*This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase products through using the link, I will receive a small commission from the sale, at no additional cost to you.*
By this time I have met all sorts of effective homeschooling moms. A “typical” homeschool day looks different for each of us. Some are the extreme creative types, effortlessly making every subject fun for their kids. Others with a science background can turn even normal household activities into an experiment. Some stress about teaching math. Or language arts. Or foreign language. Me? None of those core subjects has bothered me.
My Stressing Point
Instead, I have stressed about adding in the so-called “extras,” namely art and music. I am not very artsy and not very musical. But neither have I wanted my kids to be short-changed in these areas at all. Both my kids, in fact, love to draw and thrive on art (shout out to Damien’s DNA here).
We enrolled in piano lessons, but it didn’t feel like quite enough music for me. I wanted the kids to know about the great musicians themselves, the details of their lives. The library, of course, contained excellent books. YouTube provided us a free streaming of any masterpiece we wanted to listen to. All of that was (and is) great, but it still didn’t quite fully hit the mark.
Maestro Classics: Homeschool Music Appreciation Done Just Right
Then a few years ago we discovered Maestro Classics classical music CDs for kids. I am so glad I did! Maestro Classics CDs seamlessly weave together both wonderful, timeless music, and engaging stories about the composers’ lives. Maestro Classics delightfully provides the whole musical package to kids of all ages and adults alike.
I don’t even think I could pick my favorite if I tried. My 9-year-old wanted to listen to Peter & the Wolf again and again in the car. Damien and I sat mesmerized on our couch once listening to the soaring sounds of Handel’s Water Music in My Name is Handel. We pull out The Nutcracker every year at Christmas. My kids laughed like crazy at the ridiculously lovable story told in Juanita, the Spanish Lobster. And on. And on.
These aren’t the type of CDs you would listen to only once. Instead, I have found that we get more out of them each time we listen to one of our old favorites. The kids remember more about the composers’ lives and begin to recall the musical terms and other educational tidbits the talented narrator provides along the way.
What to Expect As You Listen to Maestro Classics
Each CD story is arranged in an effective way. Usually the narrator will provide a short introduction. Then the action moves to the main story itself, taking up the major part of the total playing time. After that the narrator will return with more fun facts about the composer’s life or in other ways add context to the story. This section is often followed by a bonus track with another song having something to do with the main story.
For instance, The Tortoise and the Hare included a fun French song as a French café had been part of the original story of the famous race. Peter & the Wolf included a super catchy Russian tune as the tale takes place in Russia. We love the international flavor and context Maestro Classics CDs provide.
Usually toward the end each CD will return to the original piece and play it once more, this time without any narration. A few of the CDs include a game or another quick fun thing for the kids to do. The total running time of each CD is about one hour, give or take.
A Convenient Homeschool Music Curriculum
Maestro Classics makes it easy to do “school” while in the car or even on vacation. And for me, a non-musical mom, they make my job of incorporating the beauty of music appreciation into our homeschool day a whole lot easier. Reasonably priced, they are very worth the long-term investment. Each CD is sold individually or in a discounted bundle.
Visit the link below to add Maestro Classics to your homeschool music program:
https://therhythmsofrain.com/maestroclassics
Happy listening! What has been your all-time favorite Maestro Classics CD? Comment below and share/repin!
