Leading your child in learning about the orchestra has never been easier!
“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education,
and children should be taught music before anything else."
Plato
You know that music education is important in brain development and in enhancing every area of learning, but you have no idea how to get started teaching music.
Let’s face it – teaching about the orchestra and composers when all your knowledge of music only fits on one piano key can be pretty intimidating.
And even if you played an instrument growing up or have some musical background, it's hard to know where to start in teaching your kids to appreciate music.
It’s so exhausting to spend hours of planning and prep work for every subject. With teaching and grading math, writing and ALL THE THINGS, (and fitting in laundry, shopping, cooking and cleaning), you don’t really want to research another subject you're not comfortable with.
And when you have actually put in the work to add music to the school day, there’s nothing more disheartening than having your children yawn and tell you it’s boring.
You know there have got to be kid-friendly music resources out there that are “open and go”, but you haven’t found them yet. (Reading Classical Music for Dummies isn’t kid-friendly, right?)
Maybe you’ve even searched the library for CDs and books or gotten lost on YouTube looking up videos of composers and pieces.
And yet, it’s not quite working.
You’re just not comfortable teaching a subject you have little background in. You’re tired of scouring the internet for resources to create a hodge-podge mess of a curriculum.
And how on earth are you going to make it fun so your kids fall in love with music?
You’re not alone. Many homeschool moms feel inadequate in teaching music appreciation.
The truth is that having the right curriculum is a game-changer...
One that will give you the confidence of a rock star (I mean, an opera star!), provide fun, engaging lessons for the whole family...
And even offer “plug and play” lessons with everything you need in one place.
Is there such a curriculum?
YES!
Hi, I'm Justina!
And I want to be your guide in teaching about the orchestra and composers!
As a homeschooling mom, I know I don't want another curriculum that requires two to three hours of prep for every hour of lessons!
Fortunately, you don't have to! It turns out that there are those who love the subject and can teach you and your child in an online course to make everything easy.
Yep! I’m talking about me.
Let me be your online music teacher with my 20 years of teaching experience!
That’s exactly what The Composer Detective is – an online course where I dress up as George Frideric Handel (and other composers) and teach your children so that the composers and their music come to life!
I have created fun videos for learning about famous composers and their music so you can simply log into the course and play the next video!
Bring music and history to life with The Composer Detective!
Helping families investigate the lives and music of some of the world’s great and influential composers in an engaging way!
The Composer Detective is an easy-to-use, all-in-one online course, designed to help you lead your children in investigating orchestra instruments, music and composers, so that you exude the confidence of an opera star, and they fall in love with listening to music, a benefit for a lifetime.
The Composer Detective was created with you in mind as a homeschool mom to help you achieve confidence in leading an orchestra and composers unit, because music is beneficial in all areas of education!
If you are a homeschooling parent, especially if you are a Classical Conversations tutor, or if you want to get your whole family interested and engaged in learning about the orchestra and famous orchestral music and composers, this is an opportunity that I promise you will not want to miss.
Let's make classical music and history fun!
“THAT WAS CLASSICALLY WONDERFUL!!! Thank you for sharing in this manner – my girls LOVED your portrayal. Thank you!”
Helen P.
"I can't sing enough praises for The Composer Detective and the joy it has brought to my home. We are a homeschool family with 4 kids ranging from ages 10 down to 20 months, and I needed to introduce a subject matter that would be engaging to all of them. I know absolutely nothing about the orchestra, so this course came as a gift to me. Everything was ready and prepared for me and all I had to do is play the videos and print out the resources. The whole family had fun learning about the composers and the instruments used in an orchestra. It is also very satisfying to hear my kids intelligently pick out the instruments in music pieces over the radio and in movies, making me look like such a well-rounded homeschool teacher! The truth is, I learned as much as they did!"
Yolande Dugmore
When you purchase The Composer Detective, you will have instant access to all the tools you need to teach with the confidence of an opera star! You will follow a clear path through the phases of learning about the orchestra and know what and how to learn and enjoy classical music as a family!
Part 1 - Investigating the Orchestra
Includes the phases 1) Investigate the Instruments of the Orchestra and 2) Investigate the History of the Orchestra.
Includes:
1. Videos - Investigate the Instruments of the Orchestra, The Orchestra Song and Investigate the Eras of the Orchestra videos
2. Playlist of curated performances (videos) of instrument families and listening pieces composed just for children that help children hear and see the instruments in action.
3. Teacher Notes, so that you don’t have to prepare lessons in advance and know what to do each day.
4. Student Activity Pack of worksheets, activity sheets, and quizzes, so that your students interacts with the terms and facts about the instruments and learning is fun and easy.
Part 2 - Investigating the Composers
Includes the phases 3) Investigate the Composers of Each Era and 4) Investigate the Music of the Composers.
Includes:
1. Biography Videos - so that you know who this composer is and have fun getting to know him.
2. Playlist of curated performances (videos) by the composer, so that you become familiar with and enjoy some of the great pieces / works of this composer and get to know a few characteristics of the music and / or fun facts about the pieces.
3. Teacher Notes, so that you don’t have to prepare lessons in advance and know what to do each day.
4. Student Activity Pack of worksheets, activity sheets, and quizzes, so that your student interacts with the terms and facts about the instruments and learning is fun and easy.
"We love your videos! They are so helpful! Thank you so much!”
Lorena T.
You can plan on spending 10-20 minutes two or three days a week.
You may choose to spend a minimum of 5-10 minutes a day if you repeat a listening piece everyday each week.
Musical development corresponds to language and brain development, so listening skills developed in music appreciation will aid in language, reading and math skills.
Also, listening increases attention span, concentration, social skills (i.e., learning to listen to others, communication, sensitivity, compassion), and impulse control.
Music can be enjoyed at all ages and skill levels through listening.
Active participation in music will increase the development of these skills along with fine motor development, eye-hand coordination, taking turns, appropriate social interactions, creative expression, and providing an emotional outlet.
Music is beneficial to brain development and will aid in every area of your child’s education. Music appreciation will balance out the more academic subjects to bring beauty and enjoyment into your child’s life and will give your child a well-rounded education.
Also, the more we know about something, the more we enjoy it. Your child will know orchestra instruments, history, who certain composers are, and grow to enjoy all kinds of music!
It is not a matter of either/or. Active music making will develop the brain in different ways than listening but both enhance learning! Studying about the orchestra and composers will give your child deeper knowledge and appreciation of the music they are learning to play.
And listening is an activity your children can enjoy throughout their lifetimes!
THE COMPOSER DETECTIVE FULL COURSE
The full course of all 10 units for a year-long music appreciation course or for unit studies over several years.
Perfect for those who want the full course with a one-time payment or payment plan.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING THE ORCHESTRA WITH CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
A short unit study using the piece Carnival of the Animals to help you lead your younger children in investigating orchestra instruments and eras.
Perfect for those who want to try a short unit study.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING THE ORCHESTRA
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating orchestra instruments and eras that includes study of three major works, Carnival of the Animals, A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, and Peter and the Wolf.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of the German Baroque Era composer, George Frideric Handel.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of the German Baroque Era composer, Johann Sebastian Bach.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of Austrian Classical Era composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of German Classical / Romantic Era composer, Ludwig van Beethoven.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING JOHANNES BRAHMS
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of the German Romantic Era composer, Johannes Brahms.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of the Czech Romantic Era composer, Antonín Dvořák.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of Russian Romantic Era composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING CLAUDE DEBUSSY
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of the French Modern Era composer, Claude Debussy.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
INVESTIGATING IGOR STRAVINSKY
A month-long unit study to help you lead your children in investigating the life and music of the Russian Modern Era composer, Igor Stravinsky.
Perfect for those who want to try one unit.
Includes:
THE COMPOSER DETECTIVE VOLUME 1
This is a 4-unit bundle of Investigating the Orchestra, Investigating George Frideric Handel, Investigating Johann Sebastian Bach, and Investigating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Perfect for those wanting to study just a few composers or Classical Conversations families in Cycle 1.
Includes:
THE COMPOSER DETECTIVE VOLUME 2
This is a 4-unit bundle of Investigating the Orchestra, Investigating Ludwig van Beethoven, Investigating Johannes Brahms, and Investigating Antonin Dvořák.
Perfect for those wanting to study just a few composers or Classical Conversations families in Cycle 2.
Includes:
THE COMPOSER DETECTIVE VOLUME 3
This is a 4-unit bundle of Investigating the Orchestra, Investigating Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Investigating Claude Debussy, and Investigating Igor Stravinsky.
Perfect for those wanting to study just a few composers or Classical Conversations families in Cycle 3.
Includes: