Music in Our Hearts

More than in most sing-a-longs, presenter/host Pat Budwig recognizes the fact that video sing-a-longs need to be interactive; i.e., it's important to acknowledge the viewing audience. Young viewers aged 3-6 are encouraged to participate in a number of songs (including "Who's That Knockin' on the Door of My Heart?, which is not--I might add--a country tune), play the xylophone (if they happen to have one lying around), dance and stretch and shake (a good, physically creative workout), and give thanks to God for the wonders of creation we enjoy each day. While it's genuinely refreshing to see kids playing naturally--displaying smiles which come from the heart, not a director's cue card--there are a lot of really good sing-a-long videos out there (including Christian fare) and Budwig's instruction (though genuinely heartfelt) can be occasionally frustrating. I don't know too many young children who will understand the direction to "just play along" with guitar or piano using the chords C, E, and G. Chords--especially non-demonstrated chords--are a little tough for the intended age group. Still, the program's "heart" is in the right place, making this a strong, optional purchase. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)