Eight Tips for Reaching the Homeschool Community

I’ve heard many private teachers lament that they have heard such wonderful things about working with homeschoolers, but they can’t figure out how to “break into" the homeschool community. Here are a few tips:

1. Familiarize yourself with your state’s homeschooling laws. 

Search “Homeschooling in ____(your state)” online and read a few articles so you can communicate knowledgeably with potential students/parents. Find out if your state has a music requirement.

A recent development is the creation and funding of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). There are over a dozen states that have funds available for homeschooling families, although some of them are specifically for students with special needs. Find out if your state utilizes ESAs and if/how families can use their ESAs for your services. This information is available on your state’s Department of Education website.

2. Research opportunities for homeschoolers in your community and reach out to the the leaders of those groups.

Find out when and where the local co-ops and micro schools meet. Churches, libraries, and community buildings are popular, as well as public areas such as parks for smaller, more informal groups. Your state’s homeschool association might maintain a list or directory of co-ops, so search “_____(state) homeschool association” or “_____(state) homeschoolers.” Also do a few internet searches such as, “homeschool groups near me.” Keep track of the names, locations, and contact information for any that might be within your teaching radius. Asking a simple question such as, “Are there any homeschool groups in our area?” in your local Facebook groups might provide you with some helpful information and also important connections. Continue the conversation with those who respond and let them know that you are trying to reach homeschool families; they might help you make connections.

3. Join local Facebook groups and let members know what you have to offer.

Search using keywords such as the city/town, school district, or county you are in/near paired with words such as “homeschoolers,” “moms,” and “families.” You can experiment with a variety of words to get the results you want. Many groups will be private and you will need to answer questions to be accepted into the group. Be sure to read the group rules before posting as some groups have strict “no-advertising” policies, but in many groups you can share your studio flier, post when you have openings, or advertise for an upcoming class.

4. Create a digital flier to post on social media and a paper flier to post at community locations.

I use Canva to create flyers for Facebook and to send to my email list. It is free to create a Canva account and there are many templates to choose from.

Be sure to advertise your daytime teaching availability. This is code for “homeschool-friendly.” It would also be helpful to incorporate the word “homeschoolers” in your marketing material.

5.  Create a music-focused Facebook group for your area.

This might not appear to be homeschool specific, but homeschooling parents are more likely to utilize the information you provide, thus looking to you as the source for their children’s music education. You could name the group “Music opportunities for  _______ (town/county/SD).” Offer valuable information for homeschool families such as free local concerts, online resources, video performances by you, online resources, a weekly playlist, a list of local studios/teachers, and of course your studio offerings and events.

To create a new Facebook group, click on “Groups,” then “+Create New Group.” Name your group and decide if you want it to be a private group or remain public. You can change the name of the group at any time. Keep in mind that if you make it a public group, you can change it to private at a later date. However, if you make it a private group, you cannot change it to public.

6. Teach a music-related class at your local library. 

If you do this during the school year and during school hours, you will attract the homeschool community. Homeschoolers tend to frequent the library on a regular basis and depend on its resources to supplement their schooling. Be sure to have studio flyers (see #4) to hand out and to post on the bulletin board.

7. Create budget-friendly general music learning opportunities.

Since the vast majority of homeschool families are single-income households, budget constraints often limit enrichment activities. By providing group classes, you can increase your income while charging less. I recommend charging a bit less than or equal to your half-hour rate for each hour-long group class. I’ve found that 10 weeks of hour-long classes work well for families. If it is a positive experience for the students, many will continue taking your classes and spread the word to their homeschooling friends.

Some class ideas:

• Fundamentals of Music for Early Elementary (K-2) or Late Elementary (3-5)

• Sing and Play for Preschoolers or 5-7 year olds

• Music of the Masters for Middle Schoolers

• Niche topics such as “The Music and Culture of Colonial America “

• Musical Instrument Petting Zoo (hands-on experimentation with many instruments)

• String Instrument (or another instrument family) "Petting Zoo"

• Ukulele for Beginners

You can create your own customized curriculum or purchase lesson plans online.

8. Offer an “Introduction to _________ (instrument)” group class.

This can be a one-time class or a multi-week class. It introduces the students to the instrument, allows them to learn the very basics and try playing the instrument, and more importantly, allows them to meet you and determine if you’re a good fit for their child(ren) and vice versa. 

Some teachers might choose to offer the one-time class free of charge. While I typically discourage teachers from offering their services for free, if you offer the class during the day and market it specifically to homeschoolers, or perhaps do the class as part of a local co-op gathering, you will likely get great results! Most homeschooling families appreciate the opportunity to try something free of charge. Even if they don’t end up enrolling their children, they are likely to spread the word to others.

The most challenging part of this process is attracting the first few homeschool families to your studio so that you can form relationships and establish a reputation within the homeschool community. This likely won’t happen overnight, although it could! More likely, it will take as much as a year or two, depending on how prolific homeschooling is in your community. However, once you tap into the homeschooling network, you will be rewarded with a steady stream of word-of-mouth referrals to fill your daytime teaching hours.