As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

When I first started homeschooling, I was overwhelmed by all the different ways I could teach my kids. But as I sifted through philosophies and methods, I quickly fell in love with many of Charlotte Mason’s ideas. I wouldn’t call myself a 100% Charlotte Mason mom, but her belief that children are whole persons and that learning is a natural process really resonated with me—especially her gentle approach to subjects like art and music appreciation.

One thing I’ve learned is that kids don’t need to master reading or writing at a specific age just because their peers do. Learning can be rich, joyful, and individual. And part of that richness for us has been adding art and composer study to our homeschool—something I never thought I could do since I knew absolutely nothing about either topic!

Why We Started Art and Composer Study

I stumbled across a video by Sonya Shafer from Simply Charlotte Mason, and it truly opened my eyes. She explained how simple it can be to enjoy art and music with your children—and how just 10 to 15 minutes a week can open their hearts to beauty, culture, and creativity. That short moment of slowing down to look at a painting or listen to a piece of music can be deeply enriching.

What We’re doing This Year

We’re heading into our second year of artist and composer study, and this is how I’m doing it:

I’m using the Ambleside Online schedule, which includes:

Artists:

• Camille Pissarro

• Jean-Honoré Fragonard

• Albert Bierstadt

Composers:

• Frederick Delius

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Felix Mendelssohn

Ambleside provides links to download art prints, living book list and a list of music selections for each composer—which makes planning a breeze!

How We Do Artist Study (Step-by-Step)

1. Print the artwork: I use my trusty EcoTank printer to print 5–6 pieces per artist on 8.5x11 paper and put them in an acrylic stand frame (this year I’m trying out 5x7s without the stands).

2. Look and wonder: i will present the picture to them and ask questions that help get their minds stimulated, like:

   • What do you notice? (Shapes, colors, seasons, mood?)

   • What do you think the artist wants us to feel or learn?

   • If you could title this picture, what would you call it?

3. Read: I will pick 2 or 3 books or information from the web about the composer and read that to them over the course of the term.

4. Display it daily: I place the picture near their school baskets, so they see it every day—even if just in passing.

5. Keep it fun: No tests or drills! you dont want to drill and kill. Just a few minutes of conversation, then we move on.

6. At the end of the term, they pick their favorite piece to recreate with paint or pencils, and we add it to their homeschool journals.

📌 New this year: I’m turning it into a guessing game! I won’t reveal the titles of the paintings until the end of the term. i print the titles and have them on strips of paper, and they’ll try to match them to the correct artwork. I can already hear the giggles and teamwork!

A favorite resource i like to us is the Dk Witness The Arts book. You can find this at your local library but because we talk about art and the different types of art i decided we should probably add this to our home library.

These are also other books that we will read for this study as well; Meet Camille Pissarro (Meet the Artist)

How We Do Composer Study

Composer study is just as easy—and honestly, even more fun!

1. Choose a composer and find 5–6 pieces to enjoy. (ambleside for the win! and SImply charlotee Mason has great bundles available to help)

2. Read a book or short biography about the composer a couple of times a week.

3. Play the music throughout the day:

   • While coloring

   • During quiet time

   • When tidying up

   • In the car

4. Talk about the mood or instruments—whatever they notice.

One of my kids' favorite composers is Beethoven. They love telling people how “grumpy” he was and how you can hear his frustration in his music. They even remember that he had 6 or 7 legless pianos that he carried from apartment to apartment! (Who knew my kids would be teaching me about Beethoven?)

Our Favorite Composer Resource: The Story Orchestra Books

I recently discovered the Story Orchestra Series on Amazon, and I am so excited to use them this year! These books pair gorgeous illustrations with 10-second sound clips from classical scores. They bring composers’ stories to life in a magical, memorable way for kids.

Titles include:

• The Four Seasons

• The Nutcracker

• Swan Lake

• The Magic Flute

• The Planets

• And more!

Perfect for morning basket time or cozy read-aloud moments. You Don’t Have to Be an Expert.

Also more resources:

• Mozart: Illustrated Biography for Children: A Musical Prodigy and His Enchanting Journey,

• Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

you got this!

I knew nothing about art or music when we started this journey. But these gentle, low-pressure moments have created a peaceful rhythm in our homeschool and helped my children develop a love for beauty and creativity.

You don’t need a fancy curriculum or background in the arts—just a willing heart and a few quiet minutes a week. That’s all it takes to bring composer and artist study to life in your home.

What artists or composers are you studying this year?