How to Choose an Elementary Music Curriculum (Buyer's Guide)

Choosing a music curriculum for PreK–5 is a big decision — it shapes how every student in your building experiences music, and it has to work for whoever is teaching it (specialist or not). Here's a practical guide to what actually matters, plus an honest look at how the most popular options compare.

6 things to look for in an elementary music curriculum

1. Standards alignment. It should map cleanly to NAfME / the National Core Arts Standards and your state framework (TEKS, VAPA, NGSSS, etc.). Tip: our free Pretty Standard Really tool lets you check any lesson against 8,000+ standards across all 50 states.
2. Easy for any teacher to deliver. The best curricula don't require a music specialist or a PD week. Look for press-play video lessons and a clear scope & sequence.
3. Age-appropriate & engaging. PreK–5 spans non-readers to pre-teens. Color-coding, movement, and singing keep the youngest engaged while still building real skills.
4. Hands-on instruments. Kids learn music by making it. Check that the curriculum pairs with affordable classroom instruments (bells, glockenspiels, boomwhackers, recorders).
5. Budget & procurement fit. Per-site pricing, PO acceptance, and allowable-use fit for funding like Title IV-A or California Prop 28. (See our funding guide.)
6. Support & longevity. Responsive support, regular updates, and a company that will be around in five years.

How Prodigies compares

There are several strong programs out there, and the right fit depends on your goals. Here's an honest read on the two we're asked about most:

Prodigies vs. Quaver Music

Quaver is a comprehensive, well-established core music curriculum. Compared to Quaver, Prodigies is more focused on the language of music — music theory, solfege, and playing your first instrument — and teachers tell us it's easier to use, more colorful, and more performance-focused. If your school already runs Quaver as its core, Prodigies works beautifully as the practical/performance block. It's also substantially more affordable and quicker to implement.

Prodigies vs. MusicPlay Online

MusicPlay Online is a massive database of songs and resources with more standard repertoire than Prodigies. The difference is the on-ramp: MusicPlay leans on traditional black-and-white notation, so a child generally needs to read the treble clef to get started. Prodigies' hand-drawn, bold, color-coded notation means anyone — a parent, an art teacher, a kindergartner with ADHD — can make music quickly. (More detail on our schools comparison page.)

Where Prodigies fits best

Prodigies PK–5 shines when you want every student playing and singing real music fast, taught by whoever is in the room, on a budget that scales. It's $295/year per school site (under $1 per student per month for a typical site), aligned to NAfME and the National Core Arts Standards, and turnkey.

Explore the PK–5 site license or the full elementary music curriculum, and check your standards in seconds with Pretty Standard Really.

Frequently asked questions

Is Prodigies a full core curriculum or a supplement?
Both — it's a complete, sequenced PreK–5 curriculum on its own, and it also works as a performance/practical supplement alongside a program like Quaver.

Do teachers need music training?
No. The video lessons carry the instruction and the color-coded system makes it accessible to non-specialists.

How do we buy it for a school or district?
Add the PK–5 license to your cart for a quote, or email hello@prodigies.com for a W-9, quote, or PO.

Comparisons reflect our own view and public positioning; evaluate each program against your school's goals.