Frequently asked questions
General
What is “Songs of Cultures”?
“Songs of Cultures” is a multilingual music app that uses songs from different cultures and languages to playfully encourage children aged 3 to 10 to discover other countries and cultures and supports their language development.
How does the app work?
You simply open the app in the browser on your computer, tablet or phone. If you have a mobile device that supports augmented reality, you can even conjure the scenes from the songs into your room! There are also subtitles, a karaoke mode and a vocabulary mode where you can learn the names of the 3D objects in different languages.
Für welches Alter ist “Songs of Cultures” geeignet?
The app is suitable for children aged 3 to 10 and works great at home, in daycare and in primary school.
How can I download the app?
You don’t need to download the app. You can simply open it in your browser. Just visit app.songsofcultures.com on your computer or mobile device and off you go!
How many songs does the app contain?
Die App enthält 22 interaktive Lieder aus verschiedenen Kulturen, darunter Vietnam, Syrien, Ukraine, Großbritannien und Deutschland.
In which languages can I use the app?
The app works in five languages: Ukrainian, Arabic, English, Vietnamese and German.
What are the goals of the app?
“Songs of Cultures” is meant to help children learn empathy and open-mindedness and to support their language development. By playfully discovering other cultures and languages, we want to promote diversity and appreciation and contribute to an open-minded, anti-racist society. Developed together with educators and intercultural parents, “Songs of Cultures” playfully teaches children and adults the core competencies of the 21st century: social, intercultural, media and digital skills.
In which areas does the app support my child’s skills and abilities?
“Songs of Cultures” playfully supports your child’s skills and abilities in several areas. Singing and listening to the songs supports your child’s language development and pronunciation. In addition, cultural intelligence and empathy are fostered as children discover and get to know songs from different countries and cultures. The app’s augmented reality feature offers a unique, immersive learning experience that sparks your child’s creativity and imagination and builds their media and digital skills. With vocabulary mode, children can learn new words playfully and improve their language comprehension. The “Songs of Cultures” app thus contributes to developing the social, intercultural, media and digital skills that are becoming ever more important in the 21st century.
What is augmented reality?
Augmented reality (AR) is an innovative technology that is also used in education. When you use your mobile device to see the world around you through the camera, the augmented reality feature lets you add digital elements to your physical surroundings. These elements appear to float in the real world and can even be interactive. In the “Songs of Cultures” app, for example, you can bring the animals from the songs to life right in your room and interact with them. It’s as if you were turning your room into a magical world where you can discover new songs and cultures. This directly connects the multimedia, musical setting with the physical, everyday world and offers a unique, immersive learning experience.
Does my mobile device support the augmented reality feature?
Folgende Smartphones und Tablets unterstützen Augmented Reality (AR):
iOS (Apple): AR requires an iOS or iPadOS device with iOS 11 and an A9 processor or newer, e.g. iPhone: SE and iPhone 6 and later / iPad: iPad and iPad mini from the 5th generation, iPad Pro from the 1st generation
Android: Eine aktuelle Liste mit allen derzeit unterstützten Android-Geräten findest Du hier https://developers.google.com/ar/devices?hl=de
How long should I use the app with my child?
Deine Kinder lieben die App ganz besonders? Das ist toll! Allerdings sollte die Nutzung von digitalen Medien im Kindesalter beschränkt werden. Nutzt die App max. 30 bis 45 Minuten pro Tag. Musiziert und singt die Lieder so lange ihr möchtet! Es gibt rund um die Lieder und Sprachen so viel zu entdecken, zu musizieren, zu tun und zu bereden. Hierfür ist die App ein guter Ausgangspunkt, der eure Fantasie anregen, aber niemals begrenzen sollte.
The recommendations of the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) on children’s daily media use are:
Audio media:
Ages 0–3: 30 minutes at most
Ages 3–6: 45 minutes at most
Ages 6–10: 60 minutes at most
Screen media:
Ages 0–3: best avoided altogether
Ages 3–6: 30 minutes at most
Ages 6–10: 45–60 minutes at most
Why is the app free?
Using the “Songs of Cultures” app is free and without restrictions. We believe everyone should have access to high-quality, interactive education, regardless of their financial situation.
At A.MUSE – Interactive Design Studio, the makers of the app, we practice social entrepreneurship and align our projects with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With “Songs of Cultures” we want to contribute to promoting diversity, appreciation and empathy.
Pilot project: iOS/Android app with song cards
Was there a previous version of the web app?
Yes, there was a previous version as an iOS and Android app in the app stores that only worked with augmented reality and physical song cards. It contains 10 songs from Vietnam, Great Britain and Germany. The song cards are still available from Horami Verlag and the associated iOS/Android app can still be downloaded. However, it does not include the new songs from Syria and Ukraine and will no longer be updated with new content.
What are the advantages of the new web app compared to the previous version?
The new web app works regardless of whether your mobile device supports augmented reality and can be used on a larger number of devices. It also no longer needs to be downloaded and installed. ✨
Does the iOS/Android app still work?
Yes, the “Songs of Cultures” app for iOS and Android still works. You can use it on its own or together with the song cards. Please note, however, that the app contains only 10 songs in German, Vietnamese and English, is no longer being updated and only works with AR (augmented reality). This means you experience the songs in augmented reality if your mobile device supports this feature. For an even better experience with all the songs and new features, however, we recommend using the new web app. Why? Because you can simply open it in your browser without downloading anything. It also works across devices and runs on PC, smartphone and tablet, iOS and many other platforms with a browser 🚀
Can I still buy the song cards?
Yes, the song cards are still on sale. The associated iOS and Android app is still available but contains only 10 songs from Germany, Vietnam and Great Britain. Together, song cards and app are a great way to use and learn the songs, especially for children, thanks to the easy song selection via the cards. The song cards are available from Horami Verlag: https://www.horami.de/produkt/songs-of-cultures/
How do the song cards work?
The front of each song card shows the sheet music for the song, and the back has a stage that makes choosing songs in the app child’s play. By picking a song card and scanning it with the app, you can hear and experience the song in your own room through augmented reality. Please note that your device must support augmented reality to use the iOS and Android app. With the new web app, however, the songs work regardless of augmented reality support and can simply be experienced in the browser.
Why should I still buy the song cards?
If you have already bought the song cards, you can keep using them. But if you would like to support us and the app, since it is free and non-profit, you can buy additional song cards or recommend the app to friends and family. ❤️
The song cards are available from Horami Verlag: https://www.horami.de/produkt/songs-of-cultures/
I bought the song cards, but my mobile device doesn’t support augmented reality.
If your mobile device doesn’t support augmented reality, you can still listen to the songs via the new web app without needing the song cards. The web app is independent of augmented reality support and can be used on a larger number of devices. This way you can experience and enjoy the songs even without the song cards. ❤️
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