Music changes the world.
It has the power to bring people together. It spreads a message. It stirs emotions.
And it’s not only about the notes. Science, technology and engineering play a role in sound waves—and museums across North America demonstrate how, with interactive exhibitions and educational programs that engage, inspire and inform.
Johnny Cash called the 1927 Bristol Sessions “the most important event in the history of country music,” and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee, celebrates that rich musical heritage. The museum and its educational programs explore how evolving sound technology shaped the Bristol Sessions’ success and highlights how the event lives on in today’s music.
The creative process. The art and technology of recording. The history of the GRAMMY Awards. All music forms and all steps in the process are explored and celebrated at GRAMMY Museum at LA Live in Los Angeles, California. Workshops and education programs offer students career development opportunities and lessons in English, history, science, math and politics through music.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, is the foremost museum devoted to the celebration and preservation of rock and roll. Students can pay homage to those honored in the Hall of Fame, and explore special exhibits and permanent installations that capture the ever-evolving spirit of the music that rocked—and continues to rock—the world. Connect with the powerful history through engaging educational programs and an extensive Library & Archives.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, Tennessee, is the only museum in the world dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of American soul music. Located on the original Stax Records studio site, the museum pays tribute to the artists who recorded there and to other American soul legends, through a rare collection of more than 2,000 artifacts, interactive exhibits, films and galleries.
Visiting Studio Bell in Calgary, Alberta, is as exciting as attending a music festival. Home of the National Music Centre, the 22 exhibition stages produce a clamor of sounds, light and interactive activities that encourage students to engage in an always-changing discussion of music in Canada. Curriculum-based workshops combine incredible musician educators, amazing instruments and authentic experiences that use music as an entry point to learning.
Written by Cassie Westrate. This article originally appeared in Teach & Travel.
Photo courtesy of Leblond Studio.
