 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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Morton Subotnick's Pitch Painter
Common Sense Media says
Innovative music app gets young kids composing.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Morton Subotnick's Pitch Painter is a stellar music app that gives young kids the rare opportunity to experiment with music composition. The app's creators compare the experience to finger painting in the way young kids explore visual art creation with no formal training in art; here, kids can create short musical compositions, choosing different instruments and laying down tracks by simply finger drawing on a blank canvas. A little guidance from parents will get young kids composing in no time.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn basic elements of music and composition including pitch, rhythm, and instrument sounds. This music app for young kids encourages experimentation and play with its visual music canvas and intuitive design. A selection of instruments from around the world gives kids an introduction to the music of other cultures. Kids also get a taste of the basic structure of written music; pitch changes depend on position, instruments are represented by different colors, and the piece plays from left to right. Morton Subotnick's Pitch Painter is a rare accomplishment: an innovative music creation tool that teaches early composition skills.
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningpart-whole relationships
- Creativitymaking new creations
- Self-Direction
- Emotional Development
- Communicationlistening
- Collaboration
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Tech Skills
- Health & Fitness
What's it about?
Kids tap to choose a set of instruments from one of four regions of the world. To compose, kids finger draw with any number of fingers on a blank canvas, tapping to change instruments as they would select colors in a painting app. Each color on the canvas represents a different instrument, and the musical pitch gets increasingly higher from the bottom to the top of the canvas. Press play and the composition plays from left to right. There are options to reverse and flip the canvas. Kids can save their creations to the app library and return to them later to play or edit.
Is it any good?
MORTON SUBOTNICK'S PITCH PAINTER allows young kids with no formal music training to experiment with musical creativity and composition. The ingenious interface is a perfect creative activity for young kids, who will love seeing and hearing the music they create. Additionally, with its musical canvas grid, the app introduces kids to the basic structure of written music in a concrete and visual way.
Keep in mind that Morton Subotnick's Pitch Painter is designed for young kids, and the limitations of the app reflect that fact. Older kids and adults will likely crave the ability to compose longer pieces or use more than three instruments in compositions. Inspiring a desire to create music seems like less of a complaint and more like a testament to this app's brilliance. Don't miss this one.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn basic elements of music and composition including pitch, rhythm, and instrument sounds. This music app for young kids encourages experimentation and play with its visual music canvas and intuitive design. A selection of instruments from around the world gives kids an introduction to the music of other cultures. Kids also get a taste of the basic structure of written music; pitch changes depend on position, instruments are represented by different colors, and the piece plays from left to right. Morton Subotnick's Pitch Painter is a rare accomplishment: an innovative music creation tool that teaches early composition skills.
Subjects
- Language & Reading:
- Math:
- Science:
- Social Studies:
- Arts: music, rhythm
- Hobbies:
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoning: part-whole relationships
- Creativity: making new creations
- Self-Direction:
- Emotional Development:
- Communication: listening
- Collaboration:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Tech Skills:
- Health & Fitness:
How kids will learn
Kids discover how fun it is to make music as they experiment with this unique composing tool. They can reflect on their pieces using the playback button and can edit using the eraser tool. Playing saved pieces for friends and family gives kids an authentic audience for their work. Primarily, Morton Subotnick's Pitch Painter encourages kids to explore their creativity through the art of music.
How parents can help
- Encourage your kids to experiment with drawing different patterns in the app, for example, a row of dots or a diagonal line, and listen to how the music changes.
- Bring more music creation into your kids' everyday activities. Tap out a rhythm and have your kids try to repeat it, then ask them to give you one to try.
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| Topics: | music and sing-along |
| Category: | Music |
| Platforms: | iPad |
| Price: | $2.99 |
| Size: | 26.90 MB |
| Publisher: | Morton Subotnick |
| Version: | 1.0 |
| Release date: | May 15, 2012 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 5.0 or later |
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