Through the lens of ancient Greece, learning mousikē—art of the Muses.
A Homeschool Music Curriculum Rooted in Beauty
Grades 1—6
An integrated study of music as the thread connecting poetry and song, science and sound, mathematics and patterns, history and art across cultures and centuries.
33 weeks • Multi-age Grades 1—6 •
Digital Curriculum + Digital Library
One big idea of all that music is, in one book.
Music was never meant to be extra.
In ancient Greece it was unimaginable to learn music without learning poetry, learn history without song and to study astronomy without acknowledging the mathematical harmony of the universe. It was not an extra. Music belonged to the formation of the whole person—and thereby of civilization itself.
Living with the Muses is a return to the ancient breadth and scope of mousikē—music as all the arts, and all the arts as music.
Living with the Muses
Three Governing Principles of
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Returning to ideas leads to seeing them anew and developing a lasting understanding. Musicians and artists instinctively understand this. A pianist will return to the same Bach prelude throughout a lifetime. An artist will paint the same subject over and over. To gain depth in a subject it requires returning and seeing it anew. For this reason, this curriculum is organized as a three-volume course of study designed to be revisited throughout the elementary years.
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Throughout this curriculum, children are asked to respond to what they encounter by writing, drawing, composing, singing, observing and reflecting. These are not activities added after learning, but part of the learning itself. The notebooks children fill will be a visible record of understanding taking root, careful and thoughtful reflection and of beautiful work.
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The purpose of education is not merely to instill knowledge but to shape affection. Children seldom develop lasting affection for what remains unfamiliar. They come to love what they know well, and they come to know well what they encounter often and in many different ways.
What Children Actually Learn
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Musical Literacy
Rhythm • notation • solfège • Kodály hand signs • meter • melody • form
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Musical Formation
Great works • composer study • attentive listening • style • history • musical vocabulary
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Song, Poetry & Art
Folk song • poetry • visual art • memory • cultural context
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Creative Musicianship
Singing • movement • composition • improvisation • creative response
Theory Learned Through Great Works
Many music curricula separate music theory into its own subject. In Living with the Muses, theory grows out of the music itself. Children first hear and notice musical ideas in great works of music, then learn to name, record and use them in their composing and creative work.
Hear it. Notice it. Name it. Use it.
A Year of Music,
From Bach to Jazz
33 weeks of music, theory, art,
poetry, song and creating.
Bach • Mozart • Christmas • Tchaikovsky • Debussy • Introduction to Jazz
Digital Library
Curated Playlists • Art Gallery • Composer Portraits • Book List & Reading Guide • Materials & Supplies • Demonstrations • Individual Unit Libraries • Additional Sheet Music • Music Enrichment
Inside the Curriculum
Veronica walks you through a typical week inside Living with the Muses.
Living with the Muses, Volume I
Living with the Muses, Volume I
A homeschool music curriculum that spans 33 weeks from Baroque to Jazz, inspired by the ancient idea of mousikē. Volume I, of a three-year cycle, weaves great music, poetry, art, song, notebooking and music theory together so children come to know music as part of a larger world of beauty, history and ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plan for two lessons per week, approximately 20-30 minutes each. Some weeks may take longer depending on notebooking, discussion and creative work. Poetry recitation and singing can be woven into your daily rhythm for just a few minutes each day.
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No musical background is required. The curriculum is designed so families can begin wherever they are, from complete beginners to more experienced musicians. Tiered prompts and flexible activities allow each child to engage at an appropriate level.
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A pitched instrument is helpful, but not required. A pitch pipe is recommended for providing starting pitches to help sing in tune. Audio demonstrations are provided for weekly singing and rhythm examples, as well as Song Study melodies. Optional music bells sheet music is provided.
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Living with the Muses does not remove sacred material from the history of music and art. Students study works such as Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Michelangelo’s Pietà, Nativity art and sacred Christmas music because they are central to the artistic and cultural tradition being explored. Christian symbolism and sacred themes are discussed as part of understanding the works themselves. Families should be comfortable engaging thoughtfully with this material.
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The curriculum is designed to be printed on standard 8.5 × 11” paper. You may print the full curriculum at home or through a local or online printer and request spiral binding. The composer portraits are separate printable files and are best printed on cardstock for durability and display.
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A curated book list accompanies the curriculum. It is recommended to get at least one or two books per unit to get the most of the curriculum. Many of the books can be reserved through your local library.
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A professionally printed edition is planned for 2027 to coincide with the release of Volume II. The current digital edition is the complete curriculum and is designed for easy printing.
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After purchasing Living with the Muses, you will have access to the full Digital Library for life. There are no subscriptions or renewals.
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Yes, with the appropriate group license. A standard purchase includes a family-use license for children within one household. Use in a homeschool co-op, private school or other group setting requires a separate group license. Please contact me for pricing.