Introduction
Music Sparkles - All in One Musical Instruments Collection HD is an iPad and iPhone app for kids to learn to play a variety of instruments. The included instruments are xylophone and drums for free, and saxophone, harp, keyboard, recorder, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, accordion, harmonica, panpipes, organ, electric keyboard, and violin in the paid section.
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Many Sounds On One Instrument
What makes Music Sparkles unique is that each instrument has more than one sound. When you select the xylophone for example, you are presented with the additional options of acoustic guitar, bongo drums, banjo, drum set, and grand piano. These instruments become an accompaniment to the instrument that you were originally playing.
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If all you want is an app for your kids to play around on, then this music app will do the trick. If you are looking for even a hint of composing, then you'll want something else. That being said, this app is fun for kids to create crazy music sounds, and my kids do enjoy banging on it.
Music Sparkles screenshot 1
Lots Locked
Music Sparkles relies on you loving the app so much that you will want to purchase the app add-on. I didn't feel this way, but that doesn't mean that other parents won't. I'm looking for more of a learning app than a banging around app, but this app does have lots of unique sounds, and the selection of instruments in the paid portion is vast.
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I also appreciated that you can have an accompaniment along with the main song you are trying to play. I found playing the instruments themselves pretty straight forward, but it do play the piano and have tapped out many songs by ear.
Music Sparkles screenshot 2
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Free trial
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Many, many instruments to select from
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A second layer of sound in the instrument playing screen itself for accompaniment
Cons
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Not great for playing actual music
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Hard to tap out sounds
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Not all free
Music Sparkles screenshot 3
Final Thoughts
Music Sparkles - All in One Musical Instruments Collection HD is an iPad and iPhone app for kids to learn to play a variety of instruments. The included instruments are xylophone and drums for free, and saxophone, harp, keyboard, recorder, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, accordion, harmonica, panpipes, organ, electric keyboard, and violin in the paid section. While there are lots of instruments to select from, it is difficult to play a song and there are only two unlocked instruments. The xylophone is a very beginner instrument, and the drums are really a rhythm technique that you can't play a tune on. Overall, if you just want an app for your kids to bang around on, this will fit the bill, but if you are looking for more of a learning app to help with music lessons, keep looking.