SQUILT stands for Super Quiet UnInterrupted Listening Time—a music appreciation curriculum that teaches children to listen actively to classical music, focusing on dynamics, rhythm, instrumentation, and melody through 30-minute weekly lessons.
What is SQUILT?
SQUILT is a music appreciation curriculum created by Mary Prather of Homegrown Learners. The name comes from a technique she developed as a public school music teacher: during SQUILT time, children lay on the floor and listen to music in focused silence, absorbing the elements that make each piece unique. The program teaches students to identify four key musical elements—dynamics (volume), rhythm and tempo, instrumentation, and melody/harmony—through carefully structured lessons covering composers from the Baroque era through modern times.
Key Takeaways
- Teaches active listening through four musical elements: dynamics, rhythm, instrumentation, and melody
- Lessons take about 30 minutes once per week—easy to fit into any schedule
- Available as self-guided PDF volumes or live streaming lessons (SQUILT Live)
- Covers composers from Bach and Mozart to Duke Ellington and John Williams
- No music background required—designed for parents who aren't musicians
How SQUILT Works
Each SQUILT lesson introduces a classical piece, teaching students to listen for specific musical elements. Lessons include biographical information about the composer, listening maps that guide attention to key moments in the music, and hands-on activities like notebooking sheets for older students or coloring pages for younger ones. The curriculum doesn't teach students to play music—it teaches them to appreciate and understand what they're hearing. This foundation enriches any music education, whether students also take instrument lessons or simply develop cultural literacy.
Formats and Pricing
Ages and Multi-Level Learning
SQUILT works for preschoolers through middle school, with activities adapted for different ages within the same lesson. Younger children (ages 4-6) enjoy coloring pages, connect-the-dots, and simple listening activities while older students (ages 7-14) complete notebooking work, listening maps, and deeper analysis. This multi-age design makes SQUILT particularly valuable for homeschool families—everyone can do the lesson together, then complete age-appropriate activities. Many families continue using SQUILT through middle school as an enrichment alongside other music studies.
Musical Eras and Composers Covered
The curriculum spans Western classical music history, organized by era: Baroque (Bach, Handel, Vivaldi), Classical (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven's early work), Romantic (Beethoven, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky), and Modern (Gershwin, John Williams, Duke Ellington). Composer Spotlight volumes provide deeper studies of individual composers with three representative works each. Seasonal volumes cover Christmas and holiday music. Students emerge with genuine familiarity with major composers and the ability to recognize different musical periods and styles.
The Bottom Line
SQUILT solves a common homeschool challenge: how do you teach music appreciation when you're not a musician yourself? The curriculum requires no special knowledge—just press play and follow the scripted lessons. In 30 minutes a week, students develop genuine appreciation for classical music and the vocabulary to discuss what they hear. Whether you choose the flexible self-paced PDF volumes or the engaging live lessons, SQUILT brings music education within reach for any homeschool family.
