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| Who is the MusicStart® Learning System geared towards? |
| Boys and girls ages 5 to 9. Because the MusicStart® Learning System involves a progressive learning system, it is appropriate for anyone seeking an
initial exposure to playing music, and can encompass different levels
of challenge from color matching to reading standard musical notation.
Since it is usually as a child that one is first introduced to the enjoyment
of music, this product is especially geared toward kids. It is a "stepping
stone" instrument. |
| How does it work? |
| The MusicStart® Keyboard keeps
one foot firmly in tradition yet also steps into a new approach. While
most resembling a piano keyboard, and thereby maintaining a somewhat
familiar look, the Keyboard also has a unique and exciting appearance
and functionality. The four included Attachments (and possibly more to
come - including specific song Attachments) are the crux of the progressive
learning system: As a user learns a song, he or she goes through the
four Attachments, Velcro-ed over the note keys one-by-one, which act
as helpers in playing the notes, until those helpers are no longer needed
because the tune has been mastered. This process was inspired by the
tendency of children to tape note names on the piano keyboard in an effort
to learn a song, capitalizing on children's instincts and harnessing
them into a more worthwhile method. For more info click on MusicStart® Learning
Method. |
| What is the retail price? |
| $64.95 + $5.00 shipping & handling
per MusicStart® Keyboard mail ordered. Click
here to order. This price includes the keyboard, and 4 Attachments,
plus there is FREE printable sheet music. |
| Who will buy it? |
| The MusicStart® Learning System
appeals to both parents and children. Parents will buy the MusicStart® Keyboard for their kids when they take a MusicStart® class. This instrument is designed to be to be what children try in advance of starting music lessons on a traditional instrument in the near future. As such, it competes with the recorder, little xylophones, and simple keyboards, and surpasses them by giving the budding player more intrinsic guidance and less frilly distractions. The MusicStart® Learning System is perfect for use in the classroom by music and/or general teachers. |
| Haven't I seen color-coding on other musical toys? |
Yes, because it is a logical approach
to giving the player some instant gratification as he or she tries
to play a tune. However, no other color-coding system in existence
(as far as our research indicates) goes the next step(s) by correlating,
both visually and procedurally, the optional color matching stage with
reading real notation as part of a learning methodology. |
| What else makes it unique? |
| Each physical part of the instrument
relates to a certain musical concept, and many are labeled as such. |
| Has the MusicStart® Learning System been publicized yet? |
| Yes, the instrument was considered innovative
enough to be the subject of a Reuters video news story shot on location
in Tenafly, NJ (the workshop), New York City (the teaching studio), and
Anaheim, CA (the NAMM trade show). The news story aired worldwide in
April 2001. |
| When did the product become available to the public? |
| Summer 2005. |
