Book Highlight: Marian Anderson, Singer and Barrier Breaker

Introducing: When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson

(Written by Pam Muñoz Ryan; Illustrated by Brian Selznick)

Are you familiar with Marian Anderson? She was an African American opera singer who lived through most of the twentieth century, astonishing her audience with her emotive singing and forging a pathway to opera for other people of color.

Enter the world of Marian Anderson with your children in the award-winning book, When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson. The book opens as if it were a staged performance, with scenes from Anderson's childhood. The story showcases her determined pursuit of vocal training and opportunities to perform, in spite of rejections by music schools and by the American public because of her skin color. Learn about Anderson's unique talent, her rise to fame, and her tours of Europe. Experience the triumph of Anderson's Lincoln Memorial concert and her debut at the Metropolitan Opera. With engaging prose and beautiful, sepia-toned illustrations, this book will immerse you and your child in the life and music of Marian Anderson.

When Marian Sang is used in our Primary A curriculum for Grades K-2. In addition to the "true recital" of Marian Anderson's life in the main text, the book also contains informative author's notes about Anderson, if you would like to dive deeper. When Marian Sang is just one example of the many beautiful and informative books that make up the core of Music Comes Alive.

Wondering how to acquire the books for Music Comes Alive? We encourage you to start with your local library system, where many of these books may be found. In many cases, you may also find these books through second-hand book stores/websites. For your convenience, we also sell the books for our curricula on our website. You can purchase them individually or as a course bundle.

Check out Primary A: Medieval Melodies to Musical Theater or Shop Primary A (Grades K-2)

Check out Elementary A: Medieval to Modern or Shop Elementary A (Grades 3-5)

Bring music to life at home with Music Comes Alive. Our easy-to-use, literature-based curriculum empowers YOU, the parent, to teach music in your homeschool!

Music Comes Alive: What Sets Our Curriculum Apart?

Our mission is in our name: Music Comes Alive aims to bring music to life for your family through an easy, fun, and comprehensive homeschool music curriculum.

Easy & Fun

Primary A Curriculum Guide "Month at a Glance"

Music Comes Alive is designed to fit into your busy homeschool life, with one easy-to-teach lesson per week.

Each course includes a parent-friendly Curriculum Guide and an engaging Activity Pack for each student. Our no prep, open-and-go Curriculum Guides contain a year's worth of fully written-out lesson plans, with everything you need to teach music at home:

(1) For planning: scope & sequence, booklist, playlist, supplies list & month-at-a-glance pages

Elementary A Activity Pack "Musician Fact File"

(2) For teaching: fully written-out lesson plans with diagrams and internet-linked resources (with links & QR codes)

The Activity Pack features colorful activity sheets for a fun, hands-on experience. For each lesson, your student will enjoy the accompanying Activity Pack page, such as "Musician Fact File," "Fundamentals Focus," "Instrument Spotlight," or "Hands-On Activity." "Listening Pages" are provided for each listening assignment.

Comprehensive Music Curriculum

Books for Primary A

In addition to being easy and fun, Music Comes Alive aims to be comprehensive, providing access to a range of musical styles and topics for your family to enjoy.

Our literature-based curriculum uses great books to bring music to life and foster connection between you and your child. Over the course of each month, you and your child will learn about music history, music fundamentals, and musical instruments. Curated playlists and listening guides help you and your child to become familiar with great musical compositions and to learn how to listen to different styles of music.

Music Comes Alive also taps into various learning styles by using a range of teaching approaches, including read-aloud books & lessons, listening assignments, hands-on worksheets & activities (crafts, games, etc.), and internet-linked resources (primarily video) for further exploration of the topics covered by the curriculum.

Course Offerings

Our long-term vision is to offer digital and print homeschool music curriculum for grades K-12.

Our current offerings include:

• Primary A (Grades K-2): Medieval Melodies to Musical Theater (Learn More)

• Elementary A (Grades 3-5): Medieval to Modern (Learn More)

Print versions of Primary A and Elementary A will be available soon!

Upcoming courses will include additional courses for grades K-2 (Primary B) and grades 3-5 (Elementary B) as well as our first middle school curriculum (Intermediate 1). Head on over to the Music Comes Alive store and bring the joy of music to your homeschool today!

Shop Curriculum

Book Highlight: Beethoven and His Piano Builder

Introducing: What Music! The Fifty-Year Friendship between Beethoven and Nannette Streicher, Who Built His Pianos

(Written by Laurie Lawlor; Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander)

Did you know that the way Beethoven performed at the piano changed the way pianos are built? Enter the world of Ludwig van Beethoven with your children in What Music! The Fifty-Year Friendship between Beethoven and Nannette Streicher, Who Built His Pianos. Learn about Beethoven's rise to fame and descent into deafness and experience the joy of his triumphant Symphony No. 9 through the lens of his friendship with Nannette Streicher. An enduring friend whom Beethoven called "an uncommonly good influence" on his life, Striecher was an innovative piano builder. Her pianos, which were louder and sturdier than earlier instruments, were among Beethoven's favorites. With expressive text and lively illustrations, this book will immerse you and your child in the life and music of Beethoven.

What Music!, the book highlighted above, is used in our Elementary A curriculum for Grades 3-5. Featuring a compelling story and evocative illustrations, the book also contains informative author's notes about Beethoven, Nannette Streicher, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. What Music! is just one example of the many beautiful and informative books that make up the core of Music Comes Alive.

Wondering how to acquire the books for Music Comes Alive? Many of these books can be found through your local library system or through second-hand book stores/websites. For your convenience, we also sell the books for our curricula on our website. You can purchase them individually or as a course bundle.

Check out Elementary A: Medieval to Modern or Shop Elementary A (Grades 3-5)

Check out Primary A: Medieval Melodies to Musical Theater or Shop Primary A (Grades K-2)

Bring music to life at home with Music Comes Alive. Our easy-to-use, literature-based curriculum empowers YOU, the parent, to teach music in your homeschool!