Homeschool Music Curriculum Review (Primary A by Seven in All)

A big shout out to Rachel from Seven in All (@seveninallfamily), who recently reviewed our Primary A curriculum. Take a look at this lovely review!

Thank you so much, Rachel! In addition to providing great resource reviews and homeschooling tips on YouTube, Rachel also produces easy-to-use and affordable homeschool curriculum products covering a variety of fascinating topics for a range of ages over at www.wheredyoulearnthat.com. Many Where'd You Learn That? products are available in both English and Spanish.

Learn more about Music Comes Alive

If you would like to learn more about our homeschool music curriculum, visit our Get Started page. For specific details about our Primary A course (for grades K-2) or our companion course for grades 3-5, Elementary A, use the links below!

Primary A Course

Elementary A Course

And don't forget our ongoing promotion on all print curriculum products! Use code FIRSTPRINT15 at checkout to get 15% off print products until March 31, 2025.

Looking for an easy homeschool music curriculum?

Look no further! Consider our beautiful curriculum offerings. With engaging books, a curated listening list, fully written-out lesson plans, and bonus internet links for more learning, Music Comes Alive makes it easy to add music to your homeschool!

Shop the Curriculum

Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

Meet Emma, Founder of Music Comes Alive Homeschool Curriculum

Welcome to Music Comes Alive, the new literature-based, open-and-go music appreciation curriculum! In this post, meet the founder of Music Comes Alive, Dr. Emma James.

Music has been a source of joy and inspiration for me since I was a child. I remember listening to many styles of music--jazz, bluegrass, classical, and Christian contemporary music (CCM), to name a few--in my house growing up. I also have great memories of going to classical concerts with my dad. My mom loves music and taught herself to play the guitar and, more recently, the piano. My dad played the violin through high school, and during my childhood he would occasionally pull it out and play a flashy fiddle tune while I danced in my Laura Ingalls Wilder costume. When I was about eight years old, my parents decided I should take piano lessons after they found me picking out tunes like "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on a toy keyboard. Those lessons opened up the world of music to me, sparking a love for music that has been part of my life ever since. In middle school, I joined the school band on French horn and the jazz band on keyboard. As early as ninth grade, I knew that I wanted to pursue music as a career. My family, all of whom were athletic, joked that piano was my "sport."

As much as I love music, I also have a wide range of other interests. So I decided to pursue a liberal arts degree with a focus in performance, hoping to become a collaborative pianist (i.e. an accompanist). I went to Houghton University (then Houghton College) for a Bachelor of Music in Applied Piano with Elective Studies in Mathematics and Philosophy. (If that mouthful of a degree doesn't reflect my interest in a wide range of subjects, I don't know what does!)

After Houghton, I went to the Eastman School of Music (part of the University of Rochester and a top-ranked music school) for a MA and PhD in Music Theory. This degree program brought together my love for music and my love for math and philosophy, as well as a new-found love of teaching. I had never wanted to go into music education, but teaching at the college level changed my mind about that. Helping students understand music has become one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Now, I am a wife and a homeschooling mother of two girls. I no longer teach at the college level, but I do teach piano and music theory lessons, and I help lead a homeschool co-op and teach music classes for elementary ages there. As a homeschool parent, bringing music into my children's lives has been an essential part of our homeschool. My children take instrument lessons, of course. But music appreciation is more than playing an instrument. Reading books and listening to great music has been an effective and exciting way for me to bring music history and musical concepts to life for my own children.

I founded Music Comes Alive because I am passionate about bringing music to life for children and adults alike. While teaching at our co-op for the last few years, I have found that parents feel inadequate to teach music appreciation to their children. But just as we can teach English, Language Arts, History, Math, and Science with a good guide, we can also teach music appreciation with a good guide! This belief led me to create Music Comes Alive. Each course is designed to be an opportunity to learn alongside your child. Each curriculum guide is open-and-go, with a schedule and fully written-out lesson plans, and requiring no prior expertise. We use great books, curated listening lists, and engaging activity sheets alongside these lessons to bring music to life for you and your child.

Learn More

I am so grateful for the gift of music in my life, a gift that points to the goodness, beauty, and truth of our Creator. Let us help you give the gift of music to your family with Music Comes Alive!

Shop the Curriculum

Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

Just In! Print Format of our Homeschool Music Curriculum Now Available!

Check out the new print format of our literature-based homeschool music curriculum! Use coupon code FIRSTPRINT15 for 15% off during March!

We are so excited to announce that the print format of our Primary A and Elementary A curricula are now available!

Containing all the great content seen in our digital Primary A and Elementary A homeschool music appreciation courses, our printed format features beautiful, full-color printed booklets in your choice of spiral binding or 3-hole punch. QR codes throughout the Curriculum Guide make it easy to access the Digital Resources (answer key, recordings, and bonus supplementary content).

Primary A (Grades K-2)

Primary A: "Medieval Melodies to Musical Theater" begins with nine delightful picture books (available for purchase through our website) and a curated playlist. This course moves chronologically through music history, beginning with medieval composer Hildegard von Bingen and ending with leading ladies of Broadway.  Each month, learn about one musician, one fundamentals concept, and one instrument. In December, spend two weeks learning about the Christmas carol "Silent Night." Wrap up each month with an engaging activity (crafts, games, etc.). This curriculum is the perfect blend of fun and education!

Check out the print format Curriculum Guide and Activity Pack in the Music Comes Alive store.

See also: Primary A: Bundle (Digital) and Primary A: Book Bundle

Elementary A (Grades 3-5)

Elementary A: "Medieval to Modern" begins with nine engaging picture books (available for purchase through our website) and a curated playlist. This course moves chronologically through music history, beginning with medieval musician Guido D'Arezzo and ending with Leonard Bernstein.  Each month, learn about one musician, one fundamentals concept, and one instrument. In December, spend two weeks learning about the Christmas carol "In the Bleak Midwinter." Wrap up each month with an engaging activity (crafts, games, etc.). This curriculum provides an enriching musical experience for you and your students.

Check out the print format Curriculum Guide and Activity Pack in the Music Comes Alive store.

See also: Elementary A: Bundle (Digital) and Elementary A: Book Bundle

From the beginning, it has been the vision here at Music Comes Alive to make our robust literature-based music appreciation curricula available in both digital and print formats. We are so excited to make that dream a reality!

To celebrate with us, use code FIRSTPRINT15 for 15% off our new print products (expires March 31, 2025).

Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

All the products linked in this post are designed for individual family use. Interested in group licensing? Please contact us for group prices at info@musiccomesalive.com