iPhone/iPad/iPod app: Sounds of the Orchestra

Introducing Orchestra Instruments App for Kids

I had to reach back into the recesses of my brain to remember junior high school orchestra. I played violin for a few years, but actually my younger sister is the talented musician in our family. She studied classical piano and competed successfully as a kid and is now a piano teacher in Southern California where she teaches out of two locations. She told me that her young children like this app very much! I’m not surprised because my sister is an early technology adopter and this app combines two things she’s really into: her iPad and classical music.

The publisher who gave the code to try it out suggests that the iPad format is his preferred mode — the larger screen is great for the games. I tried it out on my iPad and I do think a larger screen makes the interactivity easier.

So, what does this app do? Sounds of the Orchestra makes orchestral musical instruments fun and accessible to children. Using classical music — I recognized the music to The Nutcracker March but has to call my classical piano teacher sister and hum the tune to get the name of the piece — this iPhone/iPad/iPod app exposes children to:

The sounds that the instruments make
An introduction to the instruments in an orchestra by section: strings, woodwinds, percussion, and brass. This also has photos of the instrument along with a description — great for kids in 4th grade who need to choose what instrument to learn!

There are also fun games:

Match up game of instruments playing their line of music to the Nutcracker March. You can set the cards to be matched at 12 or 24 and can have up to 4 players.
Guess the instrument from the sound that you hear.

The app is $1.99 at iTunes. To check it out, please click on the small icon to go to iTunes. I recommend this app for children as young as 3 or 4 who show an interest in music, through age 12.