The Musical Instruments Families
An interactive musical family "zoo" hunt (Ages 5-9)
Course Summary
Your child may enjoy music, but might not yet understand how instruments are grouped, why they sound different, or how they work together in an ensemble. As a homeschooling parent, you want more than just names and pictures — you want meaningful understanding and engagement with music.
Without a solid framework, instrument study can feel like a list of random facts: “This is a flute, this is a trumpet…” Your student may struggle to hear the difference between families (strings vs. woodwinds vs. percussion), miss the connections in orchestras or bands, and lack vocabulary to talk about what they’re listening to or playing. That can reduce their appreciation, hamper future music studies, and leave them passive rather than curious.
This self-paced course walks your student through the major instrument families — how each one produces sound, how to identify them by sight and ear, how they fit together in musical ensembles — in an engaging, age-appropriate format for homeschoolers.
Age-appropriate for upper elementary/middle school learners (adjust pace as needed).
Self-paced so it blends easily into your homeschooling rhythm.
Covers major families (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion) with clear demonstration and listening/identification activities.
Builds skills that enhance music appreciation, future band/orchestra readiness, and confident discussion of music.
By the end of the course your child won’t just know instruments — they’ll understand how they function, recognize families by sound, and feel more intentional and connected when experiencing music.
Course Curriculum
Kelsey Thornton
Hello! My lovely learners like to call me Ms. Kelsey. I am a certified Early Childhood Montessori teacher, and have been certified since 2017. I’ve had over 16 years of experience working with children in multiple settings, including babysitting, tutoring, swim lessons, you name it! I’ve also been an online teacher since 2019 where I’ve taught ESL, Montessori, Music, and YouTube content. I live in Kentucky with my husband of five years, two dogs, and two cats. I also love to play board games!
My favorite verse? “The LORD is my shepherd. I have what I need.” Psalm 23:1 (CSB)
