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Hoffman academy for homeschool families

Discover Hoffman Academy, a fun and free way for homeschool families to learn piano through engaging video lessons.
Lisa Thorsen
Written byLisa Thorsen
3 min read
Key takeaways
  • Hoffman Academy provides over 300 free, engaging video lessons for children, making it an ideal piano curriculum for homeschool families
  • With its unique teaching method that emphasizes listening and hands-on experience, kids can learn music independently at their own pace, without the need for a private instructor.

Hoffman Academy is a video-based piano curriculum for kids and homeschool families. It offers over 300 free lessons covering music education essentials, making learning music fun and accessible.

Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024).

What is hoffman academy?

Hoffman Academy is a video-based piano program made for kids and homeschool families. Joseph Hoffman created it, and it has over 300 free video lessons. These lessons teach not just songs but also important music skills like ear training, music theory, sight reading, rhythm, improvisation, and composition. The program is designed to make music fun and easy to learn at your own pace, without needing a teacher in person. It's perfect for fitting into your flexible schedule.

The hoffman method

Hoffman Academy changes how music is taught. Instead of starting with notes on a page, kids learn to listen first ('ear before eye'). They connect sounds to music ideas before seeing the notes ('sound before symbol'). They get hands-on experience before explanations ('experience before explanation'). The short lessons, lasting 5 to 10 minutes, keep kids engaged. With songs, hand actions, singing, and games, kids learn in a fun way. This approach helps them really understand music, not just read notes.

Homeschool benefits

Hoffman Academy tackles common challenges of teaching music at home. You won’t have scheduling conflicts with other subjects since lessons can happen anytime. There’s no need for transportation to classes, and you can use the free content without ongoing costs. Kids can learn independently, so you don't need to be a music expert. The self-paced style supports different learning speeds. Many families have seen their kids start with Hoffman Academy and go on to study music in college. It’s a great way to start piano without spending a lot on private lessons.

The bottom line

Hoffman Academy makes quality piano education available to any family with internet access and a keyboard. The free lessons provide a strong musical foundation. If you’re serious about music, the premium features help students advance beyond the basics. For homeschool families looking to add music without the hassle and cost of private lessons, Hoffman Academy offers real education, not just fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lisa Thorsen
Written by
Lisa Thorsen

Co-founder, BetterSchool

Lisa is the co-founder of BetterSchool and a homeschool mom of three. BetterSchool administers the largest independent homeschool community in the country — over 350,000 families across all 50 states.

When COVID hit, Lisa and her husband pulled their children out of school and hit the road. Homeschooling wasn't the plan — it was a necessity. But somewhere along the way, the family fell in love with it: the time together, the ability to tailor lessons to each child's interests, learning at their own pace, the freedom to travel, eating healthy on their own schedule, and the countless other benefits that come with homeschooling.

As they traveled, Lisa kept discovering incredible hands-on learning experiences that most homeschool families had no way of finding. She built BetterSchool to make it easy for every family to find and book the experiences that make learning come alive.

Through her community, Lisa has helped hundreds of thousands of parents navigate homeschooling, while also helping local businesses find and serve the homeschool community. She is the former managing partner of a law firm focused on business law and mergers and acquisitions — BetterSchool is her second technology startup. She holds a J.D. from California Western School of Law and a B.A. from Penn State.

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Table of Contents

  • What is hoffman academy?
  • The hoffman method
  • Homeschool benefits
  • The bottom line
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