The text is very child friendly and attractive. The brightly colored pictures keep the reader engaged. Simple, clear language promotes independent study and self-teaching strategies that require less adult guidance than traditional music texts. The structure of the lessons mirrors many researched based principles that apply to effective instruction for children. There is the introduction of the objectives, presentation of symbols and music vocabulary, then guided and independent practice and review of concepts and skills. This similarity is highly useful because the format will be familiar for the school age child who is also learning reading and math concepts in a similar context.

-Review by Serena Edwards, M.Ed., K-8 Educator/Administrator & Adjunct Instructor, School Principal, Cleveland Schools 1997-present

I love that this program teaches composition to young children. Our home schooled daughter often made up simple melodies on the piano, but without any clear directives nothing much came of it. Dr. Hodge’s method would have greatly helped her to create melodic songs with a clear beginning and end from her creative ramblings.

Our culture, including the Christian community, has not done well at cultivating originality; yet one quality of being created in the image of God is creativity. We demonstrate a feature of our creator God through our creativity. This program could help raise up a generation of budding composers who write to the glory of God.

Dr. Mark Hamilton
Professor of Philosophy and NCAA Faculty Representative
Ashland University

I used this curriculum to teach my 7-8 grade general music class how to compose a short 16-bar phrase in a 9-week course. . . . I found the content in this curriculum to be very thorough and helpful for a music student needing to develop the skills of reading, writing and playing simple piano music. I could see students as young as 4th grade working their way successfully through this curriculum. . . . The content of this curriculum is well thought out and demonstrates time-intensive work in pulling a plethora of musical concepts into a single curriculum. Students who work their way through this are sure to build confidence in their developed musical skills. . . .

The results were varied from my class of 36 students, but there were some really great compositions that came out of the group. At the end we had a composition recital where I chose five compositions to play for the class. The student composers were recognized for their achievement, and some even played their own compositions. . . .

I was encouraged when I read a student evaluation following the unit, “I’d like to do even more music theory!” Kids like good music material and to feel success in music, this curriculum provides a clear and fun way for them to do just that!

Joanna Provencal
Music Teacher
Lansing Christian School?