.I found that the CD was a good idea, but only contained a brief piece from each ballet.Also, there was no verbal announcement, nor written guide to which piece on the CD went with which ballet.

Great Book for Children, for Ballet Classes and as a Teaching Aid
I am a dance teacher and I love using books and videos as teaching aids and supplements to my curriculum. This book is excellent, it tells the stories of the great classical ballets in short story, understandable format for children and includes music!

I like it, but the age rating may be wrong.
I bought this so that I would have something to read to my ballet students occasionally.It is a beautiful book, however, I would recommend it for maybe the 8-10 age group.The music is nice to listen to at any age though.I had quite forgotten how many of the themes of ballets are a little racy!And how would a 4-5 year react to stories about love triangles, suicide (Romeo and Juliet), and other "mature" themes in ballet.I think older ballet students would get more of a kick out of this book than 4-6 year olds would. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Solid book for younger readers
DK Publishing created a series of books for young readers--Eyewitness Books.Time-Life has a similar series--A Child's First Library of Learning. This is a volume published in the mid-1990s.When my son was young, I bought a number of the Time-Life series as well as numerous Eyewitness Books. I think he was better off for being exposed to all of these volumes.

This book focuses on music and art. In a sense, it seems to me that the book tries to cover too much.The Eyewitness Books series takes these subjects more leisurely--with a full volume on music. My own preference is for the leisurely approach.

That said, this is still a useful work for younger readers. Music is the first part of the work.The book begins by defining sound and discussing how music is based on sounds (e.g., soft versus loud, high and low sounds, tone). Then, discussion moves on to how instruments actually make music, including percussion, wind, strings, electric instruments, and so on.

Later, there is a not-very-easy transition to art. It's almost as if the volume were two separate works.Nonetheless, the discussion of art is pretty well done. Topics covered include painting, pottery, collage, sculpture, cartoons, origami, and the like.

In the end, this does introduce young kids to music and art.Despite the questions that I raise above, I think that, in the end, this is still a useful volume for our youngsters.
... Read more

Product Description
Favorite American folk songs of earlier generations come to life for today's children in this delightful collection filled with wonder, magic, and make-believe. Storytelling and music are combined to create some of the best-loved and most enduring songs of childhood. Just as children love to be read to, they also love being sung to, especially when the song tells a story. These songs have narratives that range from silly and sorrowful to straightforward and satirical, and each song will generate wonderful images in a child's imagination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Book of Children's Song Tales
This book is beautifully presented in an easy to use format. The songs represent a wide range of experiences that children relate to. Melodies are simple and engaging and draw at times on traditional songs. John Feierabend has selected a delightful collection of songs children will love to listen to and to sing. I've used it from 4 year olds to 10 year olds and they all love it. ... Read more

Product Description
Indigo Ocean Dreams is a 60 minute audio/CD designed to entertain your child in an ocean setting while introducing them to four research-based, stress management techniques. Each story integrates either progressive muscular relaxation, visualizations, breathing, and affirmations (positive statements). Children follow their sea friends along as they use progressive muscular relaxation and breathing to release and manage anger with Angry Octopus. Children build self-esteem with positive believe in yourself statements with Affirmation Weaver. Diaphragmatic breathing is fun with sea otters in Sea Otter Cove. Children enjoy a bubble ride through the ocean as they visualize colors with Bubble Riding. This CD offers longer stories than the first in this series, Indigo Dreams. Ideal for older children ages 6-12, or as step two for those already familiar with Indigo Dreams. Engaging characters present these adult level techniques in an easy to follow format that makes it fun for any child to learn. The male narration is accompanied by calming sounds of dolphins, sea otters, and gentle waves. An additional music sound track is included to further enhance your child's relaxation experience. These proven techniques encourage wellness and provide tools for children who suffer from anxiety, stress, trauma, hyperactivity, anger, pain, sleep issues, and lack of confidence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Sleep Tight!

"Indigo Dreams", created by Lori Lite of Stress Free Kids, is a special CD for children 4-9.It is beautifully done, with a direct approach to the child who is having trouble unwinding at night.So many materials in this area become sweet, almost sickly sweet, but "Indigo Dreams" is warm, charming, and really loving, while presenting the techniques in an intriguing and creative way.There are four selections on this CD, in addition to the complete sound track.The first is also called "Indigo Dreams" and is a series of affirmations, accompanied by gentle music.It is especially appropriate for younger children."Boy and a Bear" deals with easy breathing, "Boy and a Turtle" uses colors, and "The Goodnight Caterpillar" considers Stress and Release, and Progressive Relaxation.Here, the child is used as a teacher, which can be a very positive experience for some children. This CD gets my highest recommendation.

Lise Liepmann, MA, MEd, School Psychologist and Play Therapist

Kids bedtime story
My daughter who is practising yoga came to me in the morning after falling asleep to track 5 (ocean and dolphin sounds) and said that she had such a nice experience before bedtime.
Good value even for non-english speaking countries. I have taken over the idea for my children yoga classes. Colours and animals work great for visualisation!

Fabulous clinical tool and mom's tool too
This is a fabulous tool for any clinician or mom.I bought it for work as a child trauma therapist, the kids love it.It has helped them get to sleep and decreased night terrors, and we can begin to work following one story.So as a mom...I began using it at home with my 11 year old son who has test anxiety.We listen before bed and the morning of the big tests and he is off to school with confidence in a relaxed state.

Great product!
I love the Indigo Ocean Dreams CD and the books that correlate to it.I am a Behavioral Resource Teacher and work with students with emotional and behavioral disabilities.I have used the stories during social skills lessons as well as in independent listening centers.All of my students (in grades Kdg. through 6th) have enjoyed the stories.My students have learned valuable strategies for decreasing stress, dealing with feelings of anger, and believing in themselves.I would recommend this product to any classroom teacher.

good concept, poor execution
I do not recommend this CD.I wish I could have listened to a sample of the CD before I purchased it.It was a waste of money.The electronic "music" or noise on this CD is annoying.I like the concept of teaching relaxation techniques to children.But my grandchildren did not like the narrator's voice or the music and asked that it be turned off.I was looking for something to help them fall asleep when they come to visit.This was not the right CD.A better choice for young children (infant to six) is Rainforest by Fisher Price.The music is soothing and can be played at very low volumn.Another favorite is the Garden of Serenity by David and Steve Gordon.While I think this CD is intended for adults, it is appropriate for any age.The grandchildren love the chime and water sounds.With either of these CD's they fall asleep within minutes. ... Read more

Product Description
Offering many ideas and new insights about how to share the joy of music with very young children, this book introduces, explains, and clarifies new techniques, terminology, and concepts through definition and example.It provides song examples, as part of a collection on age-appropriate materials for teachers, as well as sketches, plans and specifications for preparing different types of learning centers.A special "Things to Do" section is included in each chapter, and there are various hands-on resources available throughout the text emphasizing the child's need to explore and to become involved in decision-making play.This book is a wonderful model for educators presenting effective music techniques while focusing on a child-centered approach to learning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Outdated in terms of consideration for individuals with disabilities
This book is not bad in terms of content and activity suggestions... but the chapter on accommodations for children with special needs is EXTREMELY outdated. The text refers to typically developing children as "normal" and children with exceptionalities as "challenged." Some of the suggestions are okay, but others include "using two headed mallets so orthopedically challenged children do not stick themselves in the eyes." The text advocates for including children with disabilities into the general education classroom, but then suggests that "if a movement activity is overly complex to have the visually impaired child manipulate a prop while sitting." So educators should single out the children with disabilities and have them sit by themselves on the carpet while the rest of the class participates in a fun movement activity? Why couldn't half of the class use props on the rug while the other half does the movement so the student with visual impairments is not isolated? Overall, I feel that the author had good intensions and did not mean to be offensive, but the content is outdated and inappropriate. ... Read more

Product Description
Creating music is something that all children find stimulating and exciting. This new and updated edition of the well-established Making Music with the Young Child with Special Needs demonstrates how music can be used to encourage a child's development and provides practical help and guidance for parents and teachers of all musical abilities, even beginners. The author also explains how musical activities can help to stimulate skills in other areas such as language and communication. The second part of the book details thirteen musical activities, with ideas for variations and further work.

In this new edition of her well-established book, Elaine Streeter helps parents and carers to learn not only how they can add to a child's fun, but also how they can engage a child in interactive communication at a level the child can make sense of - one of the most rewarding things anyone can do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

You don't have to be a musician ...
Music and song can be great ways to engage children with special needs and start to build vital communication skills like listening and turn-taking.

But too often, parents and teachers feel that they aren't "qualified" to use these tools unless they're professional music therapists or at least able to play an instrument fluently.

This charming, easy-to-read book aims to enable anyone to start making music with a child with special needs.

And I have no ability to read music, can't play an instrument to save my life, and have one of the world's worst singing voices - so when I say "anyone", I mean it! ... Read more

Product Description
Can music make your child smarter? Author Philip Sheppard reveals the secret power of music in your child’s development with this book and CD set that includes songs for learning; lullabies and fingerplays; music for movement, dancing, and play; and music for story time. In Part 1, discover how music can help your child’s mental development, physical coordination, language skills, math ability, social skills, memory, teamwork skills, and self-expression and creativity. Part 2 is a practical guide for parents featuring musical games, instructions for making your own instruments, music and movement exercises, suggested listening, and advice on choosing instruments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good, comprehensive introduction
When musician, parent, and music educator Philip Sheppard undertook the writing of Music Makes Your Child Smarter his working title was Can Music Make Your Child Smarter? Though already intensively involved in music in all areas of his life, Sheppard wanted to explore the question from a position of skepticism. As he researched and wrote, however, he came to the undeniable conclusion that forms the book's current title.

Presented in two parts, Sheppard lays out the evidence for the effect of music upon the developing minds of children, with a particular focus on those ages seven and under. Sheppard isn't talking about a Mozart Effect approach, which Sheppard points out is founded upon questionable research data. The evidence he shares about the effects of music upon the growing mind are most evident when music is actively explored, played with, and experienced first hand -- not through passively listening to classical music in the background.

The first half of the book, wherein Sheppard lays out his arguments, combines research findings with his own personal anecdotes as teacher, musician, and parent. I found the writing in this section to be somewhat choppy, at times repetitive, and, due to the lack of footnotes, sounding more like personal conviction than a quantitatively measured argument.

The book does include a research list and bibliography in the appendix, but without end notes it is difficult to line up research papers with the points that Sheppard has made in the text. Still, no parent reading his arguments will be able to walk away without a niggling feeling that they must do something to encourage the development of their child's natural capacity for music before the crucial age of seven.

The second half of Music Makes Your Child Smarter explores activities from pre-birth to early elementary (up to age nine), with a brief introduction to the options available for formal music lessons as children grow.

Eschewing the popularly held belief that passively listening to the classics will somehow make your baby smarter, Sheppard's goal is to instead encourage parents to step up and fill the role as first music teacher by engaging children in active music making, musical play, integration with art, and a wide array of other simple activities.

Broken into age groups, Sheppard starts with simple lullabies sung by parents to unborn children, moves into musical games, finger plays, and motion songs, then into homemade instruments, spontaneous composition games, body percussion, and children increase in age. A parent armed with the suggested activities found within the pages of the book and the samples on the included CD (with cello performances by Sheppard himself) will be able to jump in with only this resource at their disposal and start enjoying music with their children.

An oddity that I noticed was that some of the longer songs in the book -- some with several pages of lyrics -- were not included on the CD, though the tunes were unfamiliar to me. In many cases the tunes are provided, and, for some that are very well known, the lyrics serve as a reminder to parents who may have forgotten classics from their own childhoods -- no tunes necessary.

For parents whose children are ready to move into formal instruction, Sheppard provides a breakdown of the most popular instruments, along with ratings for "startability," expense, and his own commentary about versatility, transition to other instruments, and any special considerations to take into account. Sheppard also moves far beyond the classical range with suggestions for additional listening from genres ranging from jazz, rock, disco, and the classics, too, of course.

The combination of Sheppard's text with the accompanying 53 track CD provides a comprehensive introductory-level overview to early-childhood music education for parents. Any parent who puts the exercises held within to use with their children is sure to be met with an enthusiastic response from their little ones and lay the foundation for a life-long appreciation of music. ... Read more

Product Description
Music therapy is well established as a particularly effective way of working with people with autism - helping them to communicate, ameliorating symptoms of distress and helping them to cope better with an uncertain and confusing world. In this groundbreaking book Dorita Berger looks at the reasons why this is so.

In the first part of the book she looks in detail at those characteristics of autism, especially sensory integration problems, which are amenable to music therapy. In the second part she shows how, at a neurological level, the purity of sound itself can not only open a channel for communication but also effect lasting change in a way not open to other therapeutic modalities. She looks at the nature of music, and in particular melody, showing how the simplicity of music can be `understood' by a child with autism in a way that words cannot, and how this can lead to verbal communication once the patterns are established.

Vignettes throughout the book of music therapy work with children demonstrate the theory in action, and the last section of the book develops the practical application with action plans for music therapy interventions particularly suited for work with children with autism.

Intended primarily for professionals working with children with autism - not only music therapists but also those from other disciplines looking for effective interventions - the book will also be of considerable interest to parents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Informational Book
This book will be very helpful to me in my daily job working with children with special needs.

Amazing resource, interesting, and scholarly
This book has been the perfect resource for me as I begin my work with children diagnosed on the autism spectrum.It has provoked creative thought and helped shape my approach to treating these children, especially in regards to initial contact with them.I highly recommend this book to any music therapists, not just those who work with individuals diagnosed with autism. ... Read more

Product Description
New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is an original and exciting look at the fascinating world of sound and music. Superb real-life photographs of instruments ranging from zithers and panpipes to electric guitars and synthesizers offer a unique "eyewitness" view of ancient and contemporary music.See how strings vibrate to make a note sound, how an invisible "column" of air sounds a pipe, which instrument resembles a peacock, how sousaphone players wear their instruments.Learn who invented an important new key system, how to master the bagpipes, why pipe organs have "ears" and "mouths", and why French horns are "doubled up".Discover how a vegetable gourd charms snakes, why tangled fingers led to the invention of the piano, why spiders add a "buzz" to xylophones, where reindeer toe-bones were used as whistles, and much, much more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent source of facts about instruments
This book contains a great overview of the history behind instruments, how they are made and the scientific principles of sound production.Unfortunately, the human voice is not included and should be as it is also a wind instrument with sound production very similar to man-made instruments and yet has its own uniqueness.

One of the best on music!
This line of books if you don't already know it is one of the best information learning lines available.
This is an awesome book with a hands on feel and much information. ... Read more

Product Description
"Rosa organizes her friends into the Oak Street Band in order to earn money her family needs because of her Grandma's illness....Community, family and personal triumphs converge, making unforgettable music for everyone."--School Library Journal. ... Read more