Squilt

MusicMusic Appreciation
Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

Squilt Live, founded by Mary Prather, serves as a testament to the creative potential in music education for children, particularly in homeschool settings. Prather's background in Music Education from Southern Methodist University and a Masters in Education from Georgia State University fueled her desire to develop a curriculum accessible to all, regardless of musical background. With years of experience teaching in public schools and conducting music co-op classes, she designed Squilt Live to enrich children's lives with high-quality music appreciation. The program has garnered attention for its inclusive and engaging approach, simplifying music education for thousands of students and their families​ (Squilt Live)​​ (Squilt Live)​.

Differentiation Squilt Live sets itself apart through its unique teaching methodology known as SQUILT (Super Quiet Uninterrupted Listening Time), which emphasizes attentive listening and comprehension of music’s key elements like rhythm, tempo, and dynamics. This method not only teaches children about music but also fosters a deep appreciation and understanding, different from many traditional music education programs. The inclusion of live, interactive lessons via Zoom further enhances its appeal, allowing real-time engagement and personalized learning experiences​ (Squilt Music Appreciation)​.

How to Get Started Getting started with Squilt Live is straightforward. New members can simply sign up for a subscription, print necessary materials for lessons, and log into the scheduled webinars. The program offers various subscription plans, accommodating different family and co-op needs, making it flexible and accessible​ (Squilt Live)​.

How It Works Squilt Live operates on a subscription basis where families receive monthly music appreciation lessons. These lessons are designed to be interactive and engaging, requiring about 45-60 minutes twice a month. The curriculum includes a diverse range of activities from coloring to notebooking, suitable for various age groups. This setup ensures that even families with no musical background can enjoy and learn from the program​ (The Smarter Learning Guide)​.

Educational Content

  • Monthly listening calendars with themed music selections

  • In-depth exploration of different musical eras (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern)

  • Learning materials on major composers and musical instruments

  • Activities and resources including listening maps and flashcards​ (Squilt Music Appreciation)​​ (The Smarter Learning Guide)​

What’s Good About It Users often praise Squilt Live for its engaging content and the flexibility it offers to homeschooling families. The program’s ability to cater to different age groups and learning abilities without prior musical knowledge makes it a popular choice. The enthusiastic teaching style of Mary Prather, combined with interactive elements like live Q&A and chat responses during lessons, significantly enhances the learning experience​ (The Smarter Learning Guide)​.

What Could Be Improved While Squilt Live is widely appreciated, some users note that the reading and writing components in the worksheets may require parental involvement for younger children. Additionally, the reliance on digital access for participating in live lessons could be a limitation for families with inconsistent internet access​ (The Smarter Learning Guide)​.

Advice from Parents Parents recommend taking full advantage of the live interaction opportunities and the comprehensive lesson packs provided. Engaging actively with the material and utilizing the flexibility to adapt the curriculum to fit their child’s learning pace and interests can greatly enhance the educational experience​ (Inspiring Homeschooler)​.

Who It’s An Ideal Fit For Squilt Live is ideal for preschool to middle-school aged children and is particularly suited for families looking to integrate music appreciation into their homeschool curriculum without requiring prior musical knowledge. It’s also well-suited for co-op classes where different age groups learn together​ (Squilt Live)​.

Who It’s Probably Not a Fit For This program might not be the best fit for families looking for a highly traditional or classical music training approach. It may also not suit those without access to reliable internet, given the online nature of the lessons​ (The Smarter Learning Guide)​.

Grades Suitable for preschool through middle school.

Cost Pricing ranges from $22 monthly to $220 annually, with options for monthly, quarterly, and annual subscriptions​ (Squilt Live)​.

Ways to Get It Squilt Live can be accessed through their website, with various subscription options available to accommodate different family needs and preferences​ (Squilt Live)​.

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Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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