How to Teach Music in Your Homeschool — Curriculum, Apps & Free Resources

The best way to teach music in your homeschool depends on your goals and your own musical background. For music appreciation and listening skills, SQUILT (Super Quiet Uninterrupted Listening Time) is the most popular and effective homeschool curriculum, teaching children to listen actively and analytically to classical and world music. For music theory and general education, Music in Our Homeschool offers comprehensive online courses covering theory, history, composition, and world music for all ages. For instrument instruction, a combination of a local or online teacher with a practice app like Simply Piano or Hoffman Academy provides the best results. Below, we cover everything you need to build a rich, joyful music education in your homeschool — even if you can't read a note of music yourself.

Why Music Belongs in Your Homeschool

Music education is one of those subjects that always seems to end up at the bottom of the homeschool priority list. Reading, math, writing — those feel urgent. Music feels like a luxury. Something you'll "get to eventually."

But the research on music education is overwhelming and consistent: children who study music show measurable improvements in language development, mathematical reasoning, spatial intelligence, memory, attention, and social-emotional skills. Music activates more areas of the brain simultaneously than any other activity researchers have studied.

Beyond the cognitive benefits, music is one of the great joys of being human. Learning to play an instrument, sing in harmony, or simply listen deeply to a symphony builds a capacity for beauty, discipline, and expression that enriches the rest of life.

The good news? You don't need to be a musician to give your children a meaningful music education. With the right resources, any homeschool family can build a rich music program.

The Four Pillars of Homeschool Music Education

A well-rounded music education includes four components. You don't need to cover all four equally — choose what fits your family and build from there.

1. Music Appreciation (Listening)

Learning to listen actively and analytically to music — identifying instruments, recognizing forms, understanding historical context, and developing personal taste.

2. Music Theory

Understanding the building blocks of music — rhythm, melody, harmony, scales, key signatures, time signatures, and how music is written on the page.

3. Performance (Instrument or Voice)

The hands-on experience of making music — playing an instrument, singing, or both.

4. Music History and World Music

Understanding music in its cultural and historical context — from Bach to the blues, from African drumming to Indian ragas.

Best Music Appreciation Curriculum: SQUILT

SQUILT (Super Quiet Uninterrupted Listening Time) by Mary Prather is the most widely used and beloved music curriculum in the homeschool world, and for good reason.

How it works: Each lesson centers on a single piece of music. Students listen quietly (hence the name), then discuss and notate what they heard using age-appropriate listening maps and guided questions. Lessons cover the composer's life, the historical period, musical terms, and active listening skills. The program is available in themed volumes (Composers, American Music, Nature in Music, etc.) and as individual units.

What we love:

• Absolutely requires zero musical training from the parent
• Lessons are short (15-20 minutes) and completely self-contained
• The listening maps make abstract musical concepts visual and concrete
• Covers a wide range of musical periods, styles, and composers
• Students develop genuine analytical listening skills
• Beautiful, Charlotte Mason-compatible approach
• Available digitally for immediate use

What to consider:

• Primarily covers Western classical music (some volumes branch out)
• No performance or instrument instruction
• Can feel repetitive if you use multiple volumes in a row
• Younger children (under 6) may struggle with the sustained listening component

Best for: All homeschool families who want to add meaningful music appreciation without any musical expertise required. Works beautifully alongside a Charlotte Mason curriculum and complements art appreciation study.

Cost: $15-25 per volume (digital); bundles available at a discount Time commitment: 15-20 minutes per lesson, 1-2 times per week

Best Comprehensive Online Curriculum: Music in Our Homeschool

Music in Our Homeschool by Gena Mayo offers a wide range of online music courses covering appreciation, theory, history, world music, instruments of the orchestra, and more.

How it works: Self-paced online courses use video lessons, printable worksheets, listening activities, and hands-on projects. Courses are organized by topic and age range, and a membership provides access to the full library.

What we love:

• Truly comprehensive — covers every aspect of music education except instrument performance
• Self-paced format works for any schedule
• Courses for all ages, from preschool through high school
• Includes world music and diverse musical traditions
• The membership model is cost-effective for families who use it regularly
• Excellent for building high school fine arts credits

What to consider:

• Screen-based (online courses)
• Quality varies somewhat across the large course library
• Requires a subscription for full access
• Less structured than a traditional textbook curriculum — you choose your own path

Best for: Families who want a one-stop shop for music education beyond instrument instruction. Particularly valuable for high schoolers who need fine arts credits and for families studying world cultures alongside geography and history.

Cost: About $10-15/month for membership; individual courses available for purchase Time commitment: Variable; 15-30 minutes per lesson, 1-3 times per week

Best Free Resource: Hoffman Academy

Hoffman Academy offers free, high-quality piano lessons for beginners through an engaging video format. Mr. Hoffman is a gifted teacher whose lessons combine piano instruction with music theory, ear training, and composition in a way that children genuinely enjoy.

How it works: Sequential video lessons teach piano from the very beginning. Each lesson includes instruction, practice prompts, and theory concepts woven naturally into the piano learning. The free version includes all video lessons; a premium subscription adds practice games, sheet music, and progress tracking.

What we love:

• Core video lessons are completely free
• Mr. Hoffman is an exceptional, warm, engaging teacher
• Integrates theory and ear training with piano instruction naturally
• Appropriate for children as young as 5-6
• Self-paced — students can repeat lessons as needed
• No parent musical knowledge required

What to consider:

• Free version has limited practice materials (premium is about $18/month)
• Requires a keyboard or piano at home
• Online lessons can't fully replace a live teacher for technique correction
• Primarily covers beginning to early intermediate levels

Best for: Families who want to start piano instruction without the cost of private lessons. Excellent as a first step to see if your child enjoys piano before investing in formal lessons.

Cost: Free (video lessons); $18/month for premium features Time commitment: 15-20 minutes per lesson, 3-5 days per week (including practice)

Teaching Instrument Skills at Home

Choosing a First Instrument

The best first instrument is the one your child is excited about. That said, some instruments are more practical starting points than others:

Piano/Keyboard (ages 5+): The most versatile starting instrument. Piano teaches music theory visually (the keyboard layout makes scales and intervals concrete), develops both hands independently, and provides a foundation for learning any other instrument later. A digital keyboard ($100-300) is a perfectly acceptable starter instrument.

Violin (ages 5+, via Suzuki method): The Suzuki method makes violin accessible to very young children through an ear-first, parent-involved approach. Violin develops ear training, fine motor control, and discipline. Expect to be heavily involved — Suzuki requires parent participation in lessons and daily practice.

Recorder (ages 6+): The humble recorder is an excellent, inexpensive ($5-15) first wind instrument. It teaches breath control, finger coordination, and note reading. Many children transition to flute, clarinet, or other woodwinds after learning recorder basics.

Ukulele (ages 6+): Small, affordable ($30-60), and easy to learn, the ukulele lets children play recognizable songs within weeks. It builds chord knowledge and strumming patterns that transfer to guitar later.

Guitar (ages 8+): Guitar requires larger hands and finger strength, so most children do better starting at age 8 or older. Acoustic guitars in 3/4 size ($60-150) work well for children.

Lesson Options

Private local teacher: The gold standard for instrument instruction. A good teacher provides personalized feedback, technique correction, and accountability. Expect $25-60 per half-hour lesson, depending on your area and the teacher's experience.

Online lessons (live): Platforms like Lessonface, TakeLessons, and Musika connect students with teachers for real-time video lessons. Quality varies — look for teachers with strong reviews and relevant credentials. Cost is typically $20-50 per lesson.

Self-paced apps and courses:

• Simply Piano (piano, $120/year) — Gamified piano instruction with listening technology that provides real-time feedback
• Yousician (piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, $120/year) — Similar to Simply Piano with broader instrument coverage
• Faber Piano Adventures (piano, $8-12/book) — The most widely used print piano method, designed for teacher-led or parent-led instruction

YouTube: Free instrument tutorials abound on YouTube. Channels like Hoffman Academy (piano), The Violin Lab (violin), and Andy Guitar (guitar) provide quality instruction at no cost.

Building a Practice Routine

Consistent short practice sessions produce far better results than occasional long ones. Here's a guideline by age:

Tips for successful practice:

• Practice at the same time each day — routine reduces resistance
• Be present but not hovering during practice (especially for younger children)
• Focus on small sections rather than playing through the whole piece
• End practice on a success — play something your child does well at the end
• Celebrate milestones (first song learned, first recital, first page of a new book)

Music Theory Without an Instrument

Even if your child isn't studying an instrument, basic music theory is a valuable part of education. Here's how to teach it:

Rhythm Activities

• Clap rhythms together — quarter notes, half notes, whole notes, eighth notes
• Use rhythm instruments (tambourine, drum, rhythm sticks — available for $10-20 as a set) to explore beat, tempo, and patterns
• March, dance, and move to different time signatures
• Play rhythm games: one person claps a pattern, the other repeats it

Melody and Pitch

• Sing scales together (do-re-mi)
• Play pitch-matching games with a keyboard or xylophone
• Listen to melodies and identify whether the pitch goes up, down, or stays the same
• Use handbells (a set of 8 costs about $20-30) to play simple melodies

Music Notation

• Use free printable staff paper and teach the basics: treble clef, note names on lines and spaces, note values
• Apps like Staff Wars (free) gamify note reading
• Have children compose simple melodies by placing notes on the staff and then playing them on a keyboard or xylophone

Connecting Music to Math

Music and math are deeply connected. Rhythm is fundamentally mathematical — understanding that four quarter notes equal one whole note is fraction work. Time signatures are division. Scales follow patterns. If your child enjoys math, lean into these connections. If they resist math, music can be a backdoor to mathematical thinking.

Building a Music Appreciation Habit

Beyond formal curriculum, here are ways to fill your home with music:

Composer Study

Spend 4-6 weeks on a single composer. Listen to their music daily during breakfast or quiet time. Read a biography (the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers series by Mike Venezia is excellent for children). Visit the library for recordings. By the end of 6 weeks, your family will recognize that composer's work instinctively.

This approach aligns perfectly with Charlotte Mason's method of short, focused exposure over time. Pair it with your art curriculum — study a composer and an artist from the same historical period simultaneously.

Music During the Day

• Morning time: Play classical music during breakfast or morning basket
• Rest time: Audiobooks of composer biographies or Classical Kids CDs (which dramatize composers' lives with their actual music)
• Chore time: Upbeat music makes chores more bearable (and teaches genres — put on Motown Monday, Jazz Friday, or Classical Saturday)
• Drive time: Expose children to a wide range of music during car rides

Concert and Performance Attendance

• Many orchestras and opera companies offer free or reduced-price children's concerts
• Local university music departments host frequent free recitals
• Community bands, church choirs, and folk music sessions offer informal exposure
• Listen to live music whenever possible — the experience is fundamentally different from recordings

Free and Low-Cost Music Resources

Creating a Simple Music Schedule

Here's a realistic weekly music plan that covers all four pillars in about 2-3 hours total:

• Monday: SQUILT or Music in Our Homeschool lesson (20 min)
• Tuesday: Instrument practice (15-30 min)
• Wednesday: Music theory activity or notation practice (15 min)
• Thursday: Instrument practice (15-30 min)
• Friday: Free listening / composer study / music exploration (20 min)

If you can only fit in one thing, make it daily listening. Play music during meals, chores, and rest time. Exposure is the foundation everything else builds on.

What About Singing?

Singing is the most natural, most accessible, and arguably most important musical activity. Every child can sing, and every family can make singing part of their daily life.

• Sing hymns, folk songs, rounds, and silly songs together
• Learn songs from the periods you're studying in history
• Sing in the car, at meals, during nature walks
• Don't worry about being "good" — joyful singing is always good enough

For more formal vocal instruction, consider a children's choir. Many churches and community organizations offer free or low-cost children's choirs that teach music reading, vocal technique, and the incomparable experience of making music together.

Our Bottom Line

Music education doesn't need to be expensive, complicated, or dependent on a musically trained parent. Start with listening — SQUILT for structured appreciation, and daily background music for informal exposure. Add rhythm and singing throughout your day. When your child shows interest, pursue instrument instruction through a local teacher, Hoffman Academy, or a self-paced app.

The goal isn't to produce professional musicians (though some of your children may become one). The goal is to raise human beings who can hear beauty, create something meaningful, and carry a song in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

And that is something every homeschool family can accomplish.