The Best Homeschool Art & Music Curriculum for Every Age in 2026

Why Art and Music Matter in Your Homeschool

Art and music aren't extras — they're core subjects that develop creativity, fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and emotional intelligence. Research consistently shows that students who engage with the arts perform better across all academic areas. For homeschoolers, art and music also provide welcome variety in the daily routine and opportunities for self-expression that build confidence.

The good news? You don't need to be an artist or musician yourself to teach these subjects effectively. From structured curricula to free online resources, there are excellent options for every age, budget, and teaching style.

Best Art & Music for Preschool and Kindergarten (Ages 3–6)

Young children learn through play, exploration, and sensory experiences. At this age, focus on process over product — let them experiment with materials and sounds without worrying about technique.

Art for Little Ones

KinderArt offers free, age-appropriate art lesson plans organized by grade level, including dedicated preschool lessons and primary school plans. These are simple projects using common household supplies — perfect for busy homeschool parents.

Osmo Masterpiece takes a tech-forward approach, using a tablet camera to help kids trace and draw real objects and photos. It bridges the gap between digital play and hands-on art skills, and works well for kids who are already comfortable with screens.

Draw Paint Print like the Great Artists by Marion Deuchars is an activity book that introduces famous artists and their techniques through hands-on projects. It spans elementary ages too, growing with your child.

Music for Little Ones

123 Kids Fun Music is an app that introduces preschoolers to instruments, sounds, and basic rhythm through colorful games. No reading required.

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin and M is for Melody are picture books that introduce musical concepts and instrument families through story and rhyme. Read-aloud favorites in many homeschool households.

Can You Hear It? pairs classical music pieces with artwork from the Metropolitan Museum — a wonderful introduction to both art appreciation and music listening for ages 4 and up.

Best Art & Music for Elementary (Grades 1–5)

Elementary is the perfect time to build foundational skills in both art technique and music literacy. Children this age are ready for more structured instruction while still being enthusiastic experimenters.

Art for Elementary

KinderArt Elementary Lessons provides project-based lessons organized by technique (drawing, painting, sculpture, collage) with clear instructions any parent can follow.

BrainPOP Jr. Arts & Technology (grades K–3) and BrainPOP Arts & Music (grades 3–8) offer animated lessons on art concepts, famous artists, and music fundamentals. The short video format works well for homeschoolers who like multimedia learning.

Nasco Elementary Student Art Kit includes 12 project guides with all necessary supplies — a convenient all-in-one option if you want a structured art curriculum without hunting for materials.

Music for Elementary

The Batsford Book of Music for Children is a comprehensive introduction to music concepts, instruments, and composers designed for independent reading at the elementary level.

Chords For Kids makes guitar and keyboard accessible for young beginners with large, easy-to-read chord diagrams. If your child is showing interest in learning an instrument, this is an excellent entry point.

Khan Academy Music covers music basics including rhythm, pitch, and music notation through their signature style of short videos and practice exercises. Free and self-paced.

Best Art & Music for Middle School (Grades 6–8)

Middle schoolers are ready for more sophisticated technique, art history context, and music theory. This is also the age when many students discover a particular passion — drawing, digital art, guitar, composition — that they want to pursue more deeply.

Art for Middle School

KinderArt Middle School Lessons offers age-appropriate projects that challenge students with new techniques while still being achievable.

Drawspace provides structured drawing courses from beginner to advanced. Their self-paced format lets students progress at their own speed, and the results are genuinely impressive even for beginners.

Getty Games from the Getty Museum makes art history interactive through puzzles and creative challenges using real masterworks from the collection.

Draw Paint Print like the Great Artists also works beautifully at this level, as students can execute the techniques with greater sophistication.

Music for Middle School

Dave Conservatoire is a free online music school offering video lessons in music theory, ear training, and composition. It's structured like a proper course but completely self-directed.

Music Theory & Piano Lessons from Furmanczyk Academy offers a comprehensive, free video series that takes students from absolute beginner through advanced theory while learning piano.

Khan Academy Music deepens at this level, covering music notation, composition basics, and the physics of sound.

Best Art & Music for High School (Grades 9–12)

High schoolers may be pursuing art or music for personal enrichment, college preparation (including AP Art History), or career exploration. The resources below range from rigorous academic courses to creative skill-building.

Art for High School

Khan Academy AP Art History is a comprehensive, free course covering the entire AP Art History curriculum — from ancient Mediterranean through global contemporary art. Excellent college prep whether or not the student plans to take the AP exam.

Khan Academy Art History offers broader art history coverage organized by period and region, perfect for students who want depth without the AP exam structure.

History of Graphic Design from California Institute of the Arts connects art history to modern visual culture — particularly engaging for teens interested in design careers.

Drawspace continues to be excellent at the high school level, with advanced courses in figure drawing, perspective, and portraiture.

Learn & Master Painting with Gayle Levée provides structured, DVD-based painting instruction that takes students from beginner through advanced techniques.

Music for High School

Fundamentals of Music Theory from the University of Edinburgh (on Coursera) is a rigorous, college-level course that builds comprehensive theory knowledge. Free to audit.

Introduction to Classical Music from Yale University provides an outstanding survey of Western classical music — the same course taught to Yale undergraduates, available free online.

Listening to Music with Craig Wright is another Yale offering that deepens music appreciation through focused listening exercises and cultural context.

Creating Synthesizer Sounds from Berklee is perfect for teens interested in electronic music production — a hands-on, project-based introduction from one of the world's top music schools.

Free and Budget-Friendly Options

You don't need an expensive curriculum to teach art and music well:

Completely free: Khan Academy (art history + music), KinderArt (art lessons), Dave Conservatoire (music theory), Drawspace (drawing basics), Music Theory & Piano (Furmanczyk Academy)

Free to audit: Yale's classical music courses, Edinburgh's music theory, Berklee's electronic music

Budget picks: Picture books for young learners ($8–15 each), Chords For Kids ($12), BrainPOP subscription (covers art, music, and every other subject)

How to Choose the Right Art & Music Curriculum

Consider these factors when selecting resources:

Your child's interests: Let them gravitate toward what excites them. A child drawn to rhythm might thrive with drum lessons rather than piano. A child who loves stories might prefer art history over technique drills.

Your teaching comfort: If you're not musical, video-based curricula like Dave Conservatoire or Furmanczyk Academy essentially give your child a teacher. If you love art but don't know how to teach it, structured programs like KinderArt provide the lesson plans.

Balance structure and freedom: Some children need the scaffolding of a curriculum. Others flourish with open-ended art supplies and YouTube tutorials. Most benefit from a combination.

Don't forget art appreciation: Even if your child doesn't pursue art or music as a skill, learning to appreciate and understand art across cultures enriches their education and worldview.

Browse all of our art and drawing resources, music resources, art history resources, and arts & crafts resources to find the perfect fit for your family.