How to Choose the Best Homeschool Music Curriculum (E2)
If you’re a homeschooler, you might be wondering how to choose the best homeschool music curriculum for your child. As many of you know, before I was a homeschooling mom of 8 (which I have been since the year 2000!), I was a public school music teacher. My undergraduate degree is in music education, certified for K-12th grade, from Baylor University, and my master’s degree is in vocal pedagogy (teaching voice lessons).
I taught junior high choir for 3 years and elementary general music for 2 years before having my first child and choosing to stay at home. I immediately began teaching early childhood music and movement classes for babies through preschoolers (“Mommy and Me” Musikgarten classes) out of my home and continued to teach those both at home and at homeschool co-ops until 2021.
How I Know What’s a Good Homeschool Music Curriculum
In addition to running the website Music in Our Homeschool and the online course site Learn.MusicinOurHomeschool.com, I’ve also been a musical director for community musical theater and taught a number of other in-person music classes (voice, choir, music appreciation, music history). All this to tell you that I know what makes a good music curriculum — and having homeschooled all eight of my kids since the first was born in 2000, I know what makes a good homeschool music curriculum. So, let’s talk about that today.
Music Education is an Essential Part of a Quality Homeschool Education
First of all, let me start by commending you, because just being here reading this right now means that you don’t think of music education as an “extra.” You recognize that it’s an essential part of your child’s quality homeschool education. Yay, you!
Choices About Homeschool Curricula in General
Now, just as with all curriculum choices, it’s best if you have made a few decisions about your own personal teaching style (or your homeschool philosophy), your kids’ learning styles, and the amount of time, energy, and money you have to put toward this part of your homeschool curriculum.
Are you an unschooler, Charlotte Mason mama, or Classical educator? Is your child a kinesthetic, auditory, or visual learner? Do you have babies and toddlers or do you have to work from or outside the home so you don’t have as much time or energy to commit to this area of your child’s education? These and other answers will make a difference for which homeschool music curriculum you end up choosing.
More Questions to Ask
You’ll want to make sure that when you’re researching a particular curriculum you know what level it’s written for. Will it be too easy or too hard for your child?
What interests does your child have? Does he or she have a huge desire to play a musical instrument? Does your child love to sing?
What challenges does your child have? I have a daughter with dyslexia who found it extremely difficult to read music, so her piano teacher found a way to teach her just by ear. And, then she thrived with voice lessons and dance, too.
Homeschooling is Expensive
Oh, yes, homeschooling is expensive. Yes, we’ve heard how it’s possible to homeschool completely for free (and it is), but to wade through all the free stuff on the internet to find something good does cost time — a LOT of time. So, usually, it’s best to spend some money to know what you’re getting.
Music in Our Homeschool is Here to Help
Not only have I created many different types of music courses for homeschoolers, I’ve hired teachers to create courses that I didn’t know how to teach (such as Mr. Jerry and Ben) and wooed KinderBach to join us so your preschoolers can experience that wonderful curriculum.
But, I’ve also taken time to review others’ music curricula so you can make a qualified decision about those, too, because I truly do want what’s best for you and your kids. And, it might not be Music in Our Homeschool.
Qualities of a Great Homeschool Music Education
- Created by an experienced music educator but has easy-to-use and follow teaching instructions for the non-musical homeschooler to teach with.
- If singing is included, the curriculum focuses on good tone quality in a child’s natural singing range (about middle C up an octave). I see way too many curricula that encourage children to sing way too low.
- A well-defined structured curriculum that covers fundamental music theory, music history, music appreciation, along with practical skills such as playing instruments, singing, and composition.
- The ability to customize the curriculum to suit each student’s interests, abilities, and learning pace. This allows for personalized learning experiences and fosters individual growth. Are you looking for one that is self-paced or for independent learning?
- The best curricula of all types incorporate a variety of teaching methods, including auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and interactive techniques to accommodate different learning styles.
- Today, it’s essential that music education utilizes technology effectively to enhance learning experiences, whether through virtual music lessons, digital tools for composition and/or recording, or interactive learning platforms. This could be through online games or apps, or a variety of other methods. It might require purchasing additional equipment, or just using a phone, tablet, or laptop.
- The music curriculum needs to foster creativity and self-expression through musical exploration, improvisation, and composition exercises.
- Creating performance opportunities for students to showcase their musical skills and talents through recitals, concerts, competitions, or online platforms is a huge benefit, but isn’t always possible. But, if it’s there, take advantage of it. Performance experience is invaluable!
- Another aspect that might be difficult to find is ways to encourage collaboration and peer interaction through group projects, ensemble playing/singing, and online forums or communities dedicated to homeschool music education. It will require extra effort, but these opportunities will make the homeschool music education even better if you can find them.
What Would You Add?
Are there any qualities of the best homeschool music curriculum that I missed that you would add? Are there any specific homeschool music curricula that you’d like me to review? Please leave a comment below.
See the YouTube Video “How to Choose the Best Homeschool Music Curriculum:”
Listen to the Podcast Episode here:
Listen here or subscribe and follow The Music in Our Homeschool Podcast through your favorite podcast app!
What I Provide at Music in Our Homeschool
As I look through the above list, I know that many of the items listed are a part of the music courses we offer. But, we’re missing a few things, mainly the last two: creating performance opportunities and ways to encourage collaboration and peer interaction.
So, I’m thrilled to let you know that I have some new things planned! They’ll be announced later this spring. Stay tuned!
Try the Free preview lessons from any of the courses available at Learn.MusicinOurHomeschool.com. See my suggested order of courses here.
Have a question about what’s best for your specific needs? Ask here:
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