Simple, Creative, and Achievable Homeschool Music Education Goals for the New Year (E46)

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Welcome back to the Music in Our Homeschool podcast! I’m Gena Mayo and today we’re diving into a topic that feels perfect for this season of fresh starts and new beginnings: setting homeschool music education goals for the new year. If you’re a homeschool mom who’s feeling tired and overwhelmed, this episode is for you. You’re not alone, and I’m here to help you find simple, creative, and achievable ways to incorporate music education into your homeschool in 2025.

Before we jump in, let me remind you about the online music courses and the Music in Our Homeschool Plus membership I’ve created for homeschool families. These courses are designed to make your life easier while giving your kids a quality music education right at home. They’re flexible, engaging, and perfect for families like yours.

Why Set Goals for Music Education?

Let’s start with the why. Why should we set specific goals for music education in our homeschool? The truth is that music often gets pushed to the back burner. There are math lessons to complete, essays to write, and science experiments to set up.

But, please hear me: music is more than just an “extra.” It enriches our children’s lives, helps them develop discipline, creativity, and emotional expression, and it connects them to history and culture in a unique way that nothing else can.

By setting goals in your homeschool, you create a roadmap. You’re less likely to forget about music or let it slide. And even if you’re juggling a lot, small, intentional steps can lead to big progress.

Mom and children together outside doing music lessons on the tablet

Goal-Setting Techniques for Busy Homeschool Moms

Now, let’s talk about how to set music education goals. I’ve got some simple techniques to help you:

1. Start Small and Be Specific

First of all, start small and be specific.

Don’t overwhelm yourself with grand plans. Instead, pick one specific goal to start. For example:

“I will do one music appreciation lesson per week from the Music in Our Homeschool Plus Music Lesson Calendar of the Month.” or
“We will spend 10 minutes three times a week listening to classical music.” or
“Each child will learn to play one new song on the piano this month.”

These bite-sized goals are manageable and won’t add stress to your day or your homeschool as a whole.

2. Use the SMART Goal Framework

You may have heard of the SMART Goal Framework.

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Specific: Instead of saying, “We’ll study music this year,” say, “By February, we will complete the first three lessons of the Guitar Time with Ben beginner guitar course.”
Measurable: How will you know you’ve succeeded? Maybe it’s finishing a course, learning a song, or attending a live performance.
Achievable: Be realistic about what you can accomplish given your family’s schedule and your children’s ages.
Relevant: Align your music goals with your broader homeschool vision.
Time-bound: Set a deadline to keep yourself motivated.

3. Integrate Music Into Other Subjects

A third technique is to integrate your music education into other subjects. Look for ways to connect music to what you’re already teaching. Are you studying American history? Add the A Folk Song a Week or the American Music for Elementary course to complement the history you’re learning.

Are your kids learning fractions in math? Add the Beginning Music Theory course (included in the Premium Music in Our Homeschool Plus membership) which has rhythm exercises to reinforce the concept of fractions.

Or, are you doing State Study for geography? Add in the State Songs of the 50 U.S. States to make each state come to life when you study it!

Music doesn’t have to stand alone; it can complement your current homeschool curriculum.

4. Set a Family Music Goal

Another suggestion is to make it a team effort! For example, your family goal could be to learn and perform a Patriotic song together for the Fourth of July or a Christmas carol together by next December. One year I learned to play the recorder along with my two youngest. It was really fun! This kind of group goal fosters connection and accountability.

Creative Ways to Ensure Music Happens in 2025

Once you’ve set your goals, the next step is making sure they happen. Here are some creative ways to ensure music education happens this year:

1. Create a Music Corner

Dedicate a small space Music Corner in your home to music. Keep instruments, sheet music, and headphones for online courses easily accessible. When everything is in one place, it’s much easier to dive in.

2. Incorporate Music Into Your Routine

Tie music to a part of your day that’s already consistent. For example:

Play a classical piece during breakfast.
Schedule a 15-minute music appreciation session during your group homeschool Morning Time.
Have a family sing-along as part of your evening routine.

3. Leverage Online Courses

The third idea is where my Music in Our Homeschool courses really come in handy. They’re ready to go, require no prep, and are designed for busy moms like you, whether you know anything about music or not. Whether it’s a lesson on composer Igor Stravinsky, learning to sing in rounds, or a deep dive into Baroque music, these courses provide structure, flexibility, ease, and fun!

4. Set Up a Music Listening Challenge

Challenge your family to listen to music from different genres, cultures, or time periods. You could create a bingo card with categories like “A piece by Mozart,” “A jazz standard,” or “A song in a foreign language.” Or, use the Music Lesson Calendar of the Month and see who can check off the most days!

5. Plan Seasonal Music Activities

Take advantage of the seasons to make music more engaging. One of my most popular courses is Music Lessons for Holidays and Special Days. We have lessons for almost every holiday of the year and a lot of special days, too, such as Dr. Seuss Day, Harry Potter’s Birthday, and National Saxophone Day. Tie your music studies to holidays or the weather to keep things fresh and fun.

Encouragement for the Overwhelmed Mom

Before we wrap up, I want to encourage you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that music education doesn’t have to be perfect. Even small efforts can make a big difference. Maybe your kids will learn one single song this year. Maybe they discover a love for a composer or a genre they’ve never heard before. That’s a win.

And don’t forget to give yourself grace. Homeschooling is hard work, and you’re doing an amazing job. If you need support, my online courses are here to help you. You’re not in this alone.

Thank you for joining me today on the Music in Our Homeschool podcast. I hope you’re feeling inspired to set some music education goals for the new year. Remember, small steps lead to big progress, and incorporating music into your homeschool can be both simple and rewarding.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a fellow homeschool mom who might need a little encouragement. And don’t forget to check out the online courses at Music in Our Homeschool. Until next time, keep making music a joyful part of your homeschool journey.

Fun and Creative Ways to Experience Music with your Kids During the Summer

See the YouTube Video “New Year New Sound: 2024 Music Education Goals You Can Actually Achieve”

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Read the Podcast Transcript here.