In this episode, Janice Campbell sits down with Professor Carol Reynolds to explore the powerful role music and the arts play in a child's education. Together, they unpack how music isn't just a "nice extra," but an essential part of helping kids connect with history, science, and even math. Carol shares how rhythm, sound, and story all work together to shape not only knowledge, but also confidence and joy in learning. If you've ever wondered how to integrate music and literature more fully into your homeschool, or you're looking for encouragement that it's not too late to begin, this conversation will inspire you. By the end, you'll be reminded that education is about more than checking boxes—it's about nurturing the soul through beauty, rhythm, and story.

About Carol

Professor Carol Reynolds is a much sought-after public speaker for arts venues, homeschool conferences, and general audiences. She combines insights on music history, arts, and culture with her passion for arts education to create programs and curricula, inspires concert audiences, and lead art tours. Never dull or superficial, Carol brings to her audiences a unique blend of humor, substance, and skilled piano performance to make the arts more accessible and meaningful to audiences of all ages.

Carol has led art tours to Russia, Poland, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, San Francisco, and Broadway on behalf of several arts organizations and has recently teamed with Smithsonian Journeys for cruises to the Holy Land, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Baltic Sea, Indian Ocean, and across the Atlantic. Her enthusiasm and boundless energy give tour participants an unforgettable experience.

For more than 20 years, Carol was Associate Professor of Music History at the Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She now makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, Hank, and her daughter and grandchildren. Hank and Carol maintain a second residence in Weimar, Germany — the home of Goethe, Schiller, Bach, and Liszt, and the focal point of much of Europe's artistic heritage.

About Janice

Janice Campbell, a lifelong reader and writer, loves to introduce students to great books and beautiful writing. She holds an English degree from Mary Baldwin College, and is the graduated homeschool mom of four sons. You'll find more about reading, writing, planning, and education from a Charlotte Mason/Classical perspective at her websites, EverydayEducation.com, Excellence-in-Literature.com, and DoingWhatMatters.com.

Resources

Saul by George Frideric Handel

The Creation by Joseph Haydn

https://www.professorcarol.com/2011/08/20/the-biggest-page-turn-in-music/

Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev

The role of music in a Hitchcock movie soundtrack

Hurrah and Hallelujah: 100 Songs for Children

Excellence in Literature curriculum (Grades 8-12)

Connect

Carol Reynolds | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Janice Campbell | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Website

Homeschooling.mom | Instagram | Website

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Have you joined us at one of the Great Homeschool Conventions? We hope to see you there!

For more encouragement on your homeschooling journey, visit the Homeschooling.mom site, and tune in to our sister podcast The Charlotte Mason Show.

View full show notes on the blog.