Art & Music Education

In her book The Hidden Art of Homemaking, Edith Schaeffer argues that everyone has a talent or skill ready to be discovered and put to use for the glory of God. Often, that talent lies dormant, and the individual is frustrated by the empty spot in their life it should fill. Finding your talent should be a priority, though it's no drudgery—discovering what God has made you good at is a joyful and exciting process.

Similarly, Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell never put his running before his duty to Christ; instead, he used his talent as a sprinter to glorify God. As he expresses in the brilliant film Chariots of Fire, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." God gives us talents to use in His name, and our joy in them is really our joy in Him.

Eric Liddell's talent led him to compete internationally; the "hidden art" Schaeffer describes is a little more modest, though no less glorifying to God when pursued humbly and gratefully. For Schaeffer, one's hidden art can be something as simple as arranging flowers on the kitchen table, or as elaborate as writing a story or painting a landscape. Everyone has different strengths, and each should learn to cultivate their own.

Our goal in teaching our children art and music isn't to raise a bunch of Van Goghs and Mozarts. If your child is a creative genius that's wonderful, but even if she can barely stay in the lines when coloring, her gifts are just as valuable to the Lord, and her discovery of them is just as important for her growth and personal happiness.

There are a few books in this section designed to help kids appreciate great art of the past, to learn about composers, or to identify the work of different painters and architects. However, most of what we offer is intended to help students across the whole range of ages to acquire and develop whatever skills they may have in sketching, painting, composing, instrument-playing, sculpting, acting, etc.

It's important to remember that no one will ever do anything perfectly, and first attempts are generally met with complete or near-total failure. Failure is often seen as an enemy, or simply as a hurdle to be overcome. Real failure, however, is integral to eventual success and (more importantly) to learning and character development. If a child managed to get everything right the first time, there would be no room for improvement, no reason to work hard.

Exercising one's creativity is essential. Humans were created in God's image, which means in part that we are creative beings, and whenever we're creative in ways that honor God, we're imitating Him. To the extent we can train our kids to do this, we should. Encourage them to do the best they can, because in the end they're doing it for God, and He expects nothing less.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
Did you find this review helpful?
103 Items found Print
Active Filters: 9th grade (Ages 14-15), New Books & Materials
101 Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$16.99
101 Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
40th Anniversary from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$18.99
101 More Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$18.99
20 Exciting Plays for Medieval History Classes
by Dean Bowman
from Walch Publishing
for 7th-9th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$25.00
20 Ways to Draw a Mustache and 44 Other Funny Faces and Features
by Cara Bean
from Quarry Books
for 3rd-Adult
in 20 Ways to Draw (Location: ELE-ARTDR20)
$14.00
20 Ways to Draw A Shoe and 44 Other Sneakers, Slippers, Stilettos, and Slingbacks
by Julia Kuo
Csm from Quarry Books
for 3rd-Adult
in 20 Ways to Draw (Location: ELE-ARTDR20)
$14.00
20 Ways to Draw a Strawberry and 44 Other Elegant Edibles
by Zoe Ingram
from Quarry Books
for 3rd-Adult
in 20 Ways to Draw (Location: ELE-ARTDR20)
$14.00
3-D Designs - Coloring Book
by Wil Steganga
from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
365 Promises From God's Word In Color: Scripture and Coloring Pages
from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$9.99
Advent Coloring Calendar
Clr Csm from Paraclete Press
for 3rd-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$11.99
Alexander Hamilton - Coloring Book
by Steven James Petruccio
Clr Csm from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$5.99
American Art Bingo Volume I
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$16.96
American Art History Volume I
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$33.96
American Art History Volume II
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$33.96 $27.00 (1 in stock)
Anatomy Coloring Book
by Wynn Kapit
4th edition from Pearson Education
for 9th-Adult
in Anatomy Coloring Books (Location: SCI-ANACOL)
$29.99
Annotated Mona Lisa
by Carol Strickland
2nd edition from Andrews McMeel
for 5th-12th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$16.00
Annotated Mona Lisa
by Carol Strickland
3rd edition from Andrews McMeel
for 5th-12th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$29.99
Architecture
Perspectives on History Series
by Pat Perrin
from History Compass
for 6th-9th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$7.95
Art Masterpieces to Color
by Marty Noble
from Dover Publications
for 5th-9th grade
in Fine Art Coloring Books (Location: COL-ART)
$10.95
Artist of the Reformation
by Joyce McPherson
from Greenleaf Press
Biography for 5th-9th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$12.95
ARTistic Pursuits High School Book 2
3rd Edition Classic Series from Artistic Pursuits
for 9th-12th grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$47.95
Big Book of Geometric Designs and Illusions to Color
by Koichi Sato, Spyros Horemis
illustrated edition from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$7.95
Bless the Lord, O My Soul - Coloring Devotional
by Christian Art Publishers (Compilation)
from Christian Art Publishers
for 7th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$14.99
Book of Many Colors - DVD
by Barry Stebbing
from How Great Thou Art
for 5th-10th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$32.95
Celebration Series - Piano Repertoire 1
by RCM Examinations
from Frederick Harris Music Co
for 8th-Adult
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$12.00
Celebration Series - Piano Repertoire 2
from Frederick Harris Music Co
Piano literature for ages 10-15
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$9.00
Celebration Series - Piano Repertoire 3
from Frederick Harris Music Co
Piano literature for ages 11-16
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$10.00
Celebration Series Perspectives - Piano level 3 Repertoire
from Frederick Harris Music Co
Piano literature for ages 11-16
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$11.00
Celebration Series Perspectives - Piano Repertoire 4
Piano literature for ages 12-18
in Piano Literature (Location: ELE-MUSPI)
$8.00
Celebration Series Perspectives - Piano Repertoire 5
from Frederick Harris Music Co
Piano literature for ages 13-18
in Piano Literature (Location: ELE-MUSPI)
$9.00
Chronicles of Narnia Official Coloring Book
by C. S. Lewis, Pauline D. Baynes
Clr Csm from HarperCollins
for 6th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$18.99
Color the Classics: Beauty and the Beast
Color the Classics
by Jae-Eun Lee
Clr Csm from Waves of Color
for 7th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$13.95
Color the Pacific Northwest
by Zoe Keller
Clr Csm from Timber Press, Inc.
for 5th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$12.95
Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan
by William Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan
from W. W. Norton and Co.
Drama for 9th-Adult
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$29.95
Concepts of Piano Theory - Level 5
by Ron Sadler
from ReSa Publications
Piano theory book for ages 10 and up
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$5.60
Concepts of Piano Theory - Level 6
by Ron Sadler
from ReSa Publications
Piano theory book for ages 10 and up
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$5.60
Concepts of Piano Theory - Older Beginner
by Ron Sadler
from ReSa Publications
Piano theory book for ages 10 and up
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$4.90
Creative Haven Arabesque Designs - Coloring Book
by Nick Crossling
First Edition, Fir from Dover Publications
for 7th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$6.99
Creative Haven Beautiful Birds - Coloring Book
Creative Haven
by Dot Barlowe
First Edition, Fir from Dover Publications
for 7th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$6.99
Creative Haven Fabulous Fashions of the 1950's
Creative Haven
by Ming-Ju Sun
from Dover Publications
for 5th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$7.99
Dancing for Fun - Book 1
by Mark Greathouse
from Great House of Music
in Dance (Location: ELE-DANCE)
$16.95
Dancing for Fun - Book 2
by Mark Greathouse
from Great House of Music
in Dance (Location: ELE-DANCE)
$22.95
Dazzling Designs - Coloring Book
by Koichi Sato
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Decorative Tile Designs Coloring Book
by Marty Noble
Clr from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Draw Real People
Discover Drawing Series
by Lee Hammond
from North Light Books
for 5th-Adult
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$15.99
Drawing American Art Volume II
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$25.46 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Drawing Lessons
by Willy Pogany
from Dover Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Advanced Drawing Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTDRAD)
$14.95
Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil
by J. D. Hillberry
from North Light Books
for 6th-Adult
in Advanced Drawing Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTDRAD)
$24.99
Drawing the Head
by Walter Foster
from Dover Publications
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$12.95
Drawing, Design, and Craft-Work
by Frederick J. Glass
from Yesterday's Classics
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$16.95
Engineering the City
by Matthys Levy, Richard Panchyk
from Chicago Review Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$14.95
Figure It Out!
by Chris Hart
from Chris Hart Books
for 4th-10th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$21.99
Floral Fairies - Coloring Book
by Carol Craig
Clr Csm from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$3.99
From Ordinary To Extraordinary
by Ken Vieth
from Davis
for 5th-10th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$17.50
Getty-Dubay Italic Calligraphy
by Inga Dubay
from Getty-Dubay Productions
for 6th-Adult
in Calligraphy (Location: HAN-CALLIG)
$29.95
Gift of Music
by Jane Stuart Smith & Betty Carlson
3rd edition from Crossway Books
for 6th-12th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$19.19
Give Me a Hand! History Skits 1942-1945
by Rebecca Locklear
for 8th-12th grade
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$12.00
God & the History of Art - DVD
by Barry Stebbing
from How Great Thou Art
for 4th-12th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$29.95
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
by Laura Amy Schlitz
from Candlewick Press
for 5th-9th grade
2008 Newbery Medal Winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.99
Gray's Anatomy Coloring Book
by Freddy & Henry Gray
from Running Press
for 4th-10th grade
in Anatomy Coloring Books (Location: SCI-ANACOL)
$12.95
Harry Potter Coloring Book
Clr Csm from Scholastic Inc.
for 7th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$15.99
Harry Potter Magical Places & Characters Coloring Book
Clr from Scholastic Inc.
for 6th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$15.99
How Great Thou Art II
by Barry Stebbing
2nd edition from How Great Thou Art
for 5th-10th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$14.95
How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way
by Stan Lee, John Buscema
Reprint from Touchstone
for 5th-Adult
in Advanced Drawing Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTDRAD)
$17.99
Human Brain Coloring Book
by Lawrence M. Elson
from Harper Perennial
for 9th-Adult
in Anatomy Coloring Books (Location: SCI-ANACOL)
$22.00
Inspire: Proverbs: Coloring & Creative Journaling through the Proverbs
Clr Csm from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$14.99
Inspire: Psalms: Coloring & Creative Journaling through the Psalms
Clr Csm from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$17.99
Italic Letters
by Inga Dubay & Barbara Getty
from Continuing Education Press
for 9th-Adult
in Getty-Dubayâ„¢ Italic Handwriting (Location: HAN-ITALIC)
$24.95 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Joy for the Journey - Coloring Book
by Amylee Weeks
from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$9.99
Kaplan Anatomy Coloring Book
by Eric Wise, Stephanie Mccann
7th edition from Kaplan
for 9th-Adult
in Anatomy Coloring Books (Location: SCI-ANACOL)
$24.99
Lifepac: Art - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in AOP Art & Drawing (Location: ELEDRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Art - Boxed Set
LIFEPAC Electives
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 4th-12th grade
in AOP Art & Drawing (Location: ELEDRA-AOP)
$108.00
Line Upon Line
by Janice Arduini
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th-12th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$10.60 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Little House Coloring Book
Clr Csm from HarperCollins
for 4th-Adult
in Little House Materials (Location: LIR-LHM)
$18.99
Manual of Clay Modeling
by Hermione Unwin
from Yesterday's Classics
for 1st-12th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$11.95
Marvelous to Behold
by Jennifer Courtney
from Classical Conversations
for 7th-12th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$31.99
Math in Motion
by Caleb Skogen
2nd edition from Classical Conversations
for 8th-12th grade
in Music Theory (Location: ELE-MUSTHE)
$19.99
Math in Motion - Answer Key
by Caleb Skogen
2nd edition from Classical Conversations
for 8th-12th grade
in Music Theory (Location: ELE-MUSTHE)
$12.99
Medicinal Plants - Coloring Book
by Ilil Arbel
from Dover Publications
for 1st-9th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.99
Mendelssohn - Selected Songs without Words
from Kjos Music Company
Piano literature for ages 10 and up
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$3.00
Music of the Great Composers
by Patrick Kavanaugh
from Zondervan
for 9th-Adult
in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP)
$21.99 $15.00 (1 in stock)
My Favorite Songs
by Maria Trapp
from Veritas Press
for Kindergarten-Adult
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$17.00
Nature Anatomy Notebook
by Julia Rothman
from Storey Publishing
for 6th-Adult
in Nature Study (Location: NAT-GEN)
$19.99
Nature Drawing & Journaling - DVD
by Barry Stebbing
from American Family Productions
for 9th-12th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$22.00
New Recital Pageants, Book 2
Piano Pageants
by Donald Waxman
Piano method book for ages 10-16
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$6.00
Official Dune Coloring Book
by Frank Herbert; illustrated by Tomislav Tomic
from ACE Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$17.00
Op Art - Coloring Book
by Jean Larcher
First Edition from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$4.99
Optical Illusions - Coloring Book
by Koichi Sato
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Pencil Drawing
by Eugene Metcalf, Mia Tavonatti, Michael Butkus, William Powell
from Walter Foster
for 4th-10th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$7.95
Performing Literature - Teacher's Edition
by Diana Smith
from Bob Jones University Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$58.06
Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien
by Christopher Tolkien (editor and text), illustrations by J.R.R. Tolkien
2021 Reissue from William Morrow & Company
for 9th-Adult
in Lord of the Rings (Location: LIR-LOTR)
$35.00
Psalms in Color
from Christian Art Publishers
for 6th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$9.99
Seven Wonders of the World
by Ron Tagliapietra
from Bob Jones University Press
for 8th-Adult
in International Landmarks & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANINT)
$12.95 $8.00 (1 in stock)
St. George and the DragonS Drama Skits
by Rebecca Locklear
for 6th-Adult
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$25.00
Student's Guide to Keeping an Art Journal
by Barry Stebbing
from How Great Thou Art
for 3rd-10th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$12.50
Student's Guide to Music History
by R. J. Stove
from Intercollegiate Studies Institute
for 9th-12th grade
$8.00
Trivium Tables: Music
from Classical Conversations
for 1st-12th grade
in Classical Conversations (Location: CUR-CC)
$12.00
Visual Illusions - Coloring Book
by Spyros Horemis
from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Watercolor Basics: Let's Get Started
by Jack Reid
from North Light Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$19.99
Watercolor with Me in the Forest
by Dana Fox
from St. Martin's Press
for 6th-Adult
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$24.99
12