Editor’s Choice
- User-friendly for multi-age groups (kindergarten to sixth grade)
- Has activities from across the curriculum
- Fit for all types of learners (auditory, visual, kinesthetic)
Best Overall
- Contains 12 CD collections each with a 24-page activity book
- Includes award-winning stories
- Beautiful narration accompanied by musical artists
If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best homeschool music curriculum is, then I’d recommend the Maestro Classics 12 CD Box Set Collection as the best one.
Homeschooling has been eminent since long ago. But, with the rise of virtual meetings due to the pandemic, it has become even more widespread now. Staying at home has played a pivotal role in the safety of everyone’s well-being today.
Homeschooling curriculums depend on the family’s needs and preferences. However, one of the most well-known curricula right now includes music. A homeschool with music teaches children the intricacies of music comprehensively.
Here are the best Homeschool Music Curriculums we will be reviewing:
- Maestro Classics 12 CD Box Set Collection
- A Child’s Introduction to the Orchestra by Robert Levine
- Meet the Great Composers by Maurice Hinson
- Teaching Music to Children by Blair Bielawski
- Music Appreciation by Elisabeth Tanner
What is a Homeschool Music Curriculum?
Homeschool music curriculums are collected lessons that incorporate music that you plan to educate your child at home. These curriculums make it more convenient for parents who are not musically inclined but want to expose their children to music. Homeschool music curriculums aim to develop certain skills in children that equip them for their future, including intellectual, emotional, and overall literacy.
Benefits of Having a Homeschool Music Curriculum
Greater appreciation of music
Having a homeschool music curriculum will heighten your child’s appreciation of music. They will learn the importance of music and how it works. Greater appreciation of music means more motivation to learn it.
In-depth learning approach to music
A homeschool music curriculum will have a more in-depth learning approach to music. It allows your child to learn the complexity of music in a fun but comprehensive way.
Incorporate fun musical activities
One of the goals of having a homeschool music curriculum is to create a fun atmosphere where children can also learn. It is essential to make the lessons fun and engaging so you can sustain your child’s attention. These curriculums include fun activities where your child can learn music and have fun at the same time.
Foster musical talents
As they say, talent is a pursued interest. When you introduce music to children at a young age, they develop more appreciation of music. Children will love to learn more about something when they love it. Having a music homeschool curriculum will boost their motivation to learn music and also fosters their musical talents.
Inculcate discipline in your children
Lessons about music will help children learn the virtue of patience and discipline. Learning an instrument, for example, teaches them delayed gratification. The result of their training will teach them how to concentrate better and inculcate discipline in them.
Components of a Balanced Homeschool Music Curriculum
Music Exposure
Exposure to music begins in the womb and, preferably, continues throughout the rest of one’s life. Children need to involve actively in musical activities and not just listen to music to learn it effectively. Musical activities include playing music games, singing along to songs, and attending concerts regularly. Music classes, toys, and apps for kids under 5 are also part of this category.
Music Appreciation
It is a method of analyzing and reflecting on music. It is the process of studying music-related topics. It’s different from music exposure as it only tries to show what music is. But, music appreciation aims to study and understand music. If you take your child to a concert, you are merely exposing them to music. But, if you ask them to listen and get them to identify the tempo, then you are engaging them in music appreciation. Music appreciation develops awareness, concentration, and listening skills.
Music History
Studying music history is an excellent way to get a head start on music appreciation. It’s also essential to learn music history to understand its origin better. It can be an opportunity for you and your child to explore together as well.
Music Theory
Music theory is an in-depth study of musical harmony. You can include the A-B-C’s of music, the tracing of notes, and music math for younger ages. For the higher grades, you can take it up a notch. The student can analyze chords and recognize the harmonic link between the different degrees of the musical scale. It can help children improve their analytical and auditory skills.
Music Lessons
Music lessons are an integral part of well-balanced music education and include learning an instrument. Learning instruments can help your child become more engaged and proactive. It also boosts confidence and fosters a valuable work ethic in your child. Music classes provide a solid foundation for developing life skills as well.
There are a plethora of options for music lessons available within a homeschool environment. There are YouTube videos you can seek for free or hire an expert in your home.
Music Performance
An excellent way to test your child’s comprehension of music is to let them perform. It doesn’t have to be grand, nor does it require competitors. You can simply put on shows with your family, friends, or neighborhood. Practicing a music performance will help discipline your child. It also boosts their self-confidence for being exposed to people consistently.
How Homeschool Music Curriculum Works
Using the Preschool Prodigies homeschool music curriculum, children start to learn by playing on some colored bells by tapping the top. These colored bells produce a credible sound, and you can also limit how many notes you want.
Each lesson has around eight videos, one listening game, and one rhythm lesson. Note letters, solfege names (do, re, mi), hand signs, colors, and numbers are all taught in the lessons.
The first chapter begins with the introduction of C as the home base and developing basic auditory skills. The second chapter introduces the high C along with a comparison of low and high C. The third chapter introduces Do Re Mi and some easy, notable songs. Gradually, the song’s intensity increases after several chapters. The ideal age to start with this curriculum is age four.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Homeschool Music Curriculum
Learning Style of Your Child
It’s best to include workbooks in your homeschool that match your child’s learning style. It will increase efficacy in learning and establishes a well-tailored education for your child. There are several learning styles, but these three are the most prominent:
- Visual – learning through seeing. These learners have a proclivity for thinking in pictures and rely on visual cues to organize and recall information. They like to identify things through colors and lose interest if they can’t picture the lesson in their minds. They enjoy reading, especially picture books.
- Auditory – learning through hearing. These learners process information and retain them better when they hear it. They like to ask many questions and usually say the words as they write them. Audiobooks are perfect for these types of learners.
- Kinesthetic – learning through moving. Experience and activities help them process information and remember them more. These learners enjoy physical activities and tend to think and process more when moving. Hands-on learning tools like music toys and musical instruments are best for these learners.
Study Material Format
You can use different study resources depending on your homeschooling technique. Choose a material that is in a format that your children can understand. Make sure it’s appropriate for your child’s age.
Lesson Time
It’s also important to consider the lesson time. Homeschooling is known for its flexible hours, so you need to work on maintaining that. Choose a program that allows you to devote enough time and attention to your child’s learning. Most music lessons last for around thirty minutes or less.
Reviews
When you’re getting materials online, it’s best to check the reviews first. Reading product reviews increases the chances of you getting an excellent product. It helps you arrive at an informed decision.
Budget
The cost for a homeschool music curriculum ranges from zero to a few thousand dollars per year. It also depends on the duration of the coursework and the accredited certifications it provides.
Opt for a homeschool music curriculum that falls within your budget. Going over the top doesn’t necessarily mean it’s beneficial for you and your child. Choose what fits your child’s needs that doesn’t leave your pocket bankrupt.
How to Plan Your Homeschool Music Curriculum
Seek advice and guidance
Do your research before starting your homeschool music curriculum. Ask for some advice from people who have experience with homeschooling. It can save you a lot of time as they help you avoid curriculums that they think are too challenging or ineffective. They can also give you recommendations on what worked for them.
Customize for your child’s preferences and needs
It’s essential to establish a homeschool music curriculum that is customizable according to your child’s preferences and needs. It will increase the child’s motivation to learn when they love what they are learning. Make the homeschool music curriculum fun and engaging but at the same time educational as well.
Create an effective and meaningful learning environment
Homeschooling has a lot of perks, and one of them is avoiding bullies in school. When starting your homeschool curriculum, endeavor to provide an atmosphere of peace and love. It will develop their sense of morality and goodness as well. Let homeschooling be an opportunity for you to create a meaningful learning environment for your child.
Choose materials with excellent quality
Choose workbooks or study materials with superb quality. However, good quality doesn’t mean expensive ones. There are a wide array of materials for homeschooling that have excellent quality but are affordable as well.
Create lesson plans
You need to draft your routine to keep things organized. Create lesson plans that are relevant to the child’s learning. Make sure you don’t exhaust your child too much and bombard them with lessons all day. Create a schedule that works for you and your child.
Set goals
Setting goals for your homeschool music curriculum will help you maintain your motivation. Are there any skills you want to improve within the year or for the next few years? What would you like to accomplish in the next few years? These are some questions to brainstorm with your child.
Maestro Classics 12 CD Box Set Collection
The Maestro Classics 12 CD Box Set Collection is my top recommendation. It is an excellent way to introduce classical music to your children. It includes 12 award-winning Stories In Music series.
All of the CDs feature the London Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Stephen Simon. It also has special guests, narrators, and music by the following composers: Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Camille Saint-Saëns, George Frideric Handel, Richard Strauss, Paul Dukas, David Haslam, and Stephen Simon.
The collection includes the following music CDs with their 24-Page Activity Book: The Story of Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Carnival of the Animals, Peter and the Wolf, My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Merry Pranks of Master Till, Casey at the Bat, The Soldier’s Tale, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Juanita la Langosta Española.
The Maestro Classics 12 CD Collection starts by narrating a story, accompanied by musical conductors or artists. The collections help build children’s musical imagination and discover the emotions it tries to portray.
Pros:
- Contains 12 CD collections each with a 24-page activity book
- Includes award-winning stories
- Beautiful narration accompanied by musical artists
- A fun way of learning music
Cons:
- A bit pricey
- Contains violence
- Contains inappropriate language
- Not very suitable for ages 6 and below
A Child’s Introduction to the Orchestra by Robert Levine
A Child’s Introduction to the Orchestra is a fun way to learn music for children. It has a cheerful narrator called Orchestra Bob to guide the kids. Throughout the lessons, children learn the powerful works of the greatest musicians in history. The narrator tells funny stories to liven up the mood while the children are learning.
Children will learn each instrument of the orchestra from the cello to the timpani. They will also encounter different musical styles from the Baroque period up to the Modern period. At each step of the journey, children can listen to musical examples of what they are learning about. They can download the music from an exclusive website.
The learners can hear an actual violin as they study the instrument and enjoy the playful tune. A Child’s Introduction to the Orchestra also includes a removable poster.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Contains a removable poster of the instruments
- Downloadable music so children can listen as they learn
- Includes beautiful 37 selections
- Has over 100 colorful original drawings and photographs
- A fun narrator who tells wacky stories
Cons:
- The downloadable music is a bit hard to access
- Instructions are not clear
Meet the Great Composers by Maurice Hinson
Meet the Great Composers Book focuses on the lives and music of the great composers. It’s easy to understand, and children will be able to follow through. It contains some of the great composer’s sheet music so learners can try to understand it. It also has portrait sketches of the composers so children can visualize and imagine.
The book is well-written and focuses on the significant times of the composers’ lives. It doesn’t dwell too much on irrelevant topics. It’s a great book to introduce to children the lives of the great composers that impacted the music industry.
Pros:
- Contains reproducible sheets for children
- Easy to use
- Well-written texts
- Contains portrait sketches of composers
- Easy to understand for children
- Organized layout
- Includes some sheet music
Cons:
- You need to purchase the CD separately
- A bit expensive if you include the CD
- Not for in-depth study
- Paperback cover which is not very strong
Teaching Music to Children by Blair Bielawski
Teaching Music to Children is a book designed to give teachers with no formal music education the tools and resources they need to teach effectively. It’s easy to understand for teachers regardless of their educational attainment.
The book includes meaningful lessons, printable worksheets, games, and puzzles. It also has a mixed-media CD that has over 60 minutes of music. It also features a complete PowerPoint Presentation. The book follows the National Standards for Music Education and the Ontario Curriculum for the Arts in Canada.
Teaching Music to Children is perfect for teachers who don’t know their way around music, notes, and more. The book includes an in-depth explanation of musical terminologies and concepts.
Pros:
- A solid resource for non-music teachers
- Has printable worksheets
- Good introductory material for music
- Mixed-media CD with over 60 minutes of music
- Has a complete PowerPoint Presentation
- Follows the National Standards for Music Education curriculum
- Has puzzles and reproducible games
Cons:
- A bit advanced
- Not appropriate for younger ages (5 and below)
Music Appreciation by Elisabeth Tanner
Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades: Book 1 is an in-depth way of learning music. It introduces children to different musical composers. Each composer’s childhood and adult life are explained in the book.
The book contains written music and pictures to make it more engaging for your child. It includes a wide variety of lessons to teach children in a fun yet educational way. The hands-on activities include history lessons, musical facts of the Classical period, timelines, character trait studies, and many more.
However, this is not a stand-alone curriculum. You need to purchase several CDs and other books from Zeezok Publishing to make them more relevant.
Pros:
- User-friendly for multi-age groups (kindergarten to sixth grade)
- Has activities from across the curriculum
- Fit for all types of learners (auditory, visual, kinesthetic)
- Meets the national standards required for music appreciation
- Student activity book to elevate reading experience
- Has individual biographies of seven composers
- Several hands-on activities
Cons:
- Not a stand-alone curriculum (You need to buy other CDs and books)
- A bit pricey
Conclusion
A homeschool music curriculum is an excellent way to integrate music into your child’s education. Music is enjoyable for kids and also helps develop their skills. It can foster their musical talents and also improve their overall literacy.
The best homeschool music curriculum that I recommend is the Maestro Classics 12 CD Box Set Collection. It’s a fun way to introduce classical music to your child with its creative narration along with some musical accompaniment from the orchestra. Also, it’s easy to use, and a fun way of learning music. It’s a good investment for your kid’s future.