Jazzy Day Swinging With The Big Band

This review is for Jazzy Day – Swinging With The Big Band.  Melody Book.
 

Kid/Student Ratings: **** 5/5

 Teacher/Parent Ratings: **** 5/5

Educational Value: Superior

Price: $4.99

Age Recommended: 2 – 10 years

Skills Developed: Jazz music characteristics and typical jazz instruments

App Tested on iPad

Good Stuff about this app:  I am thrilled to be able to introduce this app to you all.  Jazzy Day – Swinging With The Big Band is a fun and interactive story that will teach your child about jazz music and the instruments typically used to play jazz.  The book features sounds from REAL acoustic instruments and really great jazz music.

Two kittens and their father take you on an outing to see the Big Band play.  How cool is that!?

There are several different activities in this book, but my very favorite is the page where the band is all together.  The style of jazz is described and each instrument is shown one by one.  One of the kids I tested this app with told me all about the conversation the instruments were having.  Gee, he learned fast!

Our Wish List: It is kind of difficult to tell the difference between the saxophones.  I wonder if maybe the features could have been stretched a bit so it is more discernible.  The youngest kids really had a hard time with this, but I do believe that these saxophones do look very similar in real life as well.  The sound on the “play the vibraphone” did not work for us after the first time using the app.  Possibly this is a bug.

My Love:  Besides the fact that real instrument sounds are used, my other absolute favorite part of this app is the layering effect it shows that jazz music has.  It hits it right on the nose.  As you turn the page and a new instrument is added, it gives you a satisfied feeling and makes you want to see what else will be added.  I hope to see even more great music education apps from these developers.  Good job!

Summary:  All-in-all we think this melody book is amazing.  We wish all young children had the chance to experience jazz music in this fun and informative way.  The kittens are adorable and the music is really great!

Purchase Jazzy Day on iTunes for iPad for: $4.99

Purchase Jazzy Day on iTunes for iPhone/iPod for: $4.99

Have you already downloaded and used this app?  Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought.  Thanks -Rebecca