Game Review: Music Ace Deluxe
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What Parents Should Know
This is a great way to teach kids music education because
the program offers interactive lessons that are followed up
with fun interactive games. The software is adaptive to the
child's learning pace. Parents, it's cheaper to purchase from
online retailers than from the company's website.
Common Sense Media Review
Looking for an entertaining way to teach your kid music
education?
Music Ace Deluxe software offers sequenced,
comprehensive music instruction for beginning and intermediate
music students. It's a shining example of how to make a
complicated subject interesting to kids by presenting it in a
lively interactive format.
Aligned with the National Standards for Music Education, Music Ace Deluxe teaches music theory, note reading, ear training, notation, keyboard, scales, rhythm, melody, key signatures, time signatures, and harmony.
Presented in 36 core lessons and accompanying games, the instruction is lead by Maestro Max, a humorous animated conductor, and his throng of animated notes and instruments. Using colorful graphics and interactive activities, Maestro Max helps children to work through self-paced lessons. Thereafter, kids hone their new musical skills by playing a related game that reinforces the musical concept just taught.
One kid-tester learned about syncopation in a lesson that showed him how to mix note combinations to create the rhythm. The accompanying game challenged the child to use the computer mouse to echo the rhythm of a syncopated piece. When the kid-tester was having trouble, the software adapted to the child's needs by slowing down the musical piece and offering additional visual cues to help reinforce the syncopated rhythm.
In addition to the musical curriculum, the software offers kids an easy-to-use composition tool called the Music Doodle Pad. They simply drag animated notes into positions on a musical staff.
Music Ace Deluxe is a new configuration of lessons from two older products: Music Ace and Music Ace 2.
It is offered at $79.95 on the company's website but is available for $50 at online retailers Amazon.com, JR.com, PCMall.com.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
