Have you ever started a homeschool year determined to weave music and fine arts into your days… only to see those plans slowly fade away by October?
Maybe you’ve bought beautiful art books, pinned a dozen music lesson ideas on Pinterest, or bookmarked a composer study. But then math lessons run long, the laundry pile takes over, or someone catches a cold, and suddenly the “extras” get bumped to “tomorrow.” And tomorrow often becomes “never.”
You’re not alone — I’ve been there too.
As a homeschool mom of eight and a music teacher for over 30 years, I know how easy it is for arts education to slip through the cracks. But I also know this: it doesn’t have to be that way.
With a little intentional planning and the right approach, you can make music and fine arts a joyful, consistent part of your homeschool — and it can be done in just 15 minutes a day.
Today, I’ll share my best tips for starting the school year strong and keeping your arts plan going all year long, based on my 15-Minute Music Method™.
Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.
1. Start Small and Keep It Short
One of the biggest mistakes we make as homeschool moms is overplanning. It’s tempting to imagine an hour-long music class twice a week, complete with theory, history, listening, and activities. Or maybe a full afternoon dedicated to art projects once a month.
While those plans sound wonderful in July when we’re organizing our school year, they can be unrealistic once real life hits. Instead, aim for 10–15 minutes a day. That may not sound like much, but short, consistent lessons are more effective than long, irregular ones.
Here’s why: fifteen minutes a day adds up to more than 60 hours of fine arts education a year. And, 15 minutes twice a week adds up to 20 hours of fine arts a year! And because it’s bite-sized, it’s much easier to stick with. You’ll also notice that your kids’ attention and retention are better in shorter sessions.
2. Anchor Lessons to Your Daily Routine
One of my favorite strategies is to connect arts time to something you already do every day — this is called “habit stacking.” It's from a book I highly recommend: Atomic Habits by James Clear. Habit stacking removes the mental energy of deciding when to do it.
Before Bed: Listen to calming instrumental music or sing a family favorite.
When you attach music or art to an existing habit, it becomes automatic — and your kids will begin to look forward to it.
3. Rotate Topics for Variety
Many moms feel like they have to teach music theory, composer study, hymn singing, and art appreciation every single week. That’s overwhelming — and often leads to doing none of them consistently.
Instead, try a simple monthly rotation like this:
Week 1: Composer Study – Listen to a new piece each day, learn about the composer’s life, and connect it to history.
Week 2: Art Appreciation – Study a painting a day, learn about the artist, and optionally do a small art project.
Week 3: Hymn Study – Learn the history, sing together daily, and memorize a verse or chorus.
Week 4: Music Theory – Practice rhythms, note names, or ear training games.
This approach keeps lessons fresh and manageable while still providing a complete fine arts education over time.
Another idea is to add your music or fine arts time to a loop schedule.
4. Use Ready-to-Go Resources
Here’s the truth: the biggest reason arts lessons get skipped is because they take too much prep. You have to hunt down YouTube music clips (and check that they are appropriate), gather supplies, create worksheets, and figure out what to say. It’s exhausting before you even start.
That’s exactly why I created the Music in Our Homeschool Plus membership — to give you ready-to-go lessons so you can log in, click, and start learning with your kids. You’ll find everything from composer studies and instrument lessons to art appreciation and music theory, all designed to fit the 15-Minute Music Method™.
When the planning is done for you, you’re far more likely to stay consistent. And consistency is where the magic happens.
5. Plan Quick Wins in the First Month
The first month of your homeschool year is when you’re building momentum. If your kids’ early experiences with music and art are dry or overly complicated, you’ll struggle to keep their interest.
By choosing high-interest topics early on, you create a positive association with your arts time. This makes it much easier to keep going when schedules get busier.
Our Premium Tier painting lesson for October.
Your Next Step
This year, let’s make music and fine arts a joyful, natural part of your homeschool. You don’t need to overhaul your schedule or add hours of extra work — you just need a plan that’s short, consistent, and easy to follow.
With the right approach, you can finally enjoy the beauty, joy, and connection that music and fine arts bring to your home — not just at the start of the year, but all the way to the end.
Free Download of the Best Composers to Study
See the YouTube Video “How to Actually Fit Music and Art Into Your Homeschool!”
Listen to Podcast Episode 79: How to Start the Homeschool Year with Consistent Music and Fine Arts
