Online Homeschool Music Classes

My children’s orchestra conductor always tells them that music majors are the group of college grads most likely to be admitted to medical school. I wanted to know if that was true, so I researched it myself.

It’s true.

In fact, 66% of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, according to physician Lewis Thomas, who studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. That was the highest percentage of any group.

Experts who have researched this phenomena say that the primary reason medical schools recruit musicians is that musicians have already learned the difficult skill of deliberate, intentional practice for tiny, incremental gains, which is a particularly critical skill for surgeons. Musicians are widely believed to make excellent surgeons.

I don’t necessarily want my children to go to medical school, to be physicians, or even to be musicians, but the reason all of my children study music is that it provides incredible brain training. I read an article about it when my oldest was about four-years-old.

The article discussed the ways in which stringed instruments in particular, because both hands were performing different tasks, created strong neural pathways between the hemispheres of the brains, structuring and organizing the brain, increasing cognitive ability, resulting in positive effects on learning, memory, fine motor skills, verbal and non-verbal reasoning and resulting in an overall more capable brain.

I’m a pianist myself and I was already planning to teach my children to play the piano, but then and there I determined that they would each also play a stringed instrument.

Our evidence is anecdotal, I know. But each of my older children (five so far) who have taken the ACT (college entrance test) have earned scores of 32-34, which is exceptional when you consider that the national average is 21.8.

I’m not the world’s best homeschooler, so I think it has something to do with their music. And that’s why one of my first recommendations to fellow homeschool moms is music lessons.

What is the best homeschool music curriculum?

(This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosures for more information.)

5 Benefits of Learning Music:

• No matter what instrument your child chooses, practicing will develop coordination and improve fine and gross motor skills.
• Daily practice will help your child build patience and persistence.
• Your child will feel a sense of accomplishment.
• Music expands peoples minds and souls by exposing them to other cultures and ideas.
• Playing in ensembles and orchestras helps children to learn to work together, but also to use their voices to share their own ideas and feelings. Kids experience a sense of belonging.
• Learning an instrument increases cognitive ability.

How To Teach Music In Your Homeschool

Not all parents have music skills and knowledge. Fortunately, there are lots of great choices for homeschool music classes, either in your community or online.

If your child wants to learn a specific instrument, I believe that private lessons from a local individual are superior to an app or online instruction for a couple of reasons: first, a music teacher can spot poor technique or incorrect understanding and correct it before it becomes a habit, and second, a music teacher can customize lessons to a students needs and interests.

I’ve taught many piano students besides my own children, and I can tell when a student is becoming frustrated with the classical repertoire I generally teach and is ready to delve into jazz, ragtime or their favorite genre. I can also tell when a student is bored and needs a challenge, or when a student needs to slow down and spend more time in a certain area.

However, if your child already plays an instrument or wants to study music theory, composition or a music discipline that lends itself well to group instruction, I think online homeschool music classes are the perfect way to meet those needs.

My 17-year-old daughter wants to study commercial music at college (she is planning to be a film score composer) and is preparing now by learning songwriting and digital audio production. That’s how I found Great Bend Center for Music.

Great Bend Center For Music Programs

Great Bend Center for Music is a non-profit exploring ways that people (especially in isolated, rural areas) can use music to build community. They offer many different online homeschool music classes in order to support their mission.

From keyboarding lessons and music theory classes to a Digital Audio Production class that teaches kids to use a DAW and MIDI, their online classes for kids in grades 4-12 prepare students for musical opportunities and give them opportunities to collaborate.

Great Bend Center for Music’s HighKey Kids™ program offerings include: Digital Audio Production, Songwriting, Video Game Music, General Musicianship, Beatmaking, Piano/Keyboarding and Ukelele classes. Classes meet once or twice per week as part of a 10-week term.

Learn more about HighKey Kids™

Free Online Early Childhood Music Classes for Your Homeschool

Sound Scholars™ is a FREE online music program for kids, designed to teach music literacy and skills to prepare kids for success in school and beyond. The Sound Scholars program introduces the basics of digital musicianship and is designed to be welcoming for kids of all ages and abilities. 

Each fast-paced, 30-minute session focuses on preparing kids for ensemble participation and includes age-appropriate ear training, music literacy and ensemble practice in a fun, community-building way.

Learn more about Sound Scholars™

Great Bend Center for Music Virtual Recitals

Any music teacher will tell you that recitals give students more than just a chance to perform their new skills and celebrate their hard work. Recitals are also a chance for students to learn to overcome performance anxiety, instills a sense of accomplishment and pride, which further encourages them in their practicing and hear their peers perform.

I can’t tell you how many times a student would come to lessons right after a recital and tell me they wanted to learn the song a friend had played in the recital. Hearing their peers perform is motivating!

Performing in multiple recitals a year allow students, teachers, and loved ones to hear marked improvementAnd that is something you’ll never get from an app.

Practice Makes Perfect

Actually, only perfect practice makes perfect. Our many music teachers over the years have emphasized that.

You can have the very best music teachers, expensive instruments and amazing parental support. But if practice doesn’t happen daily, progress will be slow. These music practice logs can help you track student practice.

Our Experience with Great Bend Center for Music

My daughter attended a digital audio production class taught live, online. She has taken many online classes and has complained about some and enjoyed others. She thought the teacher of the class was a good blend of strict and fun, allowing the kids in the class to interact and collaborate, but not hijack the lessons.

She felt like the teacher’s instructions were clear and that he gave plenty of background knowledge so the students were prepared for their assignments. She also enjoyed the assignment and felt like she learned a lot.

You don’t need any special equipment or software for these classes. We already had the pictured midi keyboard and DAW.

Other Places To Find Online & In Person Homeschool Music Classes

• DIY Homeschool Music Lessons. If you are musically inclined, you could teach your own children. Look for resources to help you cover music theory, composers, music history and such.
• Local musicians. Look for neighbors or local musicians who teach out of their homes. Attend a student recital to gauge the quality of the instruction.
• Music students. If you are homeschooling on a budget, ask around the homeschool group to see if any older teenagers in the group are willing to teach. They will often offer a reduced rate in exchange for building experience.
• Homeschool Co-op. You can often find quality music instruction at your local homeschool co-op.
• Local Music Stores. Local shops often provide rooms for private music instruction. We’ve taken lessons at several local music stores.
• Government School Ensembles. If your school district permits it, students can join their local high school or middle school band and/or orchestra ensembles.
• University Classes. My children have taken both private music lessons and music classes at our local universities. The best part is that my high-school-aged children have been able to count the credits toward their degree programs.
• Online Homeschool Music Classes. Great Bend Center for Music is a great option for online homeschool music classes.

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