We are thrilled to announce that we have expanded our program offerings for the 2024 school year!

National Music Centre’s school programs work towards the mission of amplifying the love, sharing, and understanding of music in Canada. Our hands-on programs are based on Alberta’s K-12 curriculum and programs of study. Featuring items from NMC’s rare and unique collection, programs are led by talented musician educators who will make concepts come to life.

We are excited to introduce a range of new programs of varying lengths, activities, and curriculum connections. This means you can select the perfect visit that aligns perfectly with your in-classroom teaching!

Book your program today

For more information, please email education@nmc.ca.

Packages

• The Ultimate Experience

  Age Group: Grades 2-6
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $705 ^+GST per class (30 students)*
  Length: 4 hours

  The Ultimate Experience includes:

  • Classroom program of your choice (see options below)
  • A special educator-led hands-on activity in the museum of your choice (see options below)
  • Museum exploration
  • Access to a lunchroom
  • A special 30-minute demonstration of Studio Bell’s famed Kimball Theatre Organ

  *The Ultimate Experience can host a minimum of 30 students and a maximum of 120.
  

• The Classroom Experience

  Age Group: Grades 2-6
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $600 ^+GST per class (30 students)*
  Length: 3.5 hours

  The Classroom Experience includes:

  • Classroom program of your choice (see options below)
  • A special educator-led hands-on activity in the museum of your choice (see options below)
  • Museum exploration
  • Access to a lunchroom

  *The Classroom Experience can host a minimum of 30 students and a maximum of 120.
  **Kimball not included.

• The Mini Classroom Experience

  Age Group: Recommended for Grades K-6
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $510 ^+GST per class (30 students)*
  Length: 2.5 hours

  The Mini Classroom Experience includes:

  • Classroom program of your choice (see options below)
  • A special educator-led hands-on activity in the museum of your choice (see options below)
  • Museum exploration

  *The Classroom Experience can host a minimum of 15 students and a maximum of 120.
  **Kimball not included.

• The Gallery Experience

  Age Group: Grades K-6
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $450 ^+GST per class (30 students)*
  Length: 2.5 hours

  The Gallery Experience includes:

  • Museum exploration
  • A special educator-led hands-on activity in the museum of your choice (see options below)

  *The Gallery Experience can host a minimum of 15 students and a maximum of 60 students.
  **Kimball not included.

• The Tour Experience

  Age Group: Recommended for Grades 7–12
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $540 ^+GST per class (30 students)*
  Length: 1-2.5 hours (recommended 2.5 hours)

  The Tour Experience includes:

  • A Behind-The-Glass tour of Studio Bell led by NMC’s talented educators

  *The Tour Experience can host a maximum of 30 students.
  **Kimball not included.

• The Self-Guided Experience

  Age Group: Recommended for Grades 7–12
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $400 ^+GST per class (30 students)*
  Length: Recommended 2.5 hours

  The Self-Guided Experience includes:

  • Just that – we’re all in the car, but you’re the one behind the wheel!
  • One of our talented educators onsite to help answer questions and interpret artifacts.
  • Safe storage of your belongings while you explore

  *The Self-Guided Experience can host a maximum of 120 students.
  **Kimball not included.

ADD-ONS

• Additional Persons

  $13.50 ^+GST (per added person)*

  *Over 20, under 30

• Kimball Theatre Organ

  Age Group: All
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $150 ^+GST (per group of up to 60 students)*
  Length: 30 minutes – to be added to the time of your stay
  

  No visit to Studio Bell is complete until you’ve seen and heard the famed Kimball Theatre Organ. Join us for an exclusive demonstration of this iconic instrument, where you’ll discover the unique functions of this instrument whilst exploring the history of sound in cinema! Finally, let NMC’s skilled educators take you on a journey through some classic songs from film and television.
  

  *Kimball price extends to each group of 60 to a maximum of 120.

• Music Odyssey

  Age Group: All
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $45 +GST per group of 30 students (maximum 60 students)
  Length: 30-60 minutes
  

  An Amazing Race-style scavenger hunt in Studio Bell, focusing on music and art exploration. Students will work in groups to gather photos and videos* based on a list of prompts about the museum. As your students navigate the museum, they'll encounter the wonders of musical instruments, historical artifacts, and legendary musicians from different eras. Students will leave with prizes and memorable photos to take home and share with their classmates, teachers, family and friends.

  *Parent supervisors & teachers are highly encouraged to bring their own device that is suitable for photo and video. For a nominal fee, parents and teachers can rent a device during their visit, after which time an NMC team member will facilitate a file transfer and device wipe.

• Music Industry 101: Exploring The Professional Artist Hats

  Age Group: Grades 10-12 and College/University*
  Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
  Cost: $150 ^+GST per group*
  Length: 60-90 minutes

  NOTE: Must be booked with either the Tour Experience or Self-Guided Experience

  Join this educational presentation designed for aspiring musicians! Tailored for students considering a career in music, this session explores the multifaceted roles artists play in the industry. From the art of song writing and dynamic live performances to the intricacies of recording, releasing music, and effective self-marketing, we delve into the diverse hats musicians must wear.

  *This experience is intended for students participating in arts and music courses, accommodating 15-30 students at one time.

CLASSROOM PROGRAM OPTIONS

• Good Vibrations

  Recommended for Grades 2-6

  A classroom program that explores vibration, pitch, timbre, and volume through hands-on
  instrument exploration.

  • Students will gain a clear understanding of vibration and its role in producing sound
  • Through kinetic exploration, students will learn how the speed of vibration affects pitch and the size of vibration influences volume
  • Students will discover four methods of energizing instruments (struck, pluck, air, and electric)
  • Exploring various musical instruments, students will understand how they control pitch and volume to create expressive music

  Curriculum Connections

  Grade 2 Science
  

  • Matter: Understandings of the physical world are deepened by investigating matter and energy
    - Materials are used to make objects; materials have unique properties
    - The purpose of an object influences the choice of materials used to produce it
  • Energy: Understandings of the physical world are deepened by investigating matter and energy
    - Sound behaves in various ways- Sound is produced by vibrations of objects.
    - Vibration is a rapid back-and-forth movement.
    - Sources of sound can be natural or human-made
    - Characteristics of sound (pitch, volume, duration)
    - Sound can travel through air, water, and some solids.
    - Properties of materials that affect the production and behaviour of sound

• Words To Song

  Recommended for grades 2 -6

  A classroom program that connects with the K-6 Language Arts curriculum.

  • Students will learn how to make patterns out of words using rhyme, repetition, and syllables.
  • Students will leave with an understanding that music is built from patterns.
  • Students will understand ways to form lyrical or poetic patterns in songs.
  • Students will explore their own song-writing creativity.

  Curriculum Connections

  Grade 2 English Language Arts and Literature

  • Distinguish syllables in words.
  • Identify words or phrases used in imaginative ways that support messages in poetry and song.
  • Examine rhyming couplets.
  • Investigate words or phrases applied creatively.
  • Contribute to a variety of listening and speaking activities to build confidence in oral language skills.
  • Listen for changes in vocal emphasis in oral communications.
  • Contribute to discussions as a listener and speaker.
  • Participate in presentations as a respectful audience member.
  • Develop communication skills through individual or group presentations.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITY OPTIONS

• Rhythm Nation

  Recommended for Grades K-12

  This hands-on in-gallery program is designed for students to have fun, express themselves through music, and develop essential skills like rhythm and coordination. Students will be introduced to two folk instruments – the djembe and the wooden spoon. Participants will gain cultural insights into these two folk instruments while having fun and expressing themselves through music.

  • Students will experiment with rhythm, tempo, and the call-and-response musical form
  • Students will explore creating both simple and complex patterns through interactive kinetic exploration
  • Students will learn about and build skills with active listening and groupwork

• Draw What You Hear

  Recommended for Grades 4-9

  This hands-on in-gallery program merges art and music to explore the visualization of sounds. Students will discover how to associate colors, shapes, feelings, and words with sounds, instruments, and music.

  • Students will explore diverse approaches to visualize sound and rhythm
  • Students will uncover abstract methods of visualizing sound, fostering creative expression
  • Students will gain insights into concepts like timbre, enriching their understanding of sound's nuances

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• How do I book an educational program?

  To request a program booking, fill out the online Education Program Booking Request form. A member of our team will reach out to you to confirm your booking.
  

  Programs must be booked within at least two weeks of the visit date. Space is limited so we recommend booking early.

• How many students can participate in a program?

  Some of our programming takes place in small classrooms and galleries which cannot exceed certain capacities to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Unless otherwise stated, the pricing per program is per 30 students. The maximum capacities of each program is as follows:
  

  • The Ultimate Experience: 120 students
  • The Classroom Experience: 120 students
  • The Mini Classroom Experience: 90 students
  • The Gallery Experience: 60 students
  • The Tour Experience: 30 students
  • The Self-Guided Experience: 60 students
• How many adult supervisors should attend?

  We kindly request that all bookings observe the following supervision ratios:

  • Kindergarten: 1 adult to 5 students (1:5)
  • Grades 1 to 3: 1 adult to 8 students (1:8)
  • Grades 4 to 6: 1 adult to 10 students (1:10)
  • Grades 7 to 9: 1 adult to 13 students (1:13)
  • Grades 10 to 12: 1 adult to 15 students (1:15)

  Groups that exceed this ratio will be charged a reduced General Admission rate per additional chaperone. Please note that all chaperones are required to supervise and manage student behavior during your visit so that our NMC educators can put their energy into giving your students the best possible experience!

  Repeated disrespectful behavior will result in the program being cancelled without refund.

• How do I pay?

  Your school will be invoiced by e-mail prior to your visit with instructions for payment. We accept a variety of modes of payment. In order to confirm your booking, we require a 25% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance must be paid upon arrival prior to starting the program. Please note that we no longer accept mailed cheques; if you wish to pay by cheque, this must be hand-delivered upon arrival.

• Do you offer discounts or subsidized pricing?

  We understand the financial challenges educators face with budget cuts and inflation. While we are unable to offer further discounts at this time, NMC’s education programs provide a competitive price and substantial added value compared to General Admission. With a range of programs and pricing, we’re sure we can find the perfect program for your students. We’ve included a per person cost comparison below:

  General Admission
  Youth (Ages 4-12) .......... $13.50
  Students ......................... $16.50

  Education Programs
  Ultimate Experience ..................... $23.50
  Classroom Experience .................. $20.00
  Mini Classroom Experience .......... $17.00
  Tour Experience ............................ $18.00
  Gallery Experience ........................ $15.00
  Self-Guided Experience ................ $13.30
  

• Where should the bus driver drop off and pick up?

  Studio Bell’s newly created east block loading zone is now on 9th Avenue on the south side of the building. This is now the main loading zone for the building and includes an elevated bike lane on an asphalt sidewalk. This loading zone will accommodate school and tour buses for both drop-offs and pickups. There is room for two buses in this loading zone meaning that buses can now arrive early and park when picking up school groups or tour groups. There is no longer a daytime loading zone along 4th street SE.

• Is there somewhere we can eat lunch after/before our trip?

  Due to space constraints, we cannot provide lunchroom access to those on The Mini-Classroom Experience, The Gallery Experience, The Tour Experience and The Self-Guided Experience.

  If you require use of a lunchroom, we recommend booking The Ultimate Experience or The Classroom Experience.

  If neither of these programs is suitable, we kindly ask that you make plans in advance to eat at a neighboring spot in East Village, such as the Calgary Central Library or the Fort Calgary grounds.

  Students are encouraged to have a snack before arriving, but will also be invited to have a snack during the welcome/orientation portion of the program.

• How do I make changes to my booking once it’s been confirmed?

  We are a small team, and for this reason we do request that you verify that all information is correct prior to confirming your booking. More than one change to your booking (number of students, time changes, program changes etc.) will incur a $25 administration fee per requested change.

• How do I cancel or reschedule a program?

  Cancellations must happen at least two weeks prior to the date of the program, otherwise a penalty charge will be incurred. If you need to make any changes or cancel a booking, please email us at education@nmc.ca.

  A cancellation fee of $70 per program will be charged for cancellations that occur less than two weeks prior to your visit. The full program fee will be charged in the event of cancellations within 72 hours prior to your visit.

  In the event of school closures due to weather or unsafe driving conditions, either party may cancel programs on the day of without penalty and every effort will be made to re-schedule. In the event of an emergency cancellation, please contact us at 403-543-5115.
  

• Are your programs offered in French?

  At this time, NMC’s education programs are exclusively offered in English. That said, we hope to expand our offerings in the future!

• What time should we arrive?

  Upon arrival to Studio Bell, your group will be gather in the lobby to remove jackets, drop off backpacks, have a snack and receive a brief welcome/orientation to Studio Bell. Since all of this will take some time, we recommend you arrive approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time of your program, unless otherwise specified at the time of booking. We understand that sometimes weather and traffic can lead to arriving later than anticipated. That said, we schedule our team based on the timing of your booking; for that reason, unfortunately we cannot extend your program in the event of a late arrival.

• What should we bring with us?

  If you’re booking the Ultimate Experience or the Classroom Experience, please have your students bring along a bagged lunch for your trip.

  Due to space constraints, we cannot provide lunchroom access to those on The Gallery Experience and The Tour Experience. Students are encouraged to have a snack before arriving.

  We also recommend that all visitors wear good walking shoes and a water bottle, as some areas of Studio Bell do not contain water fountains. Otherwise, the most important thing is to bring your imaginations!