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Music Sparkles - All In One Musical Instruments Collection HD
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Free
- Education
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Music Sparkles is a great freemium musical instrument app for young kids. It comes with two instruments (xylophone and drum kit) and has 12 more available with in-app upgrade. The app's designed to introduce kids to different musical instruments and offers freestyle music making with the option to play along with pre-recorded loops. What sets this app apart from others is that the simulated instruments play like the real thing. The colorful and engaging interface is well designed and very responsive for kids of any age and ability.
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What's it about?
Kids choose an instrument, which fills the screen, and play it like the real thing. To make music, they touch the keys on a keyboard or the strings and fretboard of a guitar. Wind instruments aren't blown, but kids touch the part of the instrument that changes the pitch, such as the keys on a sax or the finger holes on the recorder. Kids can also choose 1 of 5 pre-recorded instrument loops to play along with, and explore a treble clef C scale with Do-Re-Mi playback. This play-along app has no recording features.
Is it any good?
MUSIC SPARKLES -- ALL IN ONE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS COLLECTION HD is a great app for creative exploration of musical instruments. The tunings of the instruments are compatible with the pre-recorded playback loops, so kids are never out of key or sound "off." But the best thing about Music Sparkles is that the instruments play like the real thing. The free version is limited but kids can still jam with it.
The musical journey really unfolds with the in-app upgrade, which is like walking into a virtual music shop with interactive acoustic and electric guitars and pianos, pipe organ, accordion, harmonica, recorder, harp, sax, panpipes, and violin. The violin interface is disappointing because it's inauthentic and tricky to play, and it'd be great if the app had more world instruments. Still, Music Sparkles shines on and provides a jam-packed, true-to-life musical experience, making it a fantastic choice for budding musicians of all ages and abilities.
Talk to your kids about ...
Talk about the different kinds of instruments with your kids and categorize into "families." For instance, violins, cello, harp, guitar are in the string family; drums, bongos, cymbals, tambourines are in the percussion family, etc.
Listen to music with your kids and try to identify the different musical instruments in the songs.
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Science: physics
Arts: improvising and music analysis, music, rhythm - Skills: Creativity: imagination, making new creations
Self-Direction: effort
Communication: multiple forms of expression - Price: Free
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: November 30, 2012
- Category: Education
- Topics: Music and Sing-Along
- Size: 23.00 MB
- Publisher: Kids Games Club
- Version: 3.2
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 4.3 or later
Themes & Topics
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For kids who love music and creativity
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.