Arts & music
Art and music often get squeezed out of a packed homeschool week. The programs below make it easy to add a short, enjoyable lesson — from self-paced online art classes to family-style music appreciation — without needing to be an expert yourself.
6 art options
Online classes and printable resources that build real art skills. Descriptions are general summaries; pricing is approximate and changes often — always confirm on the provider's site before purchasing.
Online art lessons
Whimsical, heart-centered online art classes that blend technique with self-expression and creativity prompts. Short video lessons walk kids through projects using common supplies, with a gentle, encouraging tone.
Best for: Families wanting a relaxed, creativity-first art class kids can do independently
Visit the program siteSubscription art curriculum
A subscription art platform that ties each project to a topic across history, science, or culture, so art doubles as a cross-curricular activity. Step-by-step video tutorials and printable supply lists for every lesson.
Best for: Families who want art to reinforce other subjects, not stand alone
Visit the program siteOn-demand video art lessons
A library of hundreds of short, self-paced video art lessons across drawing, painting, and mixed media, taught by working artists. Track progress and jump into any project that catches your child's interest.
Best for: Self-directed kids who like browsing and choosing their own projects
Visit the program siteOnline art tutorials
Approachable, technique-building video art courses led by artist Mandy Maltz. Lessons focus on foundational skills like drawing and watercolor, with clear demonstrations a beginner can follow at home.
Best for: Older beginners who want to build real drawing and painting fundamentals
Visit the program siteLive + recorded art classes
Friendly online art classes combining live sessions with a recorded library. Projects use basic supplies and cover drawing, painting, and seasonal crafts, with a warm, low-pressure teaching style.
Best for: Kids who benefit from a live teacher and a regular weekly routine
Visit the program sitePrintable art & craft resources
A long-running blog and resource hub full of free craft printables, process-art prompts, and themed art activities. Premium packs bundle seasonal and topic-based projects you can print and do at home.
Best for: Families with young kids who want low-cost, parent-led crafts
Visit the program site8 music options
From composer study and theory to first listening habits — these programs make music appreciation doable for a non-musical parent. Confirm pricing and details with each provider.
Online music courses
A broad catalog of self-paced online music appreciation and theory courses from a veteran homeschool music teacher. Courses range from preschool music to high school composers, with lessons you can fit in any week.
Best for: Families wanting a full, flexible music appreciation plan for any age
Visit the program siteSubscription music curriculum
A structured online music curriculum built for elementary and middle grades. Lessons cover instruments, composers, rhythm, and basic theory with short videos and simple activities, little prior music knowledge needed.
Best for: Parents without a music background who want a ready-to-teach plan
Visit the program sitePrint + audio course
From The Good and the Beautiful, these family-style music appreciation courses pair a colorful book with curated listening. Each unit explores a composer and style, with optional written activities and a gentle, values-based tone.
Best for: Families who want a clean, family-style music appreciation course
Visit the program siteBook + activity workbook
A popular elementary music appreciation program built around biographies of seven great composers, with a companion activity book of maps, puzzles, and listening lessons. Engaging and easy for a non-musical parent to teach.
Best for: Elementary families who want composer study with hands-on activities
Visit the program siteOnline music lessons
An interactive online music program that introduces young children to rhythm, melody, and instruments through movement, games, and short videos. Designed to be active and playful rather than sit-and-listen.
Best for: Young, wiggly kids who learn best through movement and play
Visit the program sitePrintable notebooking pages
A vast library of printable notebooking pages covering hundreds of topics, including music and composer studies. Pair the pages with any music listening or history spine to have kids record what they learn in their own words.
Best for: Families who already notebook and want ready-made pages for music study
Visit the program siteLiterature-based unit study
A beloved unit study built around the Little House on the Prairie books, covering history, science, and — naturally — the music, singing, and fiddle tunes woven through the stories. A cozy, literature-rich approach.
Best for: Read-aloud families who want music as part of a living-books unit study
Visit the program siteBook + audio intro course
A gentle, child-friendly first music course that introduces the instruments of the orchestra, basic musical terms, and listening habits through stories and audio. A welcoming on-ramp for families brand-new to formal music study.
Best for: Families wanting a simple, low-key first music appreciation course
Visit the program sitePair these enrichment options with a full curriculum, or pick single-subject programs for the core academics.
These listings are independent editorial reviews. Prices and details are approximate and may change — confirm them on each publisher's own website. Homeschooling Smart does not sell, resell, or take orders for any of these third-party programs; links go to the publishers, who handle their own sales. The only products sold on this site are our own digital downloads and tools, listed in the Shop.