Distance & Virtual Learning
Experience the unique educational programs of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum via video conference for physical and virtual classrooms. 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. Our curriculum materials 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. Pricing starts at $125; details below.
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.
2021 Virtual Program Dates: March 10, March 25
Grades: K-5
Group Size: 10-50 students
Curriculum Connections: Curriculum Connections: Music, Social Studies, Social Emotional Learning, STEAM, Performing Arts
STEAM: Listening Technology Over Time
Explore the history of music listening technologies—from the gramophone to the iPod — in this interactive videoconference program. Students are challenged to think critically as they make observations, compare and contrast, and eventually discover how and why these technologies have changed over time. This program utilizes multimedia to provide a powerful look at the intersection of history, art, and technology.
Grades: 3-8
Group size: 10-50 students
Curriculum Connections: Music, Social Emotional Learning, Social Studies, STEAM
STEAM: Science of Sound at Historic RCA Studio B
Historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest operating recording studio, exists at the intersection of science, technology, history, and music. In this interactive videoconference program, students evaluate how reflection, refraction, and other properties of sound waves shaped the studio space. Students will also learn about the rise of Music Row and hear the songs recorded by artists like Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Waylon Jennings that defined this studio as the “Home of 1,000 Hits.”
Grades: 2-12
Group Size: 10-50 students
Curriculum Connections: Music, Social Emotional Learning, Social Studies, STEAM
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
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
Guided Highlights
TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE
Travel in time from country music’s folk roots and the dawn of radio to contemporary country and the age of YouTube and streaming services. In this interactive virtual program, students experience pivotal moments in United States history as told through the Museum’s one-of-a-kind collection. Students encounter the Museum's architectural details, music, films, visual art, and artifacts to learn about Nashville’s place in American history and culture. Through analysis of key musical instruments, technological advances, and personal style, the country music story – a story of immigration and culture convergence – comes to life.
Grades: K-12
Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts, Music, Social Studies, Visual Art
Dazzling Designs
This interactive virtual program highlights country designers, instrument makers, and other engineers whose designs enliven the Museum mission. By studying key objects and their details, students review design concepts, learn about personal expression and symbolism, and discover American and country music history. The culminating activity has students create their own unique work of art.
Grades: K-3
Group Size: minimum of 10 students
Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts, Music, Social Studies, Visual Art
Hatch Show Print
Discover how a letterpress print shop established in 1879 thrives in the digital age. In this interactive virtual program cast from the Hatch Show Print Shop, students learn about the letterpress printing process, from initial sketches to the final pass through the press. They also explore the shop’s connection to Southern entertainment and the history of graphic design by examining real Hatch prints.
Grades: 3-12
Curriculum Connections: Visual Art, Math, Steam, Social Studies
Pricing
Synchronous Distance Learning programs are $125. Each additional program is $100. All programs are free to Metro Nashville Public Schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Non-Metro schools with demonstrated need may apply for Arts Access Subsidy support to receive a reduced rate or full waiver of fees.