Worship Guitar

Available in English or Spanish, Worship Guitar Class DVDs offer students aged 10 and older guitar lessons in the home taught by Jean Welles, of Los Angeles, CA, professional guitarist and teacher for over 30 years. A student of the guitar herself, Welles holds a Master's degree in Guitar Performance from USC.

"One of the reasons I came to Christ is because at that time I didn't see a purpose in life. Now I have a purpose. It's to enjoy God and to help others know how great HE is!", states Welles in a letter provided with the Worship Guitar Class DVD.

I received Worship Guitar Class DVD-Volume 1 and separate student music book as a

member of TOS Review Crew to use in our homeschool in exchange for this review. According to literature provided with the DVD, Volume 1 promises:

• Step by Step Instruction
• The ability to learn to play the guitar at home
• Easy enough for 1st day beginner to beginner/intermediate students
• Instruction regarding creating a personal worship time
• Instruction for learning to lead worship in a small group setting

Volume 1 consists of 7 lessons each designed to teach one worship song per lesson and the ability to master a dozen chords. Several strumming and picking patterns are presented in the lessons. Songs taught throughout volume one include:

• He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
• My All in All
• More Precious than Silver
• Take My Life
• Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
• This is the Day
• I Love you Lord

Retailing for $24.95, Volume 1 is part of a 4 Volume set which can be purchased at the Worship Guitar Class website for $99.80. Once on the website, www.worshipguitarclass.com, I noted the student book included in each volume is also available for separate purchase for $5.95. When purchasing the 4 volume set, customers receive a $40.00 value bonus of 4 e-books titled:

• Tips, Tricks & Exercises for Great Guitar Technique
• Favorite Hymns For Guitar
• 200 Chord Charts and Pictures and Much More
• Chord Charts with Pictures for 5 Major Keys and How to Use This Guide Book

Welles offers a DVD course for the younger set, "Worship Guitar for Kids" designed for students ages 5-9. In addition to the DVD courses, customers will find guitars, gig bags, guitar stands, music stands, assorted guitar instructional books for further study, piano and drum curriculum and vocal CD's at the Worship Guitar Class website.

I was anxious to see Worship Guitar Class DVD in action based on my experience with children and music lessons. I grew up learning to play the piano, trumpet and french horn and have always valued the importance of music instruction in a child's education. When my older children were younger we were fortunate enough to find quality music lessons for them locally. They took piano, violin, voice and guitar lessons over several years, but unfortunately, great teachers seemed to move on to bigger and better opportunities. My younger children have missed individualized music instruction to date and thinking I could have a guitar instructor in our home at my disposal was a wonderful one.

I assigned my 12 year old daughter, Micah to the task of helping me with this review and she attempted the lessons with no previous guitar experience. We don't own an acoustic guitar, but she blew the dust off of her older brother's electric guitar, hooked it up to the amp and put the DVD in the player. I sat down beside her to watch the process and see if the DVD truly offered, "step by step instructions" simple enough to follow.

Jean Welles presents a professional demeanor and the set and video quality are of high standards pleasing to watch. Unfortunately, we found the instruction to move very quickly making Micah extremely frustrated even to tears within the first lesson.

The first lesson included specific instruction regarding proper holding technique of the guitar and two chords, A and E7. Students learn specific placement of fingers on strings in order to properly strum the chords both with visual demonstration and the use of a giant chord chart which Welles uses in her explanations. Micah had trouble from the beginning determining why her chords lacked musical quality when she played. Because I have no guitar experience, and Micah's hands might not have been placed exactly where they should have been, I could not help her with her frustration in finding just the right finger placement. We paused the DVD, repeated over and over the specific portion explaining the finger placement, but very quickly, Micah was frustrated and in tears over her lack of accomplishment.

I reminded Micah that "Rome wasn't built in a Day" and music like all great things takes lots of patience and practice for mastery. We wiped the tears and returned to the lesson with greater fortitude. Once Welles demonstrated finger placement of the two chords for lesson one she combined the chords to play the first song taught, "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands". I wanted to build a campfire when I heard the wonderful familiar and simple worship song, but instead of inspiring Micah this section of the DVD made her want to throw the guitar into the fire. Unfortunately, Welles, didn't explain verbally when to change chords while playing rather the instruction was provided through a close camera shot of Welles' hands strumming the guitar, making use of the chords A and E7. For a new student like Micah unfamiliar with the guitar and its elements this simplistic visual only instruction was very confusing.

"For the first lesson it would have been nice if she slowed down a little bit, just because I'm a beginner. I think something that should be added is explanation of which chords to do when she sings the songs, so you can play and sing along with her," said Micah.

I encouraged Micah to spend a week or so practicing chords A and E7 and become more familiar with holding the guitar before deciding to move on with the DVD lessons. After she practiced those skills, she decided to attempt lesson two of the video and felt much more positive about the experience.

"The second lesson was a little bit easier because I knew which fret to do and which string", she said.

When I asked Micah for a recommendation she added, "I think it would be easier to have a real instructor, but I still think I can learn a lot from this too. I think I'll keep up with the lessons and see how it goes."

A sample of lesson one of Volume 1 is available at www.worshipguitarclass.com/brochure. Customers can sign up for a free newsletter on the website and Jean writes a blog that offers tips and lessons to encourage students at www.jeanwelles.com. For more information regarding Worship Guitar Class visit the company website at, www.worshipguitarclass.com.

Maestro Classics

My childhood was filled with music. Memories of choirs, bands, and private music lessons are ones I treasure as music remains a beautiful source of enjoyment and entertainment for me. Although I didn't homeschool, I credit my grandmother and parents for my early music education and fostering my love of music.

Maestro Classics, www.maestroclassics.com, like my parents and grandmother, are committed to helping young children discover the joy and beauty of music. Their "Stories in Music" series of CDs blend storytelling, great music, knowledge of history and composers, and an entertaining introduction to the orchestra and its components. According to the company mission statement, "Maestro Classics guides audiences as they expand their listening horizons and discover the magic that can only be called music".

There are currently 7 stories in the series with two in production. I received Maestro Classics latest release, "The Tortoise and the Hare", for free in exchange for this review. It arrived in high quality packaging covered with delightful illustrations of the story, a pocket to hold the mini story book accompaniment, and a section to hold the CD securely when not in use. The story booklet for "The Tortoise and the Hare" included a diagram of the orchestra with color photographs of the instruments organized in sections like a real orchestra, 2 pages of basic music theory, 2 pages of facts of turtles, tortoises, rabbits and hares, music and lyrics of an original song sung by one of the characters in the production, 4 puzzle pages and biography information of the conductor/composer, producer and narrator. Many good things came in this small package.

The "Tortoise and the Hare" CD retells the classic Aesop fable with a French twist. The Hare understanding he is well ahead in his race against the Tortoise takes time off from racing to visit a French Bistro. The twenty minute narrated story/music performance on the CD is followed by a 3 min. explanation of the story, a second performance of the "Pretzel Vendor of Paris" song, followed by a second opportunity to listen to the musical story performance designed to encourage application of newly acquired musical awareness. The total running time of the CD is approximately 54 minutes.

The "Tortoise and the Hare" was adapted for Maestro Classics by Bonnie Ward Simon, former executive director of the Washington Chamber Symphony and co-creator of the Symphony's successful "Concerts for Young People" series. "The Tortoise and the Hare" is one of the original works premiered by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. for their children's concerts. Simon created "Stories in Music" believing they, "introduce great music and classic stories, and provide the opportunity to develop important listening skills". (Maestro literature)

Every great story in the series has great music to accompany it. Stephen Simon conducted and composed all the music performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the CDs. Simon served as music director of the Washington Chamber Symphony and resident chamber orchestra at the Kennedy Center for 25 years, and has guest conducted for symphonies all over the world. He was known as the "Magic Maestro" at the Kennedy Center, and according to his bio "loves music more than anything else in the world.....and believes that every concert should be wonderful entertainment".

The story of "The Tortoise and the Hare" is narrated by Yadu (aka Dr. Konrad Czynski, professor of Humanities at Minnesota State University-Moorhead). Yadu was the original narrator of the series at the Kennedy Center his voice rich and engaging on the CD. The music is performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The "Stories in Music" CDs are available for purchase on Maestro Classics website. They include:

*Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

*Juanita the Spanish Lobster

*Casey at the Bat

*The Sorceror's Apprentice

*Peter and the Wolf

*The Story of Swan Lake

*The Tortoise and the Hare

* A Soldier's Tale and My Name is Handel are currently in production.

All CDs with accompanying mini program book retail for $16.98 on the website. Customers can find local specialty children's stores offering the series through a search engine at www.maestroclassics.com. Gift sets of storybook and CD are available for $24.99. Those wishing to purchase three or more CDs in the collection can take advantage of a special offer provided by the company of three CDs for $45.00. Look for coupon code MAESTRO45 on the website.

Bible Story Songs

I adore the idea of learning new concepts set to music. I have witnessed the magic of music education within my own family on many occasions. My oldest daughter, for example, could not speak at two years of age due to a mild learning disability. She could, however, sing all three verses of “Silent Night”.

Language and artistic ventures are processed by different hemispheres of the brain. I believe music acts as a bridge to open up communication in ways that traditional educational methods fail. For my family, the melody of a song acts as an anchor for information contained in the logical, lyrical portion of the music. I am continually amazed at the volume of “poetry” my teens can recite as they sing lyric upon lyric of all their favorite music.

Bible Story Songs Inc., has taken full advantage of the power of music. Their musical CD’s provide children an opportunity to memorize scripture, Bible stories, and understand Biblical truths through the joy of song. According to the company’s website, “Bible Story Songs is a formula that works!...... We pray that we would be able to make professional recordings of all of these songs, that they would be sung by many families in cars and living rooms all over this earth, and that they would be a blessing to all who sing them.”

My family chose the car to test the “blessing” threshold of Bible Story Songs,” The Bible: Let’s Sing About The Book We Love!” Present on the car ride were my 17, 11 and 7 year old daughters and my 14 and 4 year old sons. The CD made up of 32 individual tracks ran for about one hour and was filled with songs designed to aid in scripture memory, and two different tracks to help listeners learn the books of the Bible.

I was pleased by the quality musicianship of the performers and the meaty content of the lyrics. I especially noted that unlike many children’s CD’s I have listened to in the past with children performing, “The Bible” had young vocalists delightfully in tune with excellent diction. This quality ensured that I would genuinely enjoy putting the CD on again and again upon requests.

When asked for a kid’s opinion my children were happy to oblige. Jonah, age 14 said, “It was okay. The songs weren’t really very creative, but I think you could learn them easily. I think the CD is geared to little kids definitely.”

“It was very good!”, said Aidan, age 4. “I like the “understand” song—(Track 2 Hebrews 11:3, “By faith we understand…”) because it makes me happy. I just liked it!”

“I really liked “Lord of Chihuahua”, added Sierra age 7. (Caution: make use of the lyric sheet included for 7 year olds. I had to explain to Sierra that Chihuahua was really Jehovah.) “I really liked how the kids sang and clapped. I would listen to it over and over and over and over (a thousand overs) again!”

Sammi age 17 provided a teen’s perspective. “I think the CD is kid-friendly and up beat music. I would have enjoyed this a lot when I was younger because it is very appealing. I think it really helps increase Bible knowledge. It is easier than trying to memorize scripture in other ways especially for little kids.”

Micah age 11 offered up the final word with her opinion. “I guess it’s a good idea to put the books of the Bible or Bible verses to music so kids can remember them easier. The kids on the CD sound pretty good especially when they sing in a round. The CD doesn’t really appeal to me much now, but I think I would have really liked it when I was say, six years old”.

Bible Story Songs offers 5 other Bible related CD’s on their website along with sheet music, puzzle pages books, and color and sing songbooks. All CD’s are reasonably priced at $9.99. In addition, samples of the songs offered on each of the CD’s can be heard at the website.

The CD’s are a quality investment especially for families of younger aged children. Bible Story Songs provide delightful entertainment with a Biblical focus. Their simple, wholesome, original and borrowed melodies filled with scripture could turn your next car ride into a worship filled experience.