If you’re a homeschool parent teaching multiple kids at once, you know the challenge: how do you effectively teach music when your children are at different ages and stages? Don’t worry—you’re not alone! The good news is that music is one of the easiest and most rewarding subjects to teach in a multi-age homeschool. Here’s how you can homeschool music for multiple ages—without doubling your time or effort.
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Scroll to the bottom to enter the Back to Homeschool giveaway!
1. Start with Family-Style Learning
Music is a natural fit for family-style learning. Instead of teaching each child separately, choose lessons or activities that everyone can do together. For example, you can:
This approach builds family connections and makes your homeschool day more efficient and fun.
2. Choose a Flexible Music Curriculum
Look for a homeschool music curriculum that’s designed to be flexible and adaptable. At Music in Our Homeschool, we offer courses specifically created with multi-age learning in mind!
For example, our Sound Bites: Jazz Music Appreciation works great for the whole family, and older kids can dig deeper with included notebooking activities.
Sound Bites: Jazz Music Appreciation
For elementary through high school students. Learn all about the American jazz era of the 1900s through its composers, performers, and music. 15 composers: Benny Goodman's, Bix Beiderbecke, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, Cab Calloway, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Waller, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Ray Charles, and Ornette Coleman.
Playing classical music during lunch or quiet time.
Ending the day with a singalong or listening session.
Small, consistent moments add up to a meaningful music education over time.
6. Take Advantage of Online Learning
Online music lessons are a lifesaver for homeschool parents teaching multiple children. With on-demand videos, everyone can learn at their own pace. Assign an older student to complete a unit while you do a circle-time music game with the younger ones. Then switch!
Our Music in Our Homeschool Plus membership offers hundreds of lessons, from preschool songs to advanced music theory, so you’ll always have something ready—no planning required.
Final Thoughts: Homeschool Music for Multiple Ages
You can homeschool music for multiple ages—and enjoy it! The key is to keep it simple, consistent, and joyful. Use family-style learning, flexible curriculum, and a mix of hands-on and independent activities. Whether you have a preschooler, a high schooler, or anything in between, music can be a beautiful part of your homeschool journey.
It’s hard to believe, but another homeschool year is just around the corner. Whether you’re deep into planning or still enjoying summer, chances are you’ve got curriculum and supplies on your mind.
We know that preparing for a new homeschool year can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to stick to a budget. Homeschooling on one income or teaching multiple kids can make the costs add up quickly. That’s why I’ve teamed up with a group of amazing homeschool bloggers to bring you our 12th Annual Back to Homeschool Giveaway. And we think you’re going to love it.
This year, we’re giving away three $250 gift cards, and the best part is that you get to choose which homeschool curriculum company the gift card is for. Whether you use The Good & the Beautiful, Gather Round, Notgrass, My Father’s World, or maybe you like shopping at Rainbow Resource, this giveaway is designed to help ease the cost of your school year.
The giveaway runs from July 9 through July 18, so be sure to get your entries in.
To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below. I know there are quite a few entries, but each blogger has generously contributed to make this giveaway possible. And remember, the more entries you complete, the better your chances of winning.
We hope this giveaway is a blessing to you and your homeschool this year!
Giveaway ends July 18th at 11:59pm ET. Winners will be drawn and emailed the following day. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to email to claim the prize. By entering this giveaway you will be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers. Please be sure to read the Terms & Conditions upon entering the giveaway.
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2 Comments
I think of all the tips above, finding a consistent routine is the most difficult, when one has to direct the lessons and juggle it with all the other core curriculum. Unlike art, which is visual and can therefore be followed from a book, music is audial and you can’t sit a kid down with an instructional book and tell them to follow the steps. Music is perhaps the one subject area where online learning exceeds ordinary book learning in teaching proficiency. That’s why I love the MIOH online classes, because they allow my kids to be self-directed, so I can focus on giving attention to other areas like math and grammar where other students may be struggling.
I think of all the tips above, finding a consistent routine is the most difficult, when one has to direct the lessons and juggle it with all the other core curriculum. Unlike art, which is visual and can therefore be followed from a book, music is audial and you can’t sit a kid down with an instructional book and tell them to follow the steps. Music is perhaps the one subject area where online learning exceeds ordinary book learning in teaching proficiency. That’s why I love the MIOH online classes, because they allow my kids to be self-directed, so I can focus on giving attention to other areas like math and grammar where other students may be struggling.
This is awesome! I’m so glad you found a way to make the MIOH classes work for you, your kids, and your homeschool. 🙂