YMB #58 Singing in Morning Time: Yes, you can! A Conversation with Heather Bunting
Heather Bunting is passionate about helping families learn to sing — even if mom doesn’t think she can carry a tune at all. Through her free YouTube channel, Children of the Open Air, Heather helps make solfege lessons, hymns, and folks songs accessible for homeschool families everywhere.
In this episode of the podcast, Heather talks about the skill of learning to sing, how we can incorporate singing lessons into our Morning Time, and what to do about those who feel they lack the talent to succeed. I invite you to listen and be inspired to bring singing to your own Morning Time.

Links and resources from today’s show:
- SPONSOR: Maestro Classics
- Heather’s YouTube Channel, Children of the Open Air
- Heather on Instagram, @churchmouseathome
- Charlotte Mason IRL on Instagram, @charlottemasonirl
- Little Songster
- Sing Solfa
- A Philosophy of Music Education
- For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School
- Start Here: A Journey Through Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles
- Charlotte Mason’s Original Homeschooling Series
- Ambleside Online
- Mad Libs
- Piano Lessons with Hoffman Academy
- American Folk Songs for Children
- Elizabeth Mitchell | All Ages Folk Music
A Philosophy of Music EducationFor the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and SchoolStart Here: A Journey Through Charlotte Mason’s 20 PrinciplesMad LibsAmerican Folk Songs for ChildrenHome Education (The Home Education Series) (Volume 1)

Key Ideas about Singing in Morning Time
One of the greatest gifts we have as humans is our ability to sing. Each of us are born with a free instrument, our voice, and therefore we should learn to use it. Solfa, or Solfege, is a tool we can use to learn how to use our voices. It’s a way of helping the child learn how to hear the sounds in music and translate it to notes on a page.
By teaching our children how to sing at a young age, we are giving them a gift that they can use now and in the future. Having a successful experience with music in your homeschool doesn’t have to include singing on stage. Instead, the goal should be enjoyment, connection, and skill building.
Children of the Open Air on YouTube is a great channel for teaching children how to sing using Solfa. Heather makes the lessons short, simple, and a perfect addition to Morning Time.
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Find what you want to hear:
- [3:08] meet Heather Bunting
- [6:20] Morning Time in Heather’s home
- [10:35] importance of learning to sing
- [12:48] for the mom who can’t sing – can anyone learning to sing
- [17:30] music and the habit of attention
- [18:20] integrating music and singing into the day
- [21:45] defining solfege
- [24:48] Children of the Open Air lessons
- [28:28] preparing for a solfa lesson
- [30:30] helping the resistant child engage
- [37:36] helping the family sing togethe

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I take my walks outside two times a day. I enjoy listening to all the knowledge you have on your podcast! I am a mom of 7 and have been homeschooling for 18 years! I’m not a novice but have loved all your advice and input! Thank you for everything you do! I love it! Pam continues to do an amazing job with this podcast. She is a wonderful host, never hurried, asks great questions and really lets her guest share his/her experience fully. The variety of experience & wisdom here is fruit for the homeschooling community at large. I’ve been listening from day one and this podcast continues to be a top favorite. Thank you Pam! I’ve listened to YMB and Pam off and on for years, and she literally changed my life 7 years ago when I was just starting to homeschool. I’m so thankful for her ministry and encouragement to homeschool moms of all ages! I highly recommend doing morning time! This podcast is amazing and has helped me so much as recovering perfectionist homeschooling mama! Pam gives so much great insight into so many aspects of life and focusing on homeschooling. This podcast has been so great. It’s so practical and encouraging without being overly preachy or narrow. It gives ideas in a take-what-fits kind of way. I have used many of the recommended resources and ideas mentioned and been inspired by many others. Even the episodes that I found less relevant to me specifically, often had tidbits that I could use.
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