Come Join Our Multicultural Band, Vol. 1

Comprised of two lessons, "The Native American" and "The African Influence," Come Join Our Multicultural Band, Vol. 1 offers an engaging mix of entertainment and "how-to." Hosted by Professor Music (who has an unfortunate tendency to say "that was great" and "that was fantastic" a lot, but with no enthusiasm whatsoever), each of the lessons features guests who perform songs and/or dances, followed by a studio audience sing-along, and a brief segment on music theory. In "The Native American," for example, Eric Running Path, Geronimo, and Apache Sunrise perform a Navajo favorite called "The Fancy Dance." Later, onscreen lyrics are shown so that viewers can participate in the sing-along. In discussing music theory, Professor Music talks about the different times for notes (quarter notes, eighth notes, etc.) and encourages kids to make simple drums and shakers to accompany the song. Vol. 2 covers "Mexico" and "The Philippines" and Vol. 3 looks at "Laotian/Vietnamese" and "European Baroque" music. a good choice for larger children's collections, which provides a fun introduction to both music fundamentals and world music. Recommended for ages 5-11. (R. Pitman)