6 Easy Ways to Incorporate Music into Your Homeschool Day

As homeschool families, you have a lot on your plate. From math and reading lessons to science experiments to physical education to the arts - you do it all! It might feel intimidating to include music in your child’s day to day learning, however there are many ways to include a little bit of music every day at home.

1. Listen to classical music regularly. This can be during study times or reading time. Older children may enjoy using this as a creative writing opportunity – if this was a soundtrack to a movie, what would be happening during this music? What kinds of emotion does the music sound like? If you have young children, ask them to show you through movement and dance what they hear in the music. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers!

2. If your child plays an instrument, incorporate regular practice time into their school day. Regular practice is valuable for any instrument. No matter if your child is taking piano lessons, guitar lessons, or plays in a concert band or orchestra – playing regularly will help them to draw more from their lessons and rehearsals.

3. Ask your child to show you what they've learned in music class or lessons. Whether that is learning a new note on their instrument, or a new song in music class, or part of a new piano solo – I always encourage parents to share in their child's musical journey.

4. Sing! Children of all ages benefit from singing, but especially young children. Singing helps them to discover their singing voice and also to help them to gain confidence. Singing is a fun way to learn new words especially as children are learning to read.

5. Move to music. Encourage your child to show you what they hear through movement and dance. Try a game where your child “plants” their feet, but still shows you how fast or how slow the music is moving. Choose a small, one-minute segment of music and encourage them to create a dance based on what they hear. Another fun game when listening to slow music is to “swim through Jello”.

6. Draw when listening to music. Ask your child to imagine the music is the soundtrack to a movie. What might be happening on the screen? How are the characters feeling? What might happen next after this scene? What story does the music tell? Remember, there are no right or wrong answers!

Music surrounds us every single day. Your child may learn best in a one on one piano lesson setting, or in a music class, or in a musical ensemble. There are numerous ways to learn music. You know your child best and what will best fit their learning style.

Wishing you and your family a joyful and musical school year!

Laura Thompson is the founder of Encore Ensembles. She also teaches the Northfield Homeschool Band, St. Michael’s Catholic School Band, and Faith Christian Home Educators Co-op Band.