Don't miss our 15% off curriculum sale! August 25 - September 1, 2026 It's time for our Back-to-School Curriculum Sale! All of our literature-based, open-and-go music appreciation curricula are available at 15% off for a limited time! The sale includes our digital bundles and print curriculum products for: Primary A: Medieval Melodies to Musical Theater (Recommended for Grades K-2) Elementary A: Medieval to Modern (Recommended for Grades 3-5) Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music (Recommended for Grades 6-8) Click on one of the curriculum images shown below to shop all products for that course. Our "Learn to Play" instrument sets are also included in this sale. Each "Learn to Play" instrument set comes with a method book, a "Learn to Play" guide, and an instrument. Click on each product below to learn more! If you have been interested in trying one of our curriculum programs, now is a great time! Soli Deo Gloria, Emma R. James, Ph.D Founder, Music Comes Alive New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

What is literature-based learning? And why use it for music? If you have been homeschooling for a while, you probably have a sense of what kind of curriculum works for you and your kids. If not, you might find the multitude of options a little bit overwhelming. Whether you prefer a traditional approach or unit studies, Charlotte Mason or classical education, unschooling or roadschooling, or some other approach, there is no one right way to homeschool. With that in mind, one of the reasons we love literature-based learning is it works very well with most other homeschooling styles. Read on to learn more about literature-based learning and why it is a great tool for teaching music appreciation! (For a helpful exploration of various homeschooling methods, see “10 Homeschool Methods Explained” over at Rebecca Devitt’s How Do I Homeschool blog.) What is literature-based learning? Literature-based learning has existed for centuries, long before such a term was invented. In the medieval period, monks copied and studied classic texts from ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. The Renaissance brought more widespread interest in studying classical texts, and until the mid-19th century, most wealthy and free citizens in the West and elsewhere were educated through great books. Such an approach emphasizes exposure to ideas, critical thinking, and an awareness that various subjects are interconnected. (Given this historical track record, literature is a foundational element of classical education.) As modern education drifted toward developing practical skills, memorizing facts, and learning separate subjects in specialized classes, textbooks became the norm. Reading literature became a skill to be learned instead of a method of learning. An influential figure who resisted the atomization of education was Charlotte Mason (1842-1923). She believed in spreading a feast of subjects before children, using “living books”—books that make the subject come alive—as the core approach to many of these subjects. Her approach has long appealed to homeschoolers who are looking for an alternative approach to traditional (modern) education. Literature-based homeschooling In the modern homeschooling world, Sonlight was the first major curriculum program to highlight literature-based learning. Other literature-based curricula followed, and today there are many options, including those which are Charlotte-Mason-inspired (Ambleside Online, Simply Charlotte Mason, Beautiful Feet Books, etc.) and those which are more Classical in emphasis (Classical Conversations, Veritas Press, Memoria Press, Tapestry of Grace, etc.). All literature-based curricula begin with living books—well-written, engaging stories that encourage thinking and feeling—so that learning becomes an adventure rather than a chore. Even when a literature-based curriculum includes books which are more informational, they are usually chosen because they are designed to awaken the imagination. Literature-based learning has been shown to have many benefits, bringing context and emotional connection to the topics your children are learning. When your children regularly listen to stories as you read aloud, they develop focus and listening skills. As they get older, listening to or reading well-crafted and engaging stories helps expand their imagination, leading to greater creativity, empathy, and even virtue. Academic benefits abound as well. Exposure to a variety of writing styles helps your child to develop an intuitive grasp of language and grammar and builds his or her vocabulary. In addition, children who learn through stories often show greater retention of the information they have learned. Best of all, literature-based learning helps you foster meaningful connections with your children as you learn together. Why use literature to learn music? Many parents find music appreciation a difficult subject to teach, unless they already know something about it. For this reason, music for many homeschooling families may be limited to instrument lessons (an essential part of music education, but incomplete on its own) or merely listening to music and calling it a day. So how does literature-based learning help? Teaching music with great literature takes most of the pressure off you, the parent, because books do the heavy lifting, introducing music in an engaging way. Great books bring to life stories about musicians and their music, and as you listen to the music by those musicians, the history and experience of music comes alive! (Whence comes the name for our curriculum!) Imagine reading a story about how Mozart heard a bird singing and was inspired to write a concerto, accompanied by beautiful pictures of Vienna. Or reading about how Billie Holiday’s dogs helped her conquer her fear of performing, pictured within the lively jazz scene. As you then listen to their music, it fits into a larger story, which makes the music more interesting to listen to and easier to remember. Even if you read about a musician and do not like his or her music, you can still appreciate where it came from and why it was written. Here at Music Comes Alive, we make it easy for you to teach music appreciation using literature. Our open-and-go scheduling and written-out lesson plans take the guesswork out of teaching, so you can learn right alongside your child. Our curricula also include guided listening assignments, informative lessons about music theory and various instruments, and fun, hands-on activities for a comprehensive music education (see Get Started for more information). But if you are not sure about committing to a curriculum right now, that’s okay! To begin teaching music appreciation at home, all you need is a good book about a musician (check your local library!) and access to the music. Just watch how the music comes alive! Soli Deo Gloria, Emma R. James, Ph.D Founder, Music Comes Alive New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

Check out our new middle school curriculum! In this newsletter: New Product: Intermediate 1 Curriculum for Middle School Free Sample: Intermediate 1 Sale: 20% off Intermediate 1 Curriculum Other News and Updates New Product: Intermediate 1 Curriculum for Middle School Designed to be completed independently by your student, Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music is a 36 week, literature-based, open-and-go middle school music appreciation curriculum. This course is both rigorous and fun, covering American popular music of the 20th and early 21st century (especially jazz), the science and history of recording, and introductory topics in music theory. With cross-disciplinary learning in history, science, and literature, this music appreciation course is one-of-a-kind! Visit the Intermediate 1 Course page to learn more about this fantastic new course for middle school. Free Sample: Intermediate 1 If you are interested in viewing a sample of Intermediate 1, you can download a sample PDF of the Curriculum Guide and Student Workbook pages below. This sample includes a course overview and sample pages from Week 3. Sale: 20% off Intermediate 1 Curriculum Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music is available for family use in both print and digital formats! For a limited time, Intermediate 1 is available at 20% off in both formats. The sale begins today, June 22, 2026, and ends on June 30, 2026. Learn more about the various formats of Intermediate 1 below: We also carry the complete Intermediate 1 Book Bundle at 15% off retail prices. Interested in using Intermediate 1 for a group? Visit our Groups page or contact us! Other News and Updates Primary B: Jumpin' Jazz to Hip Hop (Grades K-2) and Elementary B: Ragtime to Rap (Grades 3-5) are in the works! Make sure you are subscribed so you don't miss any new releases! Our existing curriculum prices are increasing at the end of June. Snag your curriculum before June 30 to make sure you get the best price! Looking to use a Music Comes Alive curriculum in a group setting? We offer group licensing options for co-ops, private schools, and other group settings. See our Groups page. We are delighted to offer Alfred Music products, especially the Alfred Premier Piano books. If you are looking for great piano resources, including lesson, theory, performance, and technique books, check out our Piano page. Soli Deo Gloria, Emma R. James, Ph.D Founder, Music Comes Alive New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

We're so excited to release our first middle school curriculum! In this newsletter: Release Date: Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music Learn more about Intermediate 1 Curriculum Topics covered in Intermediate 1 Books used in Intermediate 1 How does it work? Other News and Updates Release Date: Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music Friends, I am so excited to announce that we have a release date for Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music, our first middle school curriculum! Intermediate 1 releases on June 22, 2026. This curriculum is both rigorous and fun, covering American popular music (especially jazz), the science and history of recording, and introductory topics in music theory. Read on to learn more about this one-of-a-kind curriculum! We will be announcing a limited-time new product sale with the release of this curriculum. Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter so you don't miss any of our announcements and updates! Learn More About Intermediate 1 Curriculum Topics covered in Intermediate 1 History Lessons: Learn about American popular music during the 20th and early 21st centuries, focusing primarily on jazz and touching on other popular styles such as pop, rock, country, bluegrass, CCM (Christian Contemporary Music), and hip hop. Listening Assignments: The playlist for this course is carefully cultivated for a middle school audience. Each week's assignment illuminates the history lesson. Additional Bonus Tracks are also recommended for further exploration. Music Theory Lessons: Explore how music works, beginning with fundamental elements of music and proceeding to reading music (including rhythm, pitch, major & minor scales, key signatures, and more). No prior knowledge is required, but if your student already knows something about music, "Expert Challenges" are included on many Music Theory Worksheets to allow them to dive deeper. Literature Study: Explore the impact of music in a middle-grade novel to wrap up the year. Books used in Intermediate 1 The Science of Song: How and Why We Make Music by Allen Cross, Emme Cross & Nicole Mortillaro - Learn about the history of recording technologies and their impact on popular styles of music. A Child's Introduction to Jazz: The Musicians, Culture, and Roots of the World's Coolest Music by Jabari Asim - An engaging look at the history of jazz, packed with information about musicians from early jazz through the current day. DK's Help Your Kids with Music: A Unique Step-By-Step Visual Guide by Carol Vorderman - A visual guide to Music Theory, with colorful graphics and informative text. This course uses approximately one third of the book. Future courses (Intermediate 2 & 3) will use this book as well. Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia - A poignant coming-of-age story about a harmonica-playing boy, Clayton, who has one foot in the blues and another in hip hop. This book is used for a literature study at the end of the course. How does it work? Open-and-go & literature-based Internet-linked, with playlists on Spotify and YouTube and bonus internet content for most lessons Intended for the student to complete independently, but includes opportunities for parent/teacher engagement as desired Curriculum Guide contains scope & sequence, week-at-a-glance pages with scheduled assignments, and answer keys Student Workbook contains lessons, reading and listening questions, and music theory worksheets Scheduled for a full academic year (36 weeks) Takes approximately 40-60 minutes a week (at most) Weeks 1-33 take a three-topic format: History, Listening, and Music Theory Weeks 34-36 comprise a literature study of Clayton Byrd Goes Underground. These weeks use the following format: Story, Listening Want an inside look into Intermediate 1? Swipe below to see sample pages of the Curriculum Guide and Student Workbook from Week 3: "The Emergence of Recording Technology (1910s)." We are so excited to share this curriculum with you. As always, please feel free to reach out with additional questions at info@musiccomesalive.com or through our Contacts Form. Other News and Updates Stay tuned for a new product sale when Intermediate 1 releases on June 22! Primary B: Jumpin' Jazz to Hip Hop (Grades K-2) and Elementary B: Ragtime to Rap (Grades 3-5) are in the works! Make sure you are subscribed so you don't miss any new releases! Our existing curriculum prices are increasing at the end of June. Snag your curriculum before June 30 to make sure you get the best price! Looking to use a Music Comes Alive curriculum in a group setting? We offer group licensing options for co-ops, private schools, and other group settings. See our Groups page. We are delighted to offer Alfred Music products, especially the Alfred Premier Piano books. If you are looking for great piano resources, including lesson, theory, performance, and technique books, check out our Piano page. Soli Deo Gloria, Emma R. James, Ph.D Founder, Music Comes Alive 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

Read on to learn more about our new middle school course. In this newsletter: Coming Soon: Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music Other News and Updates Coming Soon: Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music We are so excited to announce the upcoming release of our first middle school curriculum, designed for grades 6-8. Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music covers twentieth and twenty-first century American popular music, with an emphasis on the history of jazz and the history of recording technologies. This course also includes an introduction to music theory. Like all of our music appreciation curriculum offerings, our Intermediate 1 curriculum is literature-based. Weeks 1-33 each feature a history reading, a listening assignment, and a theory lesson. A Child's Introduction to Jazz and The Science of Song provide the basis for the history lessons, and Help Your Kids with Music is the music theory spine. Bonus internet content and bonus listening tracks give your student opportunities to go deeper. During Weeks 34-36 your student will read the story Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, which integrates themes from the rest of the course, including the blues, hip hop, and instruments such as the electric guitar and the harmonica. As is the case with the history lessons in Weeks 1-33, listening assignments accompany each reading assignment. Intermediate 1 is designed to be completed independently by the student, with opportunities for parent/teacher engagement as desired. In this course, the Student Workbook contains the instructional text for each lesson. History and listening assignments include questions which can be used for discussion or for written answers, and engaging music theory worksheets help your student put into practice their new music theory knowledge. This course does not require previous musical knowledge, but you will find "Expert Challenges" included on many of the music theory worksheets for students who have some prior experience. The Curriculum Guide for this course contains the scope & sequence, schedule, and answer keys. Intermediate 1 will be released in June, so stay tuned for the release date! Other News and Updates Primary B: Jumpin' Jazz to Hip Hop (Grades K-2) and Elementary B: Ragtime to Rap (Grades 3-5) are in the works! Make sure you are subscribed so you don't miss any new releases! Our existing curriculum prices are increasing at the end of June. Snag your curriculum before June 30 to make sure you get the best price! Looking to use Music Comes Alive curricula in a group? We offer group licensing options for co-ops, private schools, and other group settings. See our Groups page. We are delighted to offer Alfred Music products, especially the Alfred Premier Piano books. If you are looking for great piano resources, including lesson, theory, performance, and technique books, check out our Piano page. 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

Enjoy 20% Off for a Limited Time In this newsletter: Introducing: The "Learn to Play Ukulele" set Why Choose "Learn to Play Ukulele" High-Quality student ukulele included Limited Time Discount Learn to the play the ukulele and bring the joy of music to your homeschool! Here at Music Comes Alive, we aim to support a well-rounded music education for homeschooling families and groups. In addition to our music appreciation curricula, we offer multiple "Learn to Play" sets, to make it easy to add learning an instrument to your homeschool music journey. Our new "Learn to Play Ukulele" set (Grades K+) joins our "Learn to Play Boomwhackers®" set (Grades K+) and our "Learn to Play Recorder" set (Grades 3+). If you have wanted your child to learn an instrument but felt overwhelmed by finding a teacher or purchasing expensive instruments, the ukulele might be the perfect choice for your child. It is small, easy to handle, and produces a bright, cheerful sound that lifts the spirit. Now, with the "Learn to Play Ukulele" set, starting your child's musical journey has never been easier or more enjoyable. Deluxe Soprano Ukulele ready for beginners to start playing joyful tunes Why Choose the "Learn to Play Ukulele" Set? Learning a new instrument can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t have a musical background. The "Learn to Play Ukulele" set is designed to remove those barriers. It uses an easy-to-follow method book that guides you step-by-step through the basics. This approach is perfect for beginners and parents who want to help their children learn without needing prior musical training. "Learn to Play Ukulele" Set The set includes: Deluxe Soprano Ukulele with Deluxe Bag Alfred’s Kid’s Ukulele Course Complete: The Easiest Ukulele Method Ever! Introduction & Two-Year Schedule (68 Weeks) BONUS: Christmas Ukulele Tunes The course breaks down chords, strumming patterns, and simple songs into manageable lessons. In addition, Music Comes Alive's introduction helps you get started and our two-year schedule helps you stay on track. You and your child won’t feel lost or overwhelmed. Instead, your child will build confidence as he or she progresses, making the learning process fun and rewarding. Alfred's Kid's Ukulele Course Complete (Alfred Music) The skills taught in this course will lay an excellent foundation for continued musical learning. High-Quality Student Ukulele Included One of the best parts of this course is that it comes with a high-quality student instrument. The Deluxe Soprano Ukulele by Rhythm Band Instruments is included, ensuring you have a reliable and well-made ukulele to practice on. This means you don’t have to worry about finding the right instrument separately or settling for a low-quality one that might discourage you. We have tested this ukulele, and we confirmed that it holds its tuning well and has a pleasant tone! Our set also includes a padded bag for the ukulele, making it easy to transport safely. Deluxe Soprano Ukulele & Deluxe Bag (Rhythm Band Instruments) The soprano size is ideal for beginners because it is lightweight and easy to hold. It produces a clear, bright sound that makes playing music a joyful experience. Having a good instrument from the start helps you develop proper technique and enjoy your practice sessions more. Take Advantage of the Limited-Time Offer To make this opportunity even better, there is a 20% discount on the "Learn to Play Ukulele" set. This offer is valid until January 31, 2026 . It’s a perfect chance to invest in your child’s musical journey. Starting now means you can enjoy the benefits of music throughout the year. Don’t wait too long because this special price won’t last forever. How to Get Started Getting started is simple. Visit Learn to Play Ukulele to learn more about the course and place your order. If you want to learn more about the instrument or the method book included, check out the Deluxe Soprano Ukulele and Alfred's Kid's Ukulele Course Complete . Once you receive your set, you can begin right away. The method book will guide you and your child through each step, and the quality ukulele will make practicing a pleasure. You don’t need any previous experience or special skills—just a willingness to have fun and learn. Start Your Musical Journey Today Music has the power to brighten your days and calm your mind. The "Learn to Play Ukulele" set offers a simple, enjoyable way to add an instrument to your homeschool. With a clear method book, a quality instrument, and a supportive learning path, your child can start playing beautiful music quickly. 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

Teach Them Diligently's Homeschool Family Favorites Poll 2025-2026 Hello friends! If you are one of our customers, we hope you are enjoying your Music Comes Alive curriculum! If you haven't yet tried one of our curriculum options, we'd encourage you to give it a go or let us know what you'd like to see! Today, we're asking if you can help us get the word out about Music Comes Alive by responding to Teach Them Diligently’s Homeschool Family Favorite’s poll! Help other homeschool families find us through Teach Them Diligently's Homeschool Family Favorites Guide! To participate in the poll, click on the image above or go to https://teachthemdiligently.net/homeschool-family-favorite-survey/ We'd appreciate it if you mention Music Comes Alive curriculum as one of your family favorites! You could put us in the "Other" space under Art curriculum or another related category. If enough people mention us, we’ll be included in the 2025-2026 downloadable Curriculum Guide that Teach Them Diligently puts out to thousands of homeschool families! Responses are due by December 12, 2025. As a small business in the curriculum world, getting the word out is the hardest part. Thank you so much for your support! 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

In this email: Learn to Play Recorder Sale (10% off Learn to Play sets) Exciting Announcements Our Learn to Play sets make it easy to add learning an instrument to your homeschool! Here at Music Comes Alive, we aim to support a well-rounded music education for homeschooling families and groups. Our comprehensive and exciting music appreciation curricula cover many important aspects of music, including listening to music and learning about composers, styles, instrument families, and music theory. However, a comprehensive music education includes learning an instrument! In addition to our "Learn to Play Boomwhackers®" set, we are excited to announce our new "Learn to Play Recorder" set, recommended for Grades 3 and up. Learn to Play Recorder In this Learn to Play set, we include a booklet with an Introduction that provides helpful tips on how to use the Learn to Play set, as well as a One-Year Schedule and Two-Year Schedule to make it easy to stay on track. The One-Year Schedule takes 34 weeks, and the Two-Year Schedule takes 68 weeks. Choose the schedule that best suits your family. This set also includes the Aulos 3-Piece Student Soprano Recorder , which is a superior student instrument that makes it easier to play high and low notes. It also has a comfortably placed sound hole for the right-hand little finger and a convenient adjustable thumb rest.  We selected Recorder for Beginners by Susan Lowenkron because it is designed as an independent study for learning the recorder, meaning that the author does not assume the student (or parent) has prior musical knowledge. This book presents each note-reading concept in a step-by-step manner and carefully explains basic recorder techniques. An included CD contains tracks for the exercises and songs. Whether you are teaching at home or in a group setting, complement any of our Music Comes Alive Primary and/or Elementary music appreciation curricula with one of our Learn to Play sets. SALE: 10% off For a limited time, Learn to Play sets are 10% off. Ready to start learning how to play the recorder or Boomwhackers®? Check out the product listings below. Questions? Contact us at info@musiccomesalive.com   or our Contact  page. Want to be the first to hear when our "Learn to Play Ukulele" set or new curriculum drops? Subscribe below or check back here ! Exciting Announcements! We have added a Groups page to the website! If you are interested in using our Primary A or Elementary A curriculum in a group setting, this page is a great place to start! We are now carrying Alfred Music products, including Alfred Essentials of Music Theory (Self-Study) . This is an excellent independent study resource for advanced middle schoolers or high schoolers who have taken or are taking music lessons. Our first middle school music curriculum is nearly ready. We can't wait to share Intermediate 1: Jazz and the Rise of Recorded Music with all of you! Stay tuned so you don't miss it! 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

If you have been thinking about purchasing one of our music appreciation curriculum programs, now is a great time! Our 15% off back-to-school sale ends at midnight tomorrow, so don't wait! 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 appreciation to your homeschool! Shop our sale: 15% off print & digital curriculum products! Choose your music appreciation program today and bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

Did you miss our booth at the 2025 Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania Convention? Here's how it went. We had a wonderful time at the CHAP convention meeting new people and talking with homeschool families about our music appreciation curriculum and all things homeschool! We took the whole family, and the kids had a great time meeting other homeschool families and seeing all the exciting booths. A special shout out to our daughter, Lydia, who made sure attendees and vendors alike knew about our booth (see photos below). Attendees loved our Music Appreciation Curriculum My favorite part of the convention was the opportunity to walk homeschool parents through our homeschool curriculum options. "This feels so doable!" ~ (CHAP Attendee) Since we were toward the back of the vendor hall, by the time attendees reach our booth, they often seemed a bit overwhelmed from perusing all the choices. But when I walked parents through either the Elementary A or the Primary A curriculum, nearly everyone I spoke with brightened up and said something like "I could see myself doing this," or "I was told I really needed to add music to my homeschool but I didn't know how; this feels so doable!" or simply, "This is so cool! I'm glad you created this." A fellow music vendor complimented us, saying, "This is the real deal!" And one of our favorite comments was from one of our last customers of the convention: "This is the best curriculum I found here!" "This is the best curriculum I found here!" ~ (CHAP Attendee) Of course there were many other wonderful curriculum choices at the convention, but we were so happy to be able to meet this customer's needs by providing an easy, once-a-week, open-and-go music appreciation curriculum that harnesses the power of great books to make music come alive. Questions We Heard at CHAP We heard a number of questions at CHAP that we thought others might share. Click each question to see the answer below! Q: Do Primary A and Elementary A cover the same topics, just at different levels? A: Primary A and Elementary A are complementary curricula, covering many of the same musicians, should you wish to use both curricula with a larger range of ages in your family. However, the fundamentals, instruments, and activity lessons are mostly different, with a little overlap on the last activity of the year. Q: Does Elementary A require Primary A as a pre-requisite? A: No, all of our Primary and Elementary offerings are meant to stand alone, assuming minimal to no experience with music. The topics covered in the primary levels are simpler, especially in the fundamentals lessons, and the Elementary lessons move faster and in more detail, but both start by assuming the student (and parent!) may possibly know nothing about music. Q: How strict are the recommended grade ranges? Do I have to purchase both curricula if I have students in both age ranges, such as a Kindergartner and a 3rd grader? A: You do not have to buy both! You can choose one that feels like the best fit, and modify the activity sheets up or down if necessary for your student(s) outside the recommended grade range. Primary A is recommended for  grades K-2 and Elementary A is recommended for grades 3-5, but there is some flexibility to those recommendations. At the co-op where I (Emma) teach, I have used Primary A up to 3rd grade and Elementary A up to 6th grade. The biggest differences are the picture books and the level of work expected in the Activity Pack. The books in Primary A are mostly aimed at a slightly younger audience than the books in Elementary A. The Primary A Activity Pack features traceable letters, matching, easy labeling, coloring, and other similar activities. The Elementary A Activity Pack features more writing, with fill-in-the-blank answers and more involved labeling activities. To choose the curriculum that's right for your family, I recommend parents look at our free one-month samples. Q: Do you have a group rate for co-ops? A: If you are interested in using our curriculum in a group setting such as a school or co-op, we offer group pricing for groups with 15 or more students using a curriculum. We are also developing a studio pricing rate for use in private music studios or studio-based music programs. If you are interested in using our curriculum in either kind of group setting, please reach out to us! If you have been on the fence about purchasing one of our curriculum programs, this is a great time to try it! It was exciting to see the variety of other vendors, including some of the familiar big name curriculum and book sellers, as well as some lesser known small businesses with great offerings. We enjoyed getting to know our neighbor booths, STOA  and Elizabethtown College  (who hosted the convention). Our children spent a lot of time at author Willamette Sutta's booth, spinning her prize wheel and learning about her fantasy series, Air of Another . We met two other music vendors at CHAP, both of which offer virtual lessons (as well as local in-person lessons), so if you are looking for something like that, check out: Cadence Music & Arts Program Distinctive Music Studios And since we are passionate about including all the arts in homeschooling, we loved seeing great options for homeschool art: Serena's Clever Critters Made to Be a Kid Drawing Excellence It was great to connect with other vendors and attendees alike, and we look forward to hopefully attending next year's CHAP convention! New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

New "Learn to Play" sets add instruments to our music appreciation curriculum! Here at Music Comes Alive, we aim to support a well-rounded music education for homeschooling families and groups. Our comprehensive and exciting music appreciation curricula cover many important aspects of music, including listening to music and learning about composers, styles, instrument families, and music theory. Now you can add learning an instrument to complete your music education program with our new "Learn to Play Boomwhackers®" set! "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on Boomwhackers® by real homeschool kids! Complement any of our Music Comes Alive Primary and/or Elementary music appreciation curricula with Learn to Play Boomwhackers® (Set 1) , recommended for Grades K-3 but suitable for all elementary ages. This set includes everything you need to begin learning how to play Boomwhackers®, including the Boomwhackers® C Major Diatonic Set with 8 Octavator Caps and Boom-a-Tunes Curriculum, Volume 1: Grades K-3 . We also include an Introduction & One-Year Schedule , as well as BONUS Christmas and Spring Rhythm Tube Tunes . What's Included in Learn to Play Boomwhackers® (Set 1)? Boomwhackers® C Major Diatonic Set with 8 Octavator Caps (Rhythm Band Instruments) Boomwhackers® are pitched rhythm tubes that are easy to play. Simply “whack" the tube against your hand, your knee, the table, the floor, etc. Fun to use, and easy to play, Boomwhackers® are a great first instrument for teaching a child to read music. They are also excellent resources for classroom or homeschool co-op use. The Boomwhackers® C Major Diatonic Set with 8 Octavator Caps includes the eight notes of the C major scale, from middle C to treble C. When used, the Octavator caps make each tube sound one octave (8 notes) lower. Boom-a-Tunes Curriculum, Volume 1: Grades K-3 Curriculum for Boomwhackers® Musical Tubes by Ellen Foncannon Boom-A-Tunes, Vol. 1 is the first book in the Boom-A-Tunes curriculum for Boomwhackers®, which is designed for a classroom context. This volume is easily adaptable for home use, with individual lessons teaching each line and space note on the Treble Clef staff. This volume is designed to be used with the Boomwhackers® C Major Diatonic set. It is also compatible with the Boomwhackers® C Major Diatonic set with 8 Octavator Caps. From the publisher: Boom-a-tunes is a sequential method for teaching music reading. Vol.1 begins with C Major Diatonic and introduces students to treble clef. The lyrics teach the notes and integrate singing and playing to involve the entire class. 20 Lessons, Grades K-3. Introduction & One-Year Schedule By Music Comes Alive In this Learn to Play set, we include an Introduction that provides helpful tips on how to use the Learn to Play set, as well as a One-Year Schedule to make it easy to stay on track. The One-Year Schedule is structured in a similar way to our Primary and Elementary curricula. The schedule follows a 34 week schedule, with two December weeks intended to be used whenever you reach the beginning of December (Weeks 13 & 14, labeled DEC in the Month column). Ready to start learning Boomwhackers®? Check out the product listing below. Questions? Contact us at info@musiccomesalive.com or our Contact page. Want to be the first to hear when our "Learn to Play Recorder" and "Learn to Play Ukulele" sets drop? Subscribe below or check back here ! 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! Check out all of our homeschool music curriculum products! New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!

Today is the last day to get 10% off our homeschool music curriculum products! It's the last day of our Flash Sale! Get 10% off any of our curriculum products before the sale ends! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool with our print or digital format curriculum. Check out Primary A for grades K-2 and Elementary A for grades 3-5. And if you are looking for the books that go with our courses, check out our book bundles, which are always 15% off retail! No code necessary. Discount will be applied automatically at checkout. Interested in our book bundles for Primary A and Elementary A? Our literature-based music appreciation courses feature engaging literature to help bring music to life! Find out more about our curriculum offerings at our Get Started page or our FAQ page! Check out all our homeschool curriculum products: 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! New to Music Comes Alive? Don't miss out on future updates and sales! Subscribe to our newsletter today! Bring the joy of music to your homeschool!