The Homeschool Music Collective Podcast

Colleen Kessler is a homeschooling mom and author. In today’s episode, Gabi and Colleen discuss her most recent book, Raising Resilient Sons. They touch on the challenges of parenting while also educating our children and the emotional toll it can take. Colleen stresses the importance of giving ourselves grace and forgiveness for our mistakes and communicating those things to our children. She discusses the importance of intentional connection with each child and your spouse...

In this episode, Gabi interviews Mary Prather, founder of Squilt Music and Homegrown Learners. This homeschool mom runs her business with her husband and they have 2 children, one in college and one in high school. Mary is a music educator at heart and loves teaching music and the love of music to children of all ages. This love has led her down a path to owning a business with her husband and teaching children all over the country. Listen in as we explore her homescho...

In this episode, Gabi welcomes us back after a bit of a break. She explains how life has been a bit crazy for her and how music has helped her keep perspective and reset her mindset during this difficult time. Join us to hear about how music can help us through the difficult times in our lives!

You are in for a treat today! I'm speaking with music teacher Jocelyn Manzanarez in today’s episode. Jocelyn and I are very like-minded when it comes to introducing music to our little ones as well as our support of the recognized benefits of music learning! Jocelyn owns and operates Musically Minded and until 2020, took her amazing skill and talent to child care centers, teaching music to the little ones in their care. She began her career as an elementary music teacher, bu...

Every new homeschooler I meet is brimming with excitement or nervousness with all the plans in the world about how they are going to educate their children. Sometimes everything is completely planned out to a 'T' and sometimes not, but always there is an energy that suffuses everything. We homeschoolers like to think about what is best for each of our children and we get excited at being able to reach them and teach them ourselves.Many times, we get so engrossed in what we are doi...

What a treat it is to speak with mother and daughter, Amber and Ann Marie Semerau, in today’s podcast! Ann Marie is a pianist and composer and Amber taught her all the way through school. Amber talks about why they chose not to give Ann Marie formal music education. Ann Marie talks about her experience and how being given the time to dabble and play with her passion has opened doors for her. Listen to get some perspective on the end game of homeschooling and seeing the...

Homeschooling can be hard on the most normal families. When you add in chronic illness, it takes it to a completely different level. Come with me as I speak with Aimee Smith about her journey in homeschooling and how it led her to find rest. We start at the beginning with all the hopes and dreams that new homeschoolers have and dive deep into the guilt of not doing enough, asking for too much help and the self-judgment that comes with all of those emotions. We discuss ...

I am so thankful to be able to continue my conversation with Candace Dugger about the realities of bullying in our homeschooling communities and our children’s lives in today’s episode. Candace is an expert in addressing bullying and teaching educators and parents and children how to handle bullying. Not only as the victim, but also as the perpetrator. Bullying is multifaceted and it has evolved onto our technology platforms in video games and social media. We need to ...

In today’s podcast, Eran Katz and I discuss the psychology of parenting and how becoming a parent is like being given the deed to a ship; a ship to navigate with precious cargo - our children. Eran Katz is a clinical psychologist and parenting counselor specializing in attachment theory. He's also the father of two children who are his best parenting teachers. He believes that parenting is one of the most important jobs we ever do. This is why he created Apparently Parent and The Parenting MA...

Can you be a mother, a musician and a music educator all at the same time? Of course you can! Listen as I chat with my sweet friend, Carly Walton, who has a thriving course and music membership that teaches and supports music teachers in expanding their instruction in the online space. Teaching online isn’t always the option that private music teachers prefer, but the world is changing, isn’t it? When COVID hit, Carly’s membership community exploded, as music teachers a...