Kid+Riffs


 * KID RIFFS GENERAL INFORMATION**
 * Title - Kid Riffs
 * Author - Computer Music Center
 * Publisher - I.B.M., T.J. Watson Research Center
 * ©1995
 * Platform -Windows only
 * No additional requirements necessary
 * Age - Mid-Late Elementary School, Junior HS/Middle School
 * Focus - General Music
 * Availability – Discontinued, but still available online on discount software sites.


 * TEACHER SUPPORT**

Kid Riffs includes a detailed instruction manual. The manual is intended to be used by children, including large font and illustrations that may be colored. A quick reference guide describing the basic functions and controls of the software is also included.

Help is available while using the software by clicking on Kid Riff who guides the user through the program when necessary. Clicking on light bulbs within the program will give audio suggestions for activities on each page.


 * INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT**

This software is divided into the following play areas: 1) Instrument Inn, 2) Scale Shack, 3) Rhythm Room, 4) Mirror Mansion, and 5) Concert Castle. The Instrument Inn allows children to experiment with the sounds of different instruments. Multiple instruments from each family are represented. The Scale Shack introduces scales, modes, and intervals. The Rhythm Room is set up like a sequencing program, presenting rhythms without standard notation. Duple, triple, and mixed meters are represented. The Mirror Mansion allows children to create patterns that echo according to the “shape” of the mirror. Finally, the Concert Castle puts all of the material together and allows children to arrange and compose their own work. Each different room has features which allow children to record melodies and loops which they can play back. There are also preset melodic and rhythmic examples that children can use as starting blocks for exploration. A metronome is available in each room allowing students to alter tempos and turn on metronome clicks while they listen and compose.

National Standards that could be addressed are:

3) Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments 4) Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines

This program is exploratory in nature and allows students to control their own pace while they are introduced to the different musical topics. This software runs more like a game than a tutorial or drill-and-practice sort of program. Students do not need to know how to read or have experience reading standard music notation in order to work with this program.
 * INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND PEDAGOGICAL SOUNDNESS**

It seems that Kid Riffs was designed for elementary students to use as a creative and fun introduction to some basic musical concepts. The program uses colorful graphics, cartoon animation, and sounds which are very visually and aurally stimulating. These aspects of the software are motivating, but the cluttered screen may be distracting and confusing to some younger students. However, the help features in Kid Riffs are very easy to use and give clear verbal instructions for each room in the program.


 * RECORD KEEPING**

Kid Riffs transfers student recorded compositions from each room within the game to the Concert Castle where they can be further adapted and arranged; however, when the game is closed all of the compositions are lost. I did not find a way to save work in this program.


 * OVERALL EVALUATION**

This is a good program to use as an introductory game, creative activity, or reward for students who are starting to learn more about musical concepts like pitch, rhythm, composition, and improvisation. Kid Riffs fosters musical creativity without confusing students with standard notation and is a lot of fun to use. It may be used as a supplemental activity in a general music classroom or used for music exploration in a home setting. It would be nice if a newer version of this software was available since midi sounds and graphics capabilities continue to dramatically improve over time.

Rating ***

//Reviewed by Stacey Kolthammer, April 9, 2006//