Tune Buddies Music Makers: An Introduction to the Instruments (DVD) Reviews

Review by Larry Vanmersbergen for Tune Buddies Music Makers: An Introduction to the Instruments (DVD)
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This very reasonably priced dvd was a pleasant surprise. I purchased this dvd to teacher about tone color/timbre and the instrument families of the orchestra. When I previewed the dvd, I found each section to be informative and entertaining. The dvd begins with a segment called “Getting to Know the Instruments”, which is an overview of all 4 orchestral families. The dvd also contains segments on “The Woodwinds”, “The Percussion”, “The Brass”, “The Keyboards”, and “The Strings.” Each segment is about 22 minutes. In each segment, a humorous host explains how each family generates sound, the physical characteristics of the instruments in each family, and then has samples of multiple instruments from that family being played. This is tied together with a plot line to make it more interesting (in one segment, the host is baking a cake for Grandma and has fond flashbacks of growing up with her that are quite funny; in another, the host is solving the Case of the Missing String). The consultant on this video was the former MENC president, June Hinckley. This dvd is appropriate for grades 2-6.

Review by Aj Hicks for Tune Buddies Music Makers: An Introduction to the Instruments (DVD)
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I bought this for a grandchild who is showing interest in musical instruments. I previewed it and thought it was just awful. Looking for another way to use it, I took it to school and showed it to fifth grade students who are learning to write reviews. They gave it “two thumbs down.” One student asked “Why do they think kids only like silly stuff?” Another said, “I could write better dialogue that that.” Well put.