Adventus Interactive releases educational aids
by Kit

Thursday, May 13 2004

Company hopes use music program in schools.

Adventus Interactive this morning introduced two new educational products for the PC.

The first of these new titles, developed in conjunction with the distinguished Keys to Achievement Foundation and released at the E3 this morning, will soon be at the fingertips of North American schoolchildren.

Adventus' Children's Music Journey, designed for children aged 4-8, is the latest and most exciting of its music software. Far from being another piece of fluffy edutainment, Children's Music Journey is focused on giving children a head start in life and learning and on making music education less daunting and simultaneously more affordable.

Children's Music Journey is an animated interactive music-learning program for school computer labs or the home computer. It works in conjunction with a peripheral midi device that mimics a piano keyboard. Students begin each lesson receiving instruction from an animated Ludwig von Beethoven, a Scott Joplin or one of three other famous composers. The interactive, entertaining lessons incorporate a creative component and opportunities to play music games.

The first year of this three-year program will enter schools in the United States and Canada in September of 2004. Keys To Achievement Foundation plans to facilitate a large-scale pilot project using Children's Music Journey in California schools. To validate its success, Dr. James Catterall, renowned UCLA Professor of Education, will evaluate the project. In Canada, the Nova Scotia Dept. of Education will be leading a parallel pilot program in schools.

Keys to Achievement Foundation has plans to raise private and public funds to reach its goal of placing the Children's Music Journey three-year software program in elementary schools in every state in America, and to this end is enlisting the help of high profile and distinguished performing and recording artists. Keys to Achievement Foundation and Adventus Interactive will also work together to build strategic partnerships with public and private organizations that share their belief in the importance of early music education.

The product launch is timely given a special resolution passed unanimously just last week in the US House of Representatives recognizing the importance of music education. The resolution reads: "It is the sense of the Congress that music education grounded in rigorous instruction is an important component of a well-rounded academic curriculum and should be available to every student in every school."

"The resolution enshrines what many teachers now know," said Adventus Interactive President Jim Mullen. "Over the past decade dozens of studies worldwide have shown compelling evidence linking rigorous music education and brain development in young children."

"Beyond the sheer joy children get in making music," added Arden, "It can lead to accelerated rates of learning in math, science and reading which also means they have better attitudes and better behavior in schools."

Adventus Interactive also took the opportunity at E3 to announce the upcoming release of Adventus Internet Music Studio (AIMS), groundbreaking software that facilitates highly effective instructor-led piano lessons over the Internet. Functioning as an upgrade to its popular Piano Suite Premier software, AIMS is currently in beta testing as part of a strategic partnership with the prestigious Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts in Canada.

--- Kit