Gena Mayo
Music in our Homeschool

Gena Mayo is a homeschooling mom of 8 who has been teaching music in various forms for over 25 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Vocal Pedagogy (teaching voice lessons).

It has been her joy to teach elementary and junior high choir, high school voice classes, private voice lessons for teens through adults, early childhood music and movement classes (babies through preschool), elementary general music, and music appreciation for elementary through high school. But her favorite music teaching experience has been as musical director for stage musicals such as Seussical, Shrek, Singing in the Rain, Newsies, and Beauty and the Beast.

Music in Our Homeschool is dedicated to providing quality music education resources specifically tailored for homeschooling families through a variety of courses, lesson plans, and practical tips. We help parents integrate a quality music education seamlessly into their homeschool curriculum.

It is Gena’s desire to help all homeschoolers include music in their homeschools through her website Music in Our Homeschool and her online course site.

Her favorite composer is Claude Debussy and her favorite piece of his is Claire de Lune.

https://MusicinOurHomeschool.com

Mary Prather
SQUILT

Mary Prather is the author of SQUILT Music Appreciation and the owner and author of Homegrown Learners, a homeschool community that helps you grow your learners ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Mary has an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Southern Methodist University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Georgia State University. After 10 years of teaching general music in public schools and then homeschooling her children, she discovered a need for quality music appreciation materials.

SQUILT (Super Quiet UnInterrupted Listening Time) is simple and enjoyable while exposing your children to the highest quality of music. All of the work has been done for you! Use self-guided volumes (no music knowledge required), or let Mary teach your children in SQUILT LIVE!

Her favorite composer is Aaron Copland and her favorite piece of his is Appalachian Spring.

http://www.squiltmusic.com

Alisha Gratehouse
Masterpiece Society

Alisha Gratehouse is an artist, minister’s wife, and veteran homeschool mom of three young adults. She is passionate about nurturing creativity and bringing the joy of art to others.
 
In 2014, she began creating online art courses to fill what she believed was a gaping void in the area of homeschool art. Now through her company, the Masterpiece Society, she offers a complete art curriculum, teaching kids and teens art expression through multiple art mediums and techniques, as well as art history and appreciation. 

In 2022, Alisha acquired The Homeschool Garden from Lara Molettiere and rebranded it as Charlotte Mason Morning Time. She and her team have built a membership, Awaken to Delight, and a community (led by Lara) around the curriculum which includes art, handicrafts, nature club, book clubs, and more!

Her favorite artist is Claude Monet.

https://masterpiecesociety.com

Erin Cox
The Gentle + Classical Press

The Gentle + Classical Press purposes to equip and encourage Christian homeschool moms with materials that strengthen their confidence, enculturate their families in all that is good, true, and beautiful, and empower them to joyfully labor in their work of home education in the Charlotte Mason and Classical philosophies.

Her favorite artist is Thomas Cole.

https://shopgentleclassical.com

Cindy West
No Sweat Nature Study

Cindy West is the creator of No Sweat Nature Study, an interactive online science program designed for homeschooling families. With a passion for blending creativity and education, Cindy helps children explore the wonders of nature through engaging, live and recorded classes that include opportunities to practice nature journaling. While No Sweat Nature Study is not an art program, Cindy encourages children to develop artistic skills by sketching and painting nature specimens in their journals. These activities build observation skills, attention to detail, and creativity—valuable foundations for art.

Cindy’s background in education and science, combined with years of homeschooling experience, allows her to connect with students with meaningful, hands-on learning. Through approachable teaching and a warm, engaging style, Cindy equips parents with tools to inspire their children to learn science creatively while naturally incorporating art into their homeschool days.

Her favorite artist is John James Audubon and her favorite artwork of his is Roseate Spoonbill.

https://nosweatnaturestudy.com/

JoDitt Williams
JoDitt Designs

JoDitt Williams is an artist, designer, Amazon best-selling author and host of the Fruitful Creativity Community. Through her blog, her Fruitful Creativity Studio membership, and her variety of Bible studies, devotional coloring books and creative prayer journals, JoDitt guides women to hear God’s voice and delight in the Word of God, using the power of pretty and creativity. She also helps other Christian creatives to create digital products, self-publish books, grow their audience & generate passive income.

Her favorite styles of art are impressionism and hand lettering.

https://joditt.com

Ashton Rodenhiser
Sketchnote School

Sketchnote School is your go-to tool for taking your learning to the next level. Whether you’re tackling tough concepts 🧠 or just want to boost your creativity 🎨, we’re here to help you break down complex information into easy-to-understand, bite-sized pieces.

With Sketchnote School, you’ll learn how to visualize 🖼️, retain 📚, and share knowledge like never before! And the best part? You’ll have a blast 🎉 transforming your notes into vibrant, creative visuals ✍️ that make learning both effective and enjoyable. Ready to make learning more exciting? 

Her favorite artist is Maud Lewis and her favorite artwork of hers is Three Black Cats.

http://www.sketchnote.school

Sharon Barrett
Olive Tree Tutorials

Sharon Barrett spent her homeschool years as a competitive vocalist and holds a B.A. in music from Hillsdale College, where she was a classical teaching apprentice, and an M.A. with a minor in musicology. She writes Biblically based music/art/drama curriculum. Starting off young singers with healthy vocal habits is her happy place!

Sharon currently exercises her passion for music education as the owner of Olive Tree Tutorials, which she founded in 2023 to equip homeschoolers to make college and career decisions that align with their faith. 

Sharon continues to offer her gifts as a worship artist and classically trained soprano wherever she’s invited. She also offers music as a healing ministry through Singing Rose Tea & Soul Care.”

https://www.olivetreetutorials.com/

Daniel Craig
Generations / Homeschool Summits

Daniel Craig (with his wife Megan) is a host of the internationally-attended Homeschool Summits and has spoken at homeschool conferences around the country. Daniel wrote Kickstart as a plan for homeschooled students to think through life calling and launch successfully into adulthood. His passion is to encourage homeschool parents and young people to love and embrace Biblical discipleship. Daniel is a homeschool dad of 4 children.

His favorite composers are Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff.
His favorite modern hymn writers are Keith and Kristen Getty.

generations.org

https://homeschoolsummits.com/

Greg Thurston
Bethel Presbyterian Church

Greg Thurston is the teaching elder at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Lafayette, CO. He graduated with a B.A. in Ancient History from Colorado State University and then attended Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO where he obtained a Masters of Divinity degree. He has pastored at two churches before his current call to serve at Bethel Presbyterian Church.

At Bethel Presbyterian Church, Pastor Thurston has led his congregation to return to worship as the priority, meaning that worship leads the music, rather than music leads the worship. The congregation sings hymns and works on learning the four-part harmonies of the hymns to become better worshipers.

Greg and his wife Janet have six grown children, all of whom they homeschooled. Greg enjoys playing the piano and guitar, listening to music, and writing his own songs.

https://bethelpreschurch.org/

Dona Henry
Mother of Eleven Children

Dona Henry is the mother of eleven children, including the host of the Music & Art Homeschool Summit, Justina Thurston. She established a legacy of music in her family, encouraging all of her children to play band instruments and participate in choirs and musical theater. Her children have passed on the gift of music to their children as well.

Linda Berry
Homeschooling Mom of Five

Linda is a homeschooling mom, who has graduated 5 children. She has always loved art! She enjoys drawing, watercolor, and oil and sings alto in her church.