Check out our updated list of Virtual Field Trips! They’re a fun way to introduce students to music history, unusual instruments, diverse performances, and a wide range of musical styles. They work well on “down” days, when you’ve just finished up a concert, and they can also be used as easy sub plans for when you have a non-music sub.
We’ve collected 10 of our favorite resources for virtual field trips below. There is something here for all age levels and music subjects, from general music to high school ensembles. If you have a favorite virtual field trip resource that we missed, share it with us in the comments, we’d love to hear about it.
If you find this resource helpful, we’d love it if you would share it with your friends and colleagues online, or on social media. Thank you!
THE KENNEDY CENTER EDUCATION VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES
WHO:
The Kennedy Center produces “virtual performances” for ages 3 and up, but most are geared toward elementary aged students. Teachers will need to register for upcoming performances, but there are also some on-demand video performances as well.
In addition to these performances, The Kennedy Center hosts a large library of high quality educational videos for all grade levels, on topics ranging from Hip Hop culture to Great Composers and everything in between. These can be found in their Digital Resource library here: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/collections/
“Engage your students with the arts and artists from Kennedy Center Education through our growing collection of on-demand virtual performances, presentations, and events.”
COST:
Pre-recorded and on-demand performances – FREE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM
WHO:
The Musical Instrument Museum (located in Phoenix, AZ) offers virtual field trips via on-demand video series for grades K-12. Videos come with activities and educator guides, some with a STEM focus.
WEBSITE: https://mim.org/virtual-education-programs/
“Each field trip video collection is designed to support a dynamic learning experience for students to explore world cultures, discover MIM’s galleries, and create music through 50+ minutes of tour videos and activities. Educator guide with standards is included!”
COST:
Starting at $3/video or $12/collection for stand alone videos of museum displays
Cost per virtual field trip video collection:
$75 per classroom
$200 per school (3+ classrooms up to 500 students)
$1,000 per district (501+ students up to a full district)
Free access may be available to students from Title I schools and programs
INSIDE THE ORCHESTRA
WHO:
Inside the Orchestra for Schools offers pre-recorded, hybrid, and live virtual field trips for grades K-8. Topics include a tour of the orchestra, high and low instruments, musical storytelling and more.
WEBSITE: Virtual Field Trips – Inside the Orchestra
“No field trips? No problem. Virtual Field Trips will bring music and art directly to you and your students! Programming carefully designed by professional musicians and educators to optimize the child’s experience. Inside the Orchestra won “Best Classical Music Education in Denver” for virtual programming in 2020.”
COST:
Pre-recorded virtual field trip – $50
Hybrid virtual field trip – with pre-recorded videos and live host – $80
Fully live virtual field trip – guided session with musician – $120
COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION
WHO:
The Country Music Association (CMA) and Discovery Education are partnering to immerse students, educators, and families in the instrumental STEAM skills and dynamic career paths that make up the Country Music industry.
WEBSITE: https://www.cmaworkinginharmony.com/virtual-field-trip/
“Discover the STEAM careers behind a live award show and the creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication needed to put on this televised event. Students will see how the strategy of decomposition helps break down a big event into smaller manageable problems. They will have the opportunity to see a variety of non-traditional career paths that come together and see how music can be used to communicate personal experiences and passions.”
COST:
Pre-recorded virtual field trip – FREE
MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
WHO:
The Manhattan School of Music offers a wide variety of virtual field trips, led by teaching artists. They also offer ensemble coaching virtually for choirs, concert bands, orchestras, chamber groups, jazz bands, and musical theater productions. Everything is booked through a third-party site called the Center for Interactive Learning.
WEBSITE: https://www.cilc.org/ContentProvider/ViewContentProvider.aspx?id=99
“With over a decade of experience in the field of distance learning and as the first conservatory in the nation to utilize videoconferencing for K-12 music education, Manhattan School of Music has adopted the key elements of presenting successful music education programs via videoconference. In addition to giving students access to world-class musicians and stimulating artistic perspectives, Manhattan School of Music ensures that the quality of videoconference transmissions are of the highest technical standards possible.”
COST:
Prices vary depending on the program but they range from $100 to $300.
DELTA BLUES MUSEUM
WHO:
The Delta Blues Museum has a great collection of short (most are between 2 and 10 minutes) videos, virtual field trips, and interactive “explore and learn” programs. These could be used for any grade level with appropriate teacher involvement.
WEBSITE:
Field Trips and Virtual Tours: https://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/field-trip-tour.aspx
Interactive Educational Programs: https://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/explore-learn.aspx
“Since its creation, the Delta Blues Museum has preserved, interpreted and encouraged a deep interest in the story of the blues. Established in 1979 by the Carnegie Library Board of Trustees and re-organized as a stand-alone museum in 1999, the Delta Blues Museum is the state’s oldest music museum.”
COST:
FREE (they do accept donations on their website)
PBS LEARNING
WHO:
If you haven’t already discovered the PBS Learning website, be prepared to lose track of time exploring all the available content. There are hundreds of educational videos on every topic imaginable, but just searching “music” will yield about 200 results. The videos are appropriate for a wide range of ages, so you will have to sift through to find what will work for your students.
Teachers can also create an account to gain access to additional lesson planning and organizational resources.
WEBSITE: https://pbslearningmedia.org/
“Bring the World to Your Classroom. Your local affiliate and PBS have curated FREE, standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more for teachers like you.”
COST:
FREE
CENTER FOR INTERACTIVE LEARNING
WHO:
This is the same entity that was mentioned above in the Manhattan School of Music section. They also offer other virtual field trips hosted by a range of musical ensembles and organization. The site is expansive, so you’ll need to search based on the age of your students, and your budget.
WEBSITE: https://www.cilc.org/Home
“CILC partners with world renowned museums, zoos, science centers, experts, and more, to connect individuals to live, interactive, virtual visits that inspire learning.”
COST:
Pricing ranges from FREE to $300 depending on the program selected.
MUSIC RECORDING STUDIO – KIDVISION
WHO:
KidVision Pre-K’s mission is to educate and inspire young children to be the best they can be. To achieve our mission, we visit many places in South Florida, so children learn about their communities, jobs people do here, and thereby also learn social studies, vocabulary, and a host of other skills through virtual experiences.
WEBSITE: https://www.kidvisionprek.org/about.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jexlyS0QG-o
“Miss Penny and the KidVision Kids go to a music studio to learn how a song is recorded. First, a songwriter explains how to write a song. In the recording studio they find out about all the equipment, besides instruments, that are needed to record a song. They sing their song in the live room. Finally, they work with a sound engineer at the mixing console to make their song perfect and record it!”
COST:
FREE
GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE
WHO:
Google Arts & Culture is a non-commercial initiative. They work with cultural institutions and artists around the world. Their mission is to preserve and bring the world’s art and culture online so it’s accessible to anyone, anywhere. They have many “exhibits”, including this one featuring photos from some of the most amazing stages in the world.
WEBSITE:
“Step inside some of the most beautiful theaters, concert halls, and opera houses in the world and experience the grandeur and drama of these iconic venues.”
COST:
FREE
