Rolling enrollment open. Courses prorated.
Explore now.Does your child hear music in their head that nobody else can hear yet? Do they tap rhythms on every surface, hum melodies out of nowhere, or wish they could create their own songs? Music Making gives students the tools and mentorship to turn those sounds into actual compositions, no prior experience required. Whether your child is a total beginner or already plays an instrument, they'll find their creative voice here alongside other young musicians.
Join us in Songwriting 101: From Inspiration to Composition and explore the world of melodies and rhythms. Over eight weeks, your young musician goes from the first spark of inspiration all the way to a finished, produced song.
Every session merges theory with hands-on creativity. We start by igniting that spark of inspiration, exploring the art of crafting original lyrics and melodies that are entirely your child's own.
Your child navigates the digital world with confidence, learning the ins and outs of music production in GarageBand and BandLab. They turn the ideas in their head into real tracks they can hear, refine, and share.
We decipher song structure together, from verses to choruses, so your child understands how to build a musical narrative that holds together and takes a listener somewhere.
Students grasp the rhythmic and harmonic concepts that lift a composition, then dive into arranging and mixing tracks, bringing their musical vision to life layer by layer.
Most of all, your child builds the confidence to share their creations with the world, laying the foundation for a lifetime of musical exploration.
This is just the beginning of what might be a life-changing passion for your young musician.
Music does not exist in a vacuum. Your child learns how history, politics, and human experience shaped the music they hear every day. That cultural awareness shows up in school projects, college essays, and the way they understand the world around them. Parents tell us their kids start making connections they never noticed before.
Being able to articulate why something moves you is a skill that transfers everywhere. Your child practices forming and defending their own opinions about music in a space where their perspective is valued. That confidence in their own voice carries into classroom discussions, interviews, and everyday conversations.
YSA is a UC-registered online publisher and WASC-accredited Supplementary Education Center, which means our courses can count toward official college credit requirements. State schools can recognize the courses your student takes here, adding real legitimacy to your homeschooling journey or building on top of your student's existing transcript. That unlocks two ways to enroll: For Credit -- Your student earns official, accredited credit toward their transcript. For-credit students complete weekly assignments that build toward their transcript grade. Outside-of-class work ranges from 1-2 hours per week. Perfect for families who want documentation that reflects what their child is actually capable of -- to show the world how brilliant they are. For Enrichment -- Your student takes the very same course purely for the love of learning. No grades, no outside-of-class work, no credit attached. Just the content, the community, and the growth. Same course. Same mentor. Same experience in class. You choose what fits your family.
If you homeschool, this works seamlessly. If your student attends another school full time, we create a report card and transcript that we share with you, and you share with the school. It is up to your primary school to accept it and add it to your student's official transcript.
Explore music history, theory, and the cultural forces that shaped the genres they love most 
Learn why certain songs create specific emotions, building an understanding of musical structure and composition 
Share their musical tastes and discoveries with like-minded peers in discussions that go beyond surface-level listening 
Build confidence expressing their ideas about music and culture, finding their voice as a critical listener and thinker 
Katie is a highly experienced music industry professional whose diverse inspiration is reflected in her varied body of work. She is a recipient of the American Prize in Opera Performance, has toured the country with her rock band, and has collaborated with well known rappers. Katie has also been teaching in a variety of settings for over 5 years, from virtual public schools during Covid, to one-on-one music lessons. As a former 2e student, and lifelong learner, she understands the complexity in all people, and the importance of not forcing anyone into a box. Her teaching style is one of adaptability and innovation, allowing each student's unique strengths to flourish.
WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING
Parents don't just see happier kids. They see sharper thinking, stronger friendships, and a child who actually wants to log on.
★★★★★
"We are of full confidence that our daughter would not be where she is if not for Katie’s approach of teaching in such a way that it allows her students to understand the true power of the medium to voice their unique points of view, passions, and emotions."
Vanessa E.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son wrote and produced his own song in a few weeks. Ms. Katie showed him how to turn the ideas in his head into something real."
Corinne B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"We are of full confidence that our daughter would not be where she is if not for Katie’s approach of teaching in such a way that it allows her students to understand the true power of the medium to voice their unique points of view, passions, and emotions."
Vanessa E.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son wrote and produced his own song in a few weeks. Ms. Katie showed him how to turn the ideas in his head into something real."
Corinne B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Ms. Katie taught my daughter GarageBand from scratch and now she will not stop making tracks. Her confidence exploded."
Hassan M.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Watching my shy kid share a song he wrote was unforgettable. Ms. Katie made him feel safe enough to put himself out there."
Delia K.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Ms. Katie taught my daughter GarageBand from scratch and now she will not stop making tracks. Her confidence exploded."
Hassan M.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Watching my shy kid share a song he wrote was unforgettable. Ms. Katie made him feel safe enough to put himself out there."
Delia K.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Ms. Katie helped my daughter find her own voice as a writer. The lyrics she comes up with now blow me away."
Reuben T.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"We have tried a lot of programs. Ms. Katie is the only one who got my music kid to actually finish something and be proud of it."
Paloma G.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Ms. Katie helped my daughter find her own voice as a writer. The lyrics she comes up with now blow me away."
Reuben T.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"We have tried a lot of programs. Ms. Katie is the only one who got my music kid to actually finish something and be proud of it."
Paloma G.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"We are of full confidence that our daughter would not be where she is if not for Katie’s approach of teaching in such a way that it allows her students to understand the true power of the medium to voice their unique points of view, passions, and emotions."
Vanessa E.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son wrote and produced his own song in a few weeks. Ms. Katie showed him how to turn the ideas in his head into something real."
Corinne B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Ms. Katie taught my daughter GarageBand from scratch and now she will not stop making tracks. Her confidence exploded."
Hassan M.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Watching my shy kid share a song he wrote was unforgettable. Ms. Katie made him feel safe enough to put himself out there."
Delia K.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Ms. Katie helped my daughter find her own voice as a writer. The lyrics she comes up with now blow me away."
Reuben T.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"We have tried a lot of programs. Ms. Katie is the only one who got my music kid to actually finish something and be proud of it."
Paloma G.
YSA parent
If you’re not 100% in love with the course, you have options depending on how you enrolled:
You can switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit or get a credit to use toward a future course.
You can either get credit toward a future course, switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit, or stop all future payments after a 30-day processing period.
No risk. No stress. Just the learning and belonging you have been looking for.
We can offer this because we know what we do works for thousands of other families. Kids become more self-confident. They find their people. And families tell us this is the place where their student finally feels welcome. We know it will work for your family, too.
All-Access Passes have separate terms and conditions. Please see the All-Access Pass pages.
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway... to qualify for the satisfaction guarantee policy, you have to actually attend the classes. This is not a cancellation policy. It’s a satisfaction guarantee. You can’t be satisfied or dissatisfied if you don’t attend.
Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that offers one-of-a-kind, engaging enrichment courses and community for 5-18-year-old bright, quirky kids to empower them to develop their strengths, make like-minded friends, cultivate life skills, build confidence, and feel great about themselves under the loving care of expert mentors. description2: >- Picture a place where your child fits in, is celebrated, mentored, and loves learning the unique content their beautiful brain craves. That happens every day at YSA for over 1,200+ families, and it can happen for your family, too.
WASC Accredited · 1,200+ Families · 93% Re-Enroll · 47+ States, 17 Countries, 6 Continents
Learn more about YSAQUESTIONS ABOUT THIS COURSE
Everything you need to know before enrolling your child.
No formal training required. Our music courses are designed for curious minds who want to explore music deeply - whether that means theory, history, production, or appreciation. Gifted and 2e students often have intense musical interests but lack peers who share them. This course gives them that community and the knowledge to go deeper.
Yes. YSA families join from 47+ states and 17 countries across 6 continents. All you need is an internet connection. We schedule sections across multiple time zones so families worldwide can find a time that works.
Music Making meets once per week for 50 minutes, every week from August through December. Your child joins the same tight-knit group of up to 8 students and the same mentor all semester long. Same friends, same mentor, a new challenge every week.
Our gifted and 2e students experience such asynchronous development that hard age limits rarely tell the full story. If your student should be aged up or aged down, contact us at support@youngscholarsacademy.org or click the chat in the bottom right corner of the screen. We do this all the time.
Please don't confuse reactive distance learning with what happens at YSA. When a kid is engaged in a course they chose, with a mentor who gets them and peers who share their interests, the screen disappears. They're not on a screen. They're with their people. Parents tell us their children fight to log on to YSA.
If your child isn't loving a course by the end of the first week, swap into a different course. Same semester. No questions. Not the right fit within the first month? We'll stop payments, switch courses, or issue credit toward any future course. The credit never expires. And you keep every bonus you've received. Over 93% of YSA families don't just stay. They add more courses.
No. Cameras are always optional. Always. Many of our students start with cameras off and turn them on when they're comfortable. Our mentors engage every student equally, cameras on or off.
No. If you're here, you're in the right place. We don't require paperwork, evaluations, or labels. Whether your child has been formally identified as gifted or twice-exceptional, whether you suspect it but haven't pursued testing, or whether you just know your kid's brain works differently and nothing else has fit, they're welcome here.
Yes. YSA is an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs including Arizona ESA, Utah Fits All, ClassWallet, My Tech High, Florida Step Up, and others. Enroll directly to secure your child's spot, submit the invoice to your ESA, and your payment method is refunded when funds transfer. Many families pay zero out of pocket.
Click "See Available Times" on this page, pick the section that fits your schedule, and your child's spot is secured immediately. No phone call. No placement test. No prerequisite.
Right now, a kid who thinks like your kid is in a course they chose, with a mentor who was once just like them, surrounded by friends who don't think they're weird... they think they're interesting.
Your child is one click from finding out what that feels like.
An internet connection and a can-do attitude!