Music has been on our schedule for a while, but it just wasn’t happening, so I made a decision that whatever it takes, we were going to start music this year. Although we don’t have a piano (it didn’t move with us), I bought a piano lesson book so I can start teaching the children how to play. I have not opened it up to use yet because we have instead been using KinderBach which we had the opportunity to review through TOS.

KinderBach is an online program for learning about music and how to play the piano. You can view lessons on your computer, iPad (this made me finally want an iPad), or on DVD. Even though it is nice to have a real piano or electronic keyboard to practice on when you start, it is not necessary for the first several lessons to have either to start using this program. Eventually, you do want to have access to one or the other to continue going through the lessons and to give your child a chance to practice on the “real thing.” Even when considering either one for use, a simple keyboard is suggested rather than one with a lot of features which will allow the child to focus more on what he is learning rather than the “cool features” on the keyboard.

There are 240, student-guided, online video lessons, and 60 weeks of music training which sounds like a lot, but by the end of the course, your child should “At the end of the KinderBach program, your child will “have a strong musical foundation that he/she will be able to use as a springboard to any music instrument,” and also be familiar with the following:

• Know all the notes on the piano by location and letter name
• Be familiar with the grand staff,
• Read some individual notes on staff and all notes by pattern on staff,
• Understand and read rhythms from eighth to whole notes,
• Have improved listening skills so that he/she can interpret rhythms, intervals and patterns heard.
• Play familiar melodies,
• Play hands together or separately,
• Have a working music vocabulary,
• Understand basic composition methods

The child is led through the instruction by Kari and the Piano Pals, animated characters, that make the learning a little bit more fun as they get active along w/the child for promoting participation.

All additional materials (activity worksheets , parent guide, songs, etc.) are available online, so there is not any additional expense for these items. You can print and download as often as you need.

Although the recommended ages of use are 3 to 7, all three of my children (through age nine) enjoyed watching the lessons, but I can see how it is definitely more geared to the suggested age range because many older students may be ready to just start using the actual instrument.

As a reward for their hard work, I took them to our church so they could practice what they were learning on a REAL piano. This was a great incentive (although not needed because they enjoyed the program) to get them to complete the lessons.

You can try out the first two weeks of lessons for FREE which will give you a chance to see how the program works as well as if it is right for your family. Also, take a look at this video that tells you all about KinderBach.

Pricing and Availability

Kinderbach is available monthly for $19.99 or annually for $95.88 (save 60%). You can also purchase single lesson DVDs or DVD bundles. You may also purchase day-passes. Through February 2, 2013, you can use coupon code TOScrew2012 and save 30% off on your purchase. Wow!

You can read more reviews of this item by fellow crew members on The Homeschool Crew Blog.

The product featured in this review was provided to me free of cost by the manufacturer or representing PR agency as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. The opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.