Review: Maestro Classics

We really love classical music around our house. The girls all play instruments, and we have taken any opportunity that we can to attend concerts and give them an appreciation for fine music. We recently had the opportunity to review "Stories in Music" from Maestro Classics. Though this company has a number of great stories available, for this review we received the CD stories of "My Name is Handel: Story of Water Music" and "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel". 

What are Maestro Classics Stories in Music?  These CD's are the creation of Stephen & Bonnie Ward Simon. They set out to teach children an appreciation for fine classical music using familiar classic stories. The lovely music on the CD is played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

What is included on a CD? Each CD contains a classical story or biography set against a beautiful backdrop of music and dramatization. There are also tracks that contain information about the author, special songs or sound effects in the story, and explanations of anything unique that is in that particular musical score. There are also accompaniment tracks for the child to sing along with special music that is learned on the CD.

Extra, Extra!: Not only does the CD contain compelling stories set to music, but there is also a 24 page insert that contains additional reading material, sheet music and lyrics, and puzzles and games that coincide with the story. As if that weren't enough, the Maestro Classics website contains a wealth of extra educational features, including a Kids Club that has regularly updated puzzles, games, prizes, and interesting facts as well as a really neat Orchestra page.

What we thought of our review stories:

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

This was actually my first time coming across this story, even though it is a classic children's story. (Guess that is what happens when no little boys live in the house!) We expanded our review by ordering in the book and video of this story from the library, so that we could become very familiar with the story while listening to the CD.

The story tells of a steam shovel operator who helped dig all kinds of canals and projects (went along great with the industrial revolution and westward expansion topics we were discussing in history at the time) and then grew old and felt that he and his steam shovel (Maryann) had lost their usefulness and were no longer needed. Mike Mulligan and Maryann completed one last project in this story, and the music and special sound effects in the background were just amazing and very entertaining. They really made the story. For comparison sake, when we watched the story on video the children found it very boring because there was no incredible music playing in the background like there was on the CD!

Some things we learned: The musical patterns on the CD are explained in depth. We learned that there is a difference between Scottish and Irish bagpipes. We also learned several different musical terms, and how composers use various patterns to set the mood in their music. 

The girls' opinion: While the girls were not overly impressed with the story line itself (it definitely is one that would appeal to young boys) they LOVED the music on this CD and I found them listening to it over and over just for the Irish Celtic style music. 

Age recommendations: This CD is recommended for ages 4+.  I would add that any child who loves heavy equipment would probably love this story. It is a short story for young attention spans, lasting about 18 minutes long. The extras can be played separately for a total playing time of 51:14 minutes. 

My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music

The story on this CD was a biographical sketch of George Frideric Handel, highlighting the time he spent in England, particularly when he composed music for King George I. The London Philharmonic Orchestra plays Handel's "Water Music" while the narrator tells the story and breaks down the music into understandable components for the listener. 

Some things we learned: This story is full of good historical information (of 17th century England and Europe) as well as descriptions of the different types of instruments highlighted in the music that were mainly used during this time frame. There is a thorough explanation of various musical terms, and we were able to learn the difference between an opera, oratorio, and concerto. We also learned a lot of interesting new facts about the life of George Frideric Handel. The girls were already familiar with him because of their love for "Messiah" but we never knew that he finished his life in England, not Germany. 

The girls' opinion: They found the story very interesting, and again, loved the beautiful music that was played. 

Age recommendations: This is recommended for ages 5+. I think all ages would enjoy this CD because there is enough educational material to fascinate older listeners, but younger listeners can really learn music appreciation through the classical piece that is played. The story and music lasts nearly 40 minutes long, with a total playing time of 48:45 minutes.

Final thoughts: One thing I really enjoy about these CD's is that they are well integrated with educational and historical facts, as well as lovely classical music. They really do appeal to families, as all ages can listen to them together, especially parents and children, and then discuss them. I also greatly appreciate all the extras on the website. It is obvious that this company is passionate about filling children with a love and appreciation for fine music. 

One thing I love: Included on the website was a whole page dedicated to educational materials for educators which gives curriculum guides for the CD stories, as well as extra ideas to expand the CD into an actual unit study for your students. 

Costs: The physical CD case which contains both the CD and the 24 page full color booklet sells for $16.98. The mp3 download sells for $9.98. The games and extras on the website are free.

Social Media: Maestro Classics has a really cool Pinterest board featuring Homemade Musical Instruments. They are also on Facebook and Twitter.

The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew reviewed several different Stories in Music CD's from Maestro Classics. To read about the others, click the banner below. 

Copyright 2012-2014 - "Be The One" - www.aclassofone.blogspot.com  All rights are reserved. No text, photos, or content may be reproduced without direct permission from the author.

Obscure Bible Heroes {Blogging Through The Alphabet - B}

This week I am thrilled to write about a man that I have long admired - a quiet man that the Lord chose for a very important work.

In the book of Exodus, after the Jewish people left Egypt, they found themselves traveling in the wilderness and in need of a special spiritual place that could be the center of their culture. God gave Moses specific instructions to build a tabernacle where all the special sacrifices could be held, and where the Levites could minister to the people. Since this was a huge undertaking, especially for a nomadic, traveling people with primitive tools, God singled out a special man and filled him with the wisdom and skill necessary to organize the project.

This man was Bezaleel, and we first read about him in Exodus 31:1-5:

 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship."

What I love about this story is that it shows that even though building the tabernacle was all physical labor, it was also fully a spiritual assignment. There was no such thing as "hiring in the carpenters union" in that day. God had a plan for His people, and He needed it done in a specific way. He didn't need someone to question the plans, the dimensions, or the materials. He needed a man that would complete the work as service to His God. When He chose Bezaleel, God equipped him for the job not only by filling him with wisdom and understanding, but also with skilled workmanship. Bezaleel's talents were a direct gift from God.

As we continue to read in Exodus, we see lengthy descriptions of Bezaleel explicitly following each set of instructions just as God gave. He and his helpers handcraft every speck of the tabernacle as a labor of love to God and to their people.

What a blessed and faithful man - to be chosen by God for such an important work! I admire his faithfulness.

Through Bezaleel's story I am encouraged that every work that we do is a spiritual work, and should be done to the glory of God. 

Taken from wikipedia

Copyright 2012-2014 - "Be The One" - www.aclassofone.blogspot.com  All rights are reserved. No text, photos, or content may be reproduced without direct permission from the author.

Family Game Night - May

This month I am posting about another short and sweet game that can be enjoyed by multiple ages.  If it seems like I am continuously posting about "quick' games....well, that's the kind that work out best around our house! Often Dad would like to do a little something with the girls just before bed. Everyone is tired, and has had a busy day, so quick and simple games that don't require a lot of preparation and have a definite ending work out the best.

This month's game is called "Scribblish". It comes from the line of Cranium games, and everything you need to play is included in the box, except for a handful of pens or pencils.

Scribblish is a short game that describes itself as "The telephone game meets scribbling". The point is to use words and pictures to describe short statements before time runs out.

To play Scribblish, gather the family around (the more people that play the funnier it is) and make sure everyone has something to write and draw with.

Here are the game pieces that you will use during play:

Each player receives a long strip of blank paper, that is already divided into sections. Then each player draws a card and selects a funny statement off that card. (Don't share your statement with any other player though!)

 Roll the strip of paper into the holder, so that the first section is accessible. Using the timer, players have a minute to draw a scribble picture, depicting the funny statement on their card. Once the timer beeps, players roll the strip of paper inside the holder, so that only their last picture drawn is visible to the next player. This will leave a small caption strip available for the next player to write a statement that he feels describes the picture that was drawn. The process gets repeated until every section of the strip is filled.  Players only see the one previous statement or picture, and write or draw something to describe it.

The dice is used to determine which way the holders are passed around the table. It could be 1 player or 2 players to the left or to the right, as well as a mad scramble, where all players put their holders in the middle of the table, scramble them around, then choose one out of the pile.

At the end, with only the last illustration showing, players try to guess which strip is their original one that they started off with. They put their "mine" token next to the one that they think is theirs, and they place their "funny" token down next to the illustration that they find the most amusing.

Players then remove the strips from the holders and check to see if their guesses were correct. The person who received "funny" tokens on their drawing gets to keep them.

We typically play for the laughs and not for points, but there is a way to keep score using a points system with the tokens.

Here is an example of a completed strip from a recent round of Scribblish:

While the pictures in this one stayed similar, sometimes the statements get so crazy that the illustrations soon follow suit, and it is almost impossible to guess which one was actually the strip that you started off with! Our family has played this until we cried with laughter....It's a very fun and hilarious game, and a complete round can be over in about 15 minutes.

Here is a link to my Amazon Affiliate account if you are thinking of purchasing this game: 

Copyright 2012-2014 - "Be The One" - www.aclassofone.blogspot.com  All rights are reserved. No text, photos, or content may be reproduced without direct permission from the author.


Check out some of my fellow bloggers links to their favorite family games!