Customer Reviews

The Story of Bach

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We are using this series of CDs in our homeschool music program - they are fantastic! We especially love this one about Bach - what an awesome man! The story of his life is told in a way that is very interesting and holds the children's attention while also using various pieces of his music in the narration. It is done VERY well! My children are gaining a tremendous amount of knowlege and appreciation for music through this CD and so are my husband and I!

This CD was nice to listen to in the car with my children as an introduction, but it could have been so much better! The information is excellent. There is narration about the composer, then excerpts of music. It often tells what was going on in the composer's life at the time certain pieces were composed. The excerpts are short, but that works out fine for most children.
I do have a couple criticisms about this cd. Firstly, the narrator is so droll and monotonous. I mean dreadful. I would have given it a lower rating if there was some competition, however I don't believe there are other products along the same lines. Secondly, the quality of the recording is similar to a cassette tape. It's certainly tolerable for the price and information, however. I rented some different Bach cds to accompany or study on Bach, I would suggest that others do the same.
Overall, I think this is a nice introduction to a great composer. I just wish that someone with inflection would redo the narration!

I had heard about this series from other homeschool moms. The biographies are interspersed with related musical samples from the composers' more famous pieces, presented in chronological form. The narrator has an old-fashioned style that I like.

It's a great introduction for those of us who did not grow up listening to classical music. The narrator always includes details from the composers' childhoods, which never fails to draw the kids in. They like the stories, and surprise me later when they are able to recognize the pieces or composers when we sometimes hear them on the radio. The kids will often get up and dance around and generally act goofy when I put the CDs on, but at least they are finding the music engaging.

Music Masters is a very inexpensive, practical curriculum choice for parents who, when it comes to music, are more facilitators than teachers.

I disagree with one of the other reviewers: even if you DID grow up surrounded by classical music, you will be pleased and educated by these audio biographies! My son started listening to them raptly at age 5.