Distance Learning
Experience the unique educational programs of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum without leaving your classroom. Our distance learning offerings provide instructive, engaging, and fun experiences, connecting to a worldwide audience through the Museum’s BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation Learning Lab. All programs include interaction with a Museum educator and a member of Nashville's vibrant musical community. Pre- and post-program lessons address Tennessee and national education standards, with a focus on fine arts/music, social studies/history, and English language arts. Some of our teacher resources are aligned to Common Core state standards. For more information, email schools@countrymusichalloffame.org.
Minimum group size is ten students.
Words & Music
Using the grade-specific, Common Core-aligned Words & Music Teacher’s Guide, teachers lead students through the lyric-writing process. Completed lessons are followed by a program with a songwriter who adds melodies to students' original lyrics. The program allows students to express themselves creatively while learning essential language arts lessons, and it offers the opportunity to interact with a professional songwriter. All Words & Music sessions are recorded for classroom use. A full description is available here. A two-hour teacher training is required prior to participating in Words & Music for the first time. The songwriter workshop is 60 minutes.
Grades: 3-12
Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Music, Social Studies
Is It a Fiddle or a Violin?
Discover the music, history, similarities, and differences between traditional fiddle playing and classical violin technique from two professional musicians. Is It a Fiddle or a Violin? challenges students to think about music in new ways. This one-of-a-kind, interactive experience is based on the Museum’s partnership program with the Nashville Symphony. The corresponding Teacher’s Guide offers pre- and post-program lessons. Is It a Fiddle or a Violin? is 45 minutes.
Grades: K-5
Group Size: 10-50 students
Curriculum Connections: Performing Arts, Music, Social Studies/History
Songwriting 101
Learn songwriting basics, express creativity, and write a song with a professional writer in this engaging workshop. Songwriting 101 introduces song form and reveals secrets behind the creative process through an authentic co-writing experience. Led by a Nashville songwriter, your class will work together to create original song lyrics, discussing writing fundamentals and tips throughout the session. The program concludes with a performance of the song and a question and answer period with the songwriter. Songs created in Songwriting 101 are recorded for classroom use. Pre- and post-program lessons are available here. Songwriting 101 is 45-60 minutes.
Grades: K-12
Group Size: minimum of 10 students
Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Music, Social Studies
Distance Learning Words & Music Professional Development
This informative program provides an overview of the distance learning programs offered by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. By the end of this professional development experience, educators will understand how programs and classroom support materials connect with standard teaching objectives, while offering a fun, inventive approach to core curriculum standards. The Distance Learning Programs Overview is 90-120 minutes.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum education technology partners include Cisco, Personal Computer Systems, Inc., and Promethean.
Pricing
Distance Learning student programs are $125. Schools with demonstrated need may receive a subsidy to cover the cost through the Museum’s Arts Access Fund (see below), depending on fund availability.
Words & Music professional development is free for teachers who have registered their classes for the Words & Music program. In order to offer free professional development, the Museum may require a minimum number of registrants. Private workshops are available for $125.
Arts Access Fund
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Arts Access Fund subsidizes the cost of field trips to the Museum and fees for distance learning programs for K-12 schools with demonstrated need. Subsidies are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, as funds are available, with priority given to Title I schools. Please see the Arts Access Fund Application for eligibility details and to apply for funding.