I was so excited to have the opportunity to review the Multiplication Mountain CD by Hap Palmer, and it certainly was not a disappointment. My first exposure to the work of Hap Palmer was while working as a music therapist with handicapped children. I was not aware that he had products that could be used in homeschooling. It was a wonderful find.

Hap Palmer was a pioneer in integrating music and movement. His influence in the way that music has been used to develop motor skills, reading readiness, language acquisition, and math concepts has been substantial. His materials work so well because they emphasize the lyrics without minimizing the music. The structure and genre of the music enhance the skill that is being introduced. In the case of Multiplication Mountain, the multiplication facts are introduced in the order that is easiest for students to learn. The structural composition of the music enhances the mathematical basis of each song. For example, Palmer employs a three-beat waltz to teach the 3's multiplication facts and a four-beat rock song for the 4's multiplication facts.

The CD contains 26 tracks and almost 70 minutes of music. It is priced comparably to other educational CDs, with a suggested retail price of $14.95.

The best indication of the quality of this CD and its appeal was found as my son came running into the house demanding to know who had taken his new CD with all of his math facts. In his mind, this was the golden key to learning those facts and getting them down pat. He is very much a right-brained creative learner. Putting anything to music is always helpful, but when you can put something as repetitious and mundane as math facts to good quality music with appeal, you are on the winning track. (No pun intended!)

Product review by Dawn Oaks, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, September 2009