Bringing music into your homeschool is one of the most rewarding choices you can make. But it’s also an area where parents sometimes feel uncertain. Over the years, I’ve noticed a few common mistakes families run into when teaching music at home. The good news is, each one has a simple solution.

Mistake #1: Thinking You Have to Be “Musical” First

Many parents assume they need to play an instrument or read music to teach it. In reality, music education goes far beyond performance. Listening, exploring patterns, learning history, and making connections to culture are just as important. And, as a teacher, you can do all these things - even if you don't have music training!

What to do instead: Focus on exposure and curiosity. Listen together, ask questions, and encourage reflection. This is one of those homeschool subjects where you can truly enjoy learning along with your kids. Your role is to guide discovery, not to perform.

Mistake #2: Treating Music as an “Extra”

It’s tempting to see music as optional, something to fit in only if time allows. But music develops creativity, empathy, critical thinking, and even supports learning in other subjects.

What to do instead: Schedule music as a regular part of your week, even if it's just short segments. Consistency matters more than length.

Mistake #3: Jumping Straight to Memorization

When music is reduced to facts—names, dates, definitions—it can feel dull and disconnected.

What to do instead: Begin with the experience. Ask your child how a piece makes them feel, or what story they imagine when listening. Build the facts and vocabulary after curiosity is sparked. And enjoy this! Talking about music has truly been one of my favorite ways to connect with my kids

Mistake #4: Only Emphasizing Instrument Study

Learning an instrument is a wonderful pursuit, but it’s not the only way to study music. For some families, focusing only on instruments can lead to frustration or missed opportunities.

What to do instead: Balance performance with understanding. If your child plays piano, connect the pieces they’re learning to what they know about the time period, or learn something about the composer’s story. And if your child doesn’t currently play an instrument, remember that music appreciation, history, and listening skills are equally valuable!

Mistake #5: Keeping Music in a Bubble

Music doesn’t exist in isolation. It has always been shaped by history, literature, art, and even science.

What to do instead: Connect music to what you’re already studying. Play Renaissance music during history lessons, or compare a poem to the lyrics of a song. Integrating music deepens learning across subjects.

Mistake #6: Forgetting to Enjoy the Process

When music becomes just another item on the checklist, it can lose its spark.

What to do instead: Approach music with curiosity and openness. Listen to something new together, share your honest reactions, and enjoy the process alongside your child.

Avoiding these common pitfalls makes music education more engaging and meaningful at home. You don’t need to be a musician, and you don’t need to aim for perfection—what matters most is creating opportunities for your child to connect with music in a lasting way.

Happy exploring!