Tune Up Your Homeschool: How to Set Up a Simple, Beautiful Homeschool Music Space for the New Year (E98)

December is the perfect time for homeschool families to pause, breathe, and prepare for a fresh start. After weeks of Christmas School, concerts, recitals, holiday travel, and festive chaos, most of us feel ready for a reset. And if you’re like many homeschool moms I talk to, one of your New Year’s goals is finally making music a consistent, joyful part of your homeschool rhythm!

But here’s the truth: if your music materials are scattered, if instruments are buried, and if lessons require too much prep or technology wrangling, music simply will not happen. We all know what it’s like for the “extras” to fall off the schedule once real life kicks in.

That’s why this post is designed to help you tune up your homeschool and set up a homeschool music space that's simple, beautiful, functional, and actually supports your routine. With a few small shifts in organization and mindset, you can make music one of the most pleasant, low-stress parts of your homeschool week.

Today, you’ll learn:

• Why including music in your homeschool matters
• How to set up a practical and inviting homeschool music space
• Safety considerations for families with younger children
• How to choose the right instruments for your kids’ ages
• Affordable ways to include music without adding strain to your budget
• Scheduling strategies that make music consistent and realistic
• How to use tools like Music in Our Homeschool to simplify your planning

Why Make Room for Music in Your Homeschool?

Before we organize shelves or rearrange furniture, it’s worth remembering why music is worth the effort in the first place.

Research consistently shows that music education benefits children in powerful ways:

• It strengthens brain development, especially language and memory.
• It improves academic performance, including reading and math skills.
• It builds social confidence and emotional expression.
• It helps children make sense of history, culture, and the arts.
• It fosters creativity, imagination, and beauty—qualities every child needs.

But the benefits go beyond academics. Music enriches family life. It brings joy into ordinary days. It gives children something meaningful to carry into adulthood, even if they never become professional musicians.

And here’s the best part: music does not have to be complicated or lengthy. A simple, daily or weekly dose of musical exposure—listening, learning, playing, or exploring—has enormous impact over time. That’s why I created the 15-Minute Music Method at Music in Our Homeschool: short, consistent lessons add up to something truly transformative.

Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.

Step One: Create a Simple, Inviting Music Space

You do not need a dedicated music room or expensive equipment. Many families use a corner of the living room, the dining room table, or even a rolling cart.

What matters more than space is intentionality.

Choose a comfortable location.

Kids settle more easily in a place that feels cozy and calm. My own family uses our living room, where we have a couch, chairs, a coffee table, and a window that lets in natural light. A beautiful space encourages you to return to it day after day.

Keep materials accessible.

A single basket or bin can make all the difference. Place your music books, printables, Fine Art Pages, or Music Lesson Calendar in an easy-to-grab location. When resources are visible and ready, you’re much more likely to use them.

Make use of the screens you already have.

You can pull up any of my online courses from your phone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV. Many moms simply connect their device via Bluetooth, Roku, or Apple TV to a larger screen for the kids to watch.

Add a touch of beauty.

A framed print (such as Fine Art Pages), a shelf of instruments, or even a seasonal decoration can turn a corner into a purposeful learning space. When the space inspires you, music becomes a joy rather than a chore.

Step Two: Think Through Safety and Practical Setup

This step is especially important if you have toddlers or preschoolers roaming around.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Store heavy instruments safely. Guitars, violins, and especially electric instruments should be kept out of reach where they can’t be pulled over. Wall hook mounts and sturdy stands help.
• Manage cords wisely. If an amp or keyboard cord crosses a walkway, cover it with a rug or secure cable protector.
• Monitor headphone volume. Teach kids how to set safe and comfortable volume levels so they don’t damage their hearing.
• Avoid small or chewable parts. Certain shakers or rhythm instruments have metal components that can be unsafe for children who still mouth objects. Wooden instruments are generally sturdy and safe, but check them periodically for splinters.

Remember: you can get creative. For years, we kept our electric piano in the laundry room because it was the only space where a child could practice without waking napping siblings. Small spaces can work beautifully if you think outside the box!

Step Three: Choose Instruments That Fit Your Child’s Age

Choosing age-appropriate instruments makes progress smoother and more enjoyable.

Here are general guidelines:

• Guitar: Ages 10 and up (younger kids often lack finger strength).
• Violin: As young as age 3 with a Suzuki-trained teacher.
• Recorder: Best for ages 8 and up.
• Piano: Ages 7 and up for full-size keys; KinderBach can introduce basic piano concepts as early as age 3.
• Ukulele: The ukulele is a great option for young elementary ages; the fretboard is smaller and easier to navigate. But older kids and teens love it, too.
• Preschool Rhythm Instruments: Maracas, rhythm sticks, sand blocks, tambourines, jingle bells, and scarves build early rhythm and coordination skills.

You don’t have to start with everything at once. Begin with a few items and grow your collection gradually.

Step Four: Set Up Your Audio and Tech Tools

Technology can make music education easier rather than overwhelming. In fact, you only need one tool:

Your phone.

From there, you can:

• Play lessons and videos from Music in Our Homeschool
• Cast or mirror to your TV for group viewing
• Use Spotify or YouTube playlists for composer studies
• Add a Bluetooth speaker if you want richer sound
• Keep everything in a bookmarked folder on your computer for quick access

The simpler the setup, the more likely you’ll stick with it.

Step Five: Organize Your Supplies

Here are some simple organizing solutions:

• A shelf for instruments
• A basket for scarves and rhythm instruments
• A bin for printables or sheet music
• A drawer for headphones or charging cords
• A rolling cart for mixed-age families
• A box for holding several recorders (or ukuleles) if you're doing Recorder Time with Mr. Jerry

Thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and local music shops are treasure troves for affordable supplies and gently used instruments. Don’t overlook pawn shops either—they often carry keyboards, guitars, and drum pads at excellent prices.

Step Six: Budget-Friendly Ways to Include Music

Music does not need to strain your homeschool budget. Try these creative ideas:

• Ask grandparents to gift music lessons, instrument rentals, or course access.
• Barter with a music teacher by offering tutoring, meals, or cleaning in exchange for lessons.
• Share the cost of a teacher with another family.
• Choose drum pads instead of full drum sets for beginning drummers, especially if noise is an issue
• Borrow or rent instruments to try before purchasing.
• Try virtual private music lessons instead of in-person. This option might be less expensive.
• Use a membership like Music in Our Homeschool Plus, which covers all your kids from preschool through high school for a fraction of the cost of private lessons.

Step Seven: Choose a Consistent Music Schedule

Here’s the true secret to making music stick:
Plan when music happens. Create a homeschool music schedule that works for you and your family!

A few approaches that work:

Music Mondays

Start your week with a simple 15-minute lesson.

Fine Arts Fridays

End the week with music, art, poetry, and something creative.

Loop Scheduling

Loop scheduling is a plan to rotate through music, art, and other subjects without tying them to a specific day.

Block Scheduling

Dedicate one afternoon each month to a deep-dive composer study or hands-on project.

There is no right or wrong way. Choose a rhythm that fits your family size, your season of life, and your personality.

Final Thoughts: A Music Routine That Actually Works

As you look toward January, remember this encouragement:
You don’t need to create everything yourself. You don’t need to know how to teach music. You don’t need hours each week or a perfect schedule.

You simply need:

• a small, inviting space
• a simple plan
• accessible tools
• and a routine you can realistically follow

Even fifteen minutes a week can transform your homeschool. With consistency, beauty, and a bit of preparation, music becomes not another task to check off, but a joyful, steady part of your home culture.

If you want truly zero-prep music lessons ready for you each month, explore the Music in Our Homeschool Plus membership. It includes the Music Lesson Calendar of the Month, Fine Art Pages, multi-age courses, and a full library of lessons for preschool through high school.

Here’s to a musical, meaningful, and beautifully refreshed homeschool in the new year.

Looking for a great music class option for 2026?

Try the Music and Art of America: 250 Years of Freedom online course. It's an 18-week course designed to help families celebrate America’s story—with only one 15-minute lesson a week!

Get the January LIVE Music and Painting Lessons here:

Only $9 for two LIVE lessons with Ms. Gena in January!

See the YouTube Video “Create a Beautiful Music Learning Space in Any Homeschool Budget”

Listen to Podcast Episode 98: Tune Up Your Homeschool: How to Set Up a Simple, Beautiful Music Space for the New Year in Your Homeschool

Listen here or subscribe and follow The Music in Our Homeschool Podcast through your favorite podcast app, such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Read the Podcast Transcript here.

Related Posts:

• Easy Picture Study for Every Homeschool: Nourishing the Soul in Art Appreciation
• How the Piano Keyboard Helps Students Understand Music Theory Better
• 10 Strategies for Seamlessly Incorporating a Quality Music Education in Your Homeschool
• How to Set Up a Music Center in Your Homeschool for Independent Learning