A musical education can enrich your child's life. I've seen this time and again, starting from the very beginning.
My four-month-old cried and cried. I held her and rocked her until I got to a point of exhaustion. I needed a break. I woke my husband and turned her over to him.
Within ten minutes, the nursery was quiet. What had my husband done?
He had turned on the Beatles. No kidding: just playing some music (even the Beatles!) helped her calm down.
It could be she had just cried herself to sleep in his arms. Or, maybe my mother-child bond kept her awake for some reason. Goodness knows, this probably did not ever happen in the same way again. But that night, music was the answer.
We are a musical family, and we've tried to nurture this the best ways we can. Here are some ideas for incorporating music into your home and homeschool learning plan.
Note: I am an affiliate for Music in Our Homeschool. I highly recommend you check out the links I include below for some examples of implementing a music education program.
The Benefits of a Music Education
There are so many benefits to music in your life and in your child's life.
Comforting Benefits of Music
My newborn daughter's crying was calmed by music. This was not the only time. Here are some other times when music made a difference for my family.
Academic and Social Benefits of Learning Music
Beyond the comforting influence of music in my daily live, music can also help our children and myself in many other ways.
Encouraging Music Appreciation
The best way to encourage your children to appreciate music is to share your own appreciation of music! Take your interests and share them with your littlest ones, just like my husband shared the Beatles with a tired baby in the middle of the night. Simply enjoying music is the first stage of a musical education.
Incorporating Music Studies into Homeschool
Studying music can be very fun, whether you are studying history and composers, learning about musical concepts like rhythm, listening to music, or learning to play an instrument and sing. Remember that your main purpose in a music education is to help you and your children appreciate and enjoy music.
Getting a Musical Education
As you make symphonies and pop songs, instrument practicing, singing, or even musicals a part of your family activities, your kids will love their musical education. Increasing your child’s understanding of music will enhance their lives in many areas and give them a source of joy and relaxation they can count on throughout their lives.
The great news is that my friend Gena Mayo from Music in Our Homeschool makes it easy for homeschool moms to include music as a part of their elementary and/or upper level homeschool! In addition to music appreciation courses covering a wide variety of classical music (see this free Sampler Course), Gena has included music courses in special categories, such as for preschoolers, holidasy, geography (50 states), religious hymns, musicals, and world music. Below are a few of my favorites.
Music In Our Homeschool PLUS
26 course bundle!
Full access to ALL 16 Elementary music courses and ALL 5 high school level music courses plus two exclusive upper-level fine arts courses only available to members!
Here are some more (but not) of the things included:
Monthly Calendar Lessons
A live music workshop with Gena each month
Music Printable Pack Library
Singing Made Easy
5 levels available
Beginners from age 3 to adult can learn the proper way to sing. It doesn’t really matter the age: just start at the beginning.
Students can sing along with the voice tracks until they know the songs and then with the accompaniment tracks only.
Learn Classical Music from Cartoons
37 lessons
37 separate composer studies with music to listen to -- by cartoon, from the very vintage (1931!) to the very modern (Line Riders and other computer-generated graphics).
Every lesson also contains an optional movement activity to get the kids off the couch and moving their bodies to the music.
All New Recorder Course!
I have fond memories of learning to use the recorder in middle school. Sometimes I think my kids miss out on unique opportunities like that because they are homeschooled.
But there is a great solution! Use the BRAND-NEW online course Recorder Time with Mr. Jerry. Let Mr. Jerry teach your child to play the recorder in just half the school year!
The recorder is very do-able. No expensive instrument to buy or rent. Do the lessons on your own time and have fun doing it!
Use coupon code RECORDERLAUNCH by 3/20/22 to get 20% off.
Order before Wednesday, March 16 to get a recorder bonus pack. See it here.
In addition to these music education ideas, check out the post I wrote Get Started Homeschooling: Fine Arts.
