Are you looking for a way to go deeper with music appreciation that’s sequential, relatable, and EASY? 

Introduce your children to the many instruments of the orchestra in this fun and engaging online course. Videos include history, how instruments are made, and ways to enjoy the instruments within many different genres of music, including old silent movies, modern movie soundtracks, musicals, pop and rock music, and, of course, classical music!

You and your kids will be delighted and surprised week after week by this eclectic journey.

The 36-week program will familiarize your family with brass, woodwind, percussion, string, and keyboard Instruments.

How does it work?

Try these free sample lessons.

Head here to do a week's worth of lessons, learning about the String Family of Instruments and the Violin:



Bonus #1:
Music Appreciation Notebook


Includes many notebooking pages for K-12, including music appreciation prompts, musical term vocabulary, timelines, creative writing ideas, drawing pages, and more. (53 pages)


Bonus #2:
Musical Instrument Coloring Pages

Includes coloring pages of all the major instruments of the orchestra from the percussion, string, brass, and woodwind families. (39 pages)

Bonus #3
Musical Instrument Notebooking Pages

One side features a black-and-white drawing of 228 musical instruments from around the world, perfect for coloring. The other side has lines for students to write about the instrument, including its origin, instrument family, music style (classical, folk, rock, etc.), and famous musicians who play it.

See inside the course here:

Click "PREVIEW"


  Welcome to Sound Bites: Meet the Orchestra
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  String Instruments (6 weeks)
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  Woodwind Instruments (9 weeks)
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  Brass Instruments (6 weeks)
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  Percussion Instruments (12 weeks)
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  Keyboard Instruments (3 weeks)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When does the course start and finish?

The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.


Are there any live lessons?

No, all lessons are embedded and self-paced.


How long do I have access to the course?

How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own. There's even an iOS app!


What age group is Sound Bites: Meet the Orchestra useful for?

All ages! Each age can get their own level of good out of the program, and I think families with a mix of ages will find that you can adapt it pretty well for your children. The bonuses (Music Appreciation Notebook, Coloring Pages, and Musical Instrument Notebooking Pages) have great resources that can work for all ages!


How to Use Sound Bites: Meet the Orchestra:

Each day, do one lesson. Optional, add a notebooking page from one the bonuses (Music Appreciation Notebook, Music Appreciation Coloring Pages, Musical Instrument Notebooking Pages).


What is included in each day's lesson?

They are a very simple format. Read the text and watch/listen to the embedded videos!

How long does a Sound Bites daily lesson take?

Aim for 15 minutes a day. Some of the music to listen to takes longer than that. You can choose to play it in the background while doing other things, or only listen to part of those pieces.

Remember, some is better than none.

Any Tips for Adding this to our homeschool?

* Keep it enjoyable for the children. Find a way that works for the ages and stages you have in your homeschool or classroom. Let music be a gift and a joy in your home!

* Some is better than None.

* It doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

* Just begin.

I don’t know if I have time to use this.

Sound Bites is ready when you are. You can watch & listen when it works for you. Weekends, car rides, while eating, or doing chores–whatever works for you will work for Sound Bites.

How is this arranged? Is the music presented in chronological order, or by composer?

The Baroque & Classical, Romantic & Modern, Women Composers, and Jazz Music Sound Bites all follow a chronological order (based on the composer's birth year) where we learn about one composer at a time.  Meet the Orchestra is divided by instrument family and then by instrument.

What are the Bonuses?

Music Appreciation Notebook (53 pages)

Music Appreciation Coloring Pages (39 pages)

Musical Instrument Notebooking Pages (228 pages)


Warning about the Videos:

This course was created by Erica Johns. Gena Mayo's warning: I have not viewed all the videos included in this course. Since every family is different, I recommend you preview for content, costumes, graphics on screen, etc. to make sure they are appropriate for your family's viewing. If you choose not to watch, you can still use the videos to listen to the music!


What if I am unhappy with the course?

We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 14 days and we will give you a full refund. (You will be asked to delete anything you have downloaded from the course.)


How do I contact Gena with a question?

Scroll to the bottom of this page and click "Contact Gena." :)


Is Sound Bites: Meet the Orchestra included in the Music in Our Homeschool Plus premium membership?

Yes!