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


Enjoy 30 weeks of done-for-you music appreciation that the whole family will love! You’ll get to know major composers from Louis Armstrong to Duke Ellington, along with some additional lesser-known composers and performers.

For families who want to go deeper into their composer studies, you will enjoy the Bonuses, which include many additional resources for K-12, including music appreciation prompts, musical term vocabulary, timelines, notebooking pages, creative writing ideas, instrument coloring pages, copywork of composer quotes, and much more.

Which jazz composers and musicians will you study?

  1.  Fletcher Henderson
  2. Duke Ellington
  3. Louis Armstrong
  4. Bix Beiderbecke
  5. Count Basie
  6. Fats Waller
  7. Cab Calloway
  8. Benny Goodman
  9. Art Tatum
  10. Thelonious Monk
  11. Dizzy Gillespie
  12. Charlie Parker
  13. John Coltrane
  14. Ray Charles
  15. Ornette Coleman

How does it work?

Try these free sample lessons.

Head here to do a week's worth of lessons, learning about composer and jazz musician Duke Ellington:

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:

Study-a-Composer Printable Pack


Perfect for grades 1st - 8th. Use in a music appreciation class or for any composer study lesson. It contains a Composer sheet, a Listening sheet, a List of Compositions sheet, and a List of Composers studied sheet.



See inside the course here:

Click "PREVIEW"


  How to Use and FAQ
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  Jazz 1
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  Jazz 2
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  Jazz 3
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  Jazz 4
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  Jazz 5
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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: Jazz Music Appreciation useful for?

All ages! Each age can get its 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 Study-a-Composer printable pack) have great resources that can work for all ages!


How to Use Sound Bites: Jazz Music Appreciation:

Each day, do one lesson. Optional, add a notebooking page from one the bonuses (Music Appreciation Notebook, Music Appreciation Coloring Pages, Study-a-Composer printable pack).


What is included in each day's lesson?

They are a very simple format. Each composer lesson includes information about the composer and at least one musical piece's video embedded to listen to.

How long does a Sound Bites daily lesson take?

We have pieces that are as short as a couple of minutes. Others are much longer. That being said, you do what works for you. Obviously, the shorter ones are pretty easy to find time for, but for the longer ones, you can choose to play it in the background while doing other things, or only listen to part of the piece.

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?

Baroque & Classical, Romantic & Modern, Women Composers, and Jazz Music Appreciation Sound Bites all follow a chronological order (based on the composer's birth year) where we learn about one composer at a time.  

What time period does Sound Bites: Jazz Music Appreciation cover?

The 1900s.


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, graphics shown on screen, photographs, clothing/costumes, 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 are the Bonuses?

  • Music Appreciation Notebook (53 pages)
  • Music Appreciation Coloring Pages (39 pages)
  •  Study-a-Composer Printable Pack (4 pages)

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: Jazz Music Appreciation included in the Music in Our Homeschool Plus premium membership?

Yes!