Rock & roll didn’t appear out of nowhere—it was built on the sounds and stories of earlier American music. In this engaging program, students will explore the roots of rock & roll by listening to and learning about three foundational musical styles: country, blues, and rhythm & blues. They’ll discover how these genres reflect the culture, geography, and everyday life of different regions across the United States—and how together, they sparked a musical revolution.

Through music listening, map reading, and classroom discussion, students will learn how these genres connect to the people, places, and cultures of America. Younger students (Grades K–4) will listen to key music examples and use U.S. maps to explore regional origins. Older students (Grades 5–8) will dig deeper into comparing musical styles and analyzing how regional environments and cultural traditions influenced their unique sounds.

After participating in this program, students should be able to:

• Identify musical styles that came before rock & roll.
• Locate where these styles originated across the United States.
• Explain how the geography and way of life in each region helped shape the music.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for Social Studies and the Ohio Learning Standards for Fine Arts in Music, with focus on the following key skills:

• American geographic regions: Northeast, South, Southwest, Midwest, and West
• Rural vs. Urban communities
• Using timelines to place events chronologically in history
• Identifying sounds, techniques, and characteristics used in different genres of music

How are our favorite songs brought to life? This engaging program introduces students to the core instruments that power rock & roll: percussion, strings, keyboards, and voice. Through dynamic live and video demonstrations, instructors will demonstrate how each instrument produces sound, how its sound can be changed or amplified, and how each instrument plays a unique role in a band. Along the way, students will hear musical examples that showcase how each instrument stands out and supports the overall sound of a song.  By the end, students will understand how instruments work together in a band to bring their favorite songs to life.

After participating in this program, students should be able to:

• Describe how each instrument creates sound.
• Identify ways sound can be changed or amplified.
• Explain each instrument’s role in a band and how they create music together.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for Fine Arts in Music and Ohio Learning Standards for Science, with focus on the following key skills:

• Responding to live performance as an audience member
• Identifying instruments (guitar, drums, piano) and their families (strings and percussion) based on sight and sound
• Understanding that sound is caused by vibrations and how instruments use vibrations to make music

Rock & roll didn’t appear out of nowhere—it was built on the sounds and stories of earlier American music. In this engaging program, students will explore the roots of rock & roll by listening to and learning about three foundational musical styles: country, blues, and rhythm & blues. They’ll discover how these genres reflect the culture, geography, and everyday life of different regions across the United States—and how together, they sparked a musical revolution.

Through music listening, map reading, and classroom discussion, students will learn how these genres connect to the people, places, and cultures of America. Younger students (Grades K–4) will listen to key music examples and use U.S. maps to explore regional origins. Older students (Grades 5–8) will dig deeper into comparing musical styles and analyzing how regional environments and cultural traditions influenced their unique sounds.

After participating in this program, students should be able to:

• Identify musical styles that came before rock & roll.
• Locate where these styles originated across the United States.
• Explain how the geography and way of life in each region helped shape the music.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for Social Studies and the Ohio Learning Standards for Fine Arts in Music, with focus on the following key skills:

• American geographic regions: Northeast, South, Southwest, Midwest, and West
• Rural vs. Urban communities
• Using timelines to place events chronologically in history
• Identifying sounds, techniques, and characteristics used in different genres of music

Why is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio? This dynamic program answers that question by exploring Cleveland’s pivotal role in the birth, rise, and continued legacy of rock & roll. Through stories of trailblazing radio DJs, record store owners, and unforgettable concerts, students uncover how Cleveland became a driving force behind the genre’s popularity.  They’ll examine how the city’s enthusiastic fans, legendary venues, and local advocacy ultimately helped secure Cleveland as the physical home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—outpacing other major cities in a national campaign.

Students will also discuss the purpose and impact of the museum today and explore how Cleveland continues to carry on its musical legacy.

After participating in this program, students should be able to:

• Summarize Cleveland’s role in the development of rock & roll.
• Explain why the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation selected Cleveland as its physical home.
• Describe how Cleveland’s music scene carries on its rock & roll legacy today.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for Science and the Ohio Learning Standards for Fine Arts in Music, with focus on the following key skills:

• Local history of Northeast Ohio
• Using timelines to place events chronologically in history
• Analyzing primary sources
• Media as a force for shaping public opinion

From block parties in the Bronx to global stages, hip-hop has grown into one of the most powerful cultural forces of our time. This dynamic program explores how hip-hop emerged not just as a new sound, but as a bold form of expression born from creativity, community, and resistance in 1970s Bronx.

Through engaging discussions, multimedia clips, and lyrical analysis, students will learn about the innovative technology behind hip-hop’s earliest beats, the social conditions that gave rise to the movement, and how MCs turned rhymes into rallying cries. They’ll also explore why hip-hop artists have earned their place among Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees since 2007.

After participating in this program, students should be able to:

• Express how the social and cultural climate of The Bronx in the 1970s contributed to the birth of hip-hop.
• Examine music technology, such as turntables and drum machines, that fostered innovation in the hip-hop sound.
• Discuss how lyrics became a part of hip-hop and developed into a vessel for delivering powerful messages.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for Social Studies and the Ohio Learning Standards for Fine Arts in Music, with focus on the following key skills:

• Analyzing lyrics to interpret theme, message, and cultural context
• Examining how social and historical conditions influence artistic expression
• Engaging in discussion by sharing ideas, supporting opinions with evidence, and considering multiple perspectives

I’m picking up good vibrations! What is sound—and how does it become music? In this interactive program, students explore the science behind what they hear every day. They’ll investigate how sound is produced, how it travels through different materials, and how our ears and brains perceive it. Through hands-on demonstrations and visual examples, students will uncover the basics of sound waves and learn to distinguish between music (organized sound) and noise (unwanted sound). This session connects STEM concepts with music in a way that’s both engaging and accessible.

After participating in this program, students should be able to:

• Explain what sound is and how it becomes music.
• Describe how humans perceive sound.
• Identify how science and technology contribute to music creation.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for Science and the Ohio Learning Standards for Fine Arts in Music, with focus on the following key skills:

• Understanding how humans hear and interpret sound
• Exploring pitch, volume, and vibration using real-world examples
• Identifying ways musicians use science and technology to create and manipulate sound

From block parties in the Bronx to global stages, hip-hop has grown into one of the most powerful cultural forces of our time. This dynamic program explores how hip-hop emerged not just as a new sound, but as a bold form of expression born from creativity, community, and resistance in 1970s Bronx.

Through engaging discussions, multimedia clips, and lyrical analysis, students will learn about the innovative technology behind hip-hop’s earliest beats, the social conditions that gave rise to the movement, and how MCs turned rhymes into rallying cries. They’ll also explore why hip-hop artists have earned their place among Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees since 2007.

After participating in this program, students should be able to:

• Express how the social and cultural climate of The Bronx in the 1970s contributed to the birth of hip-hop.
• Examine music technology, such as turntables and drum machines, that fostered innovation in the hip-hop sound.
• Discuss how lyrics became a part of hip-hop and developed into a vessel for delivering powerful messages.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for Social Studies and the Ohio Learning Standards for Fine Arts in Music, with focus on the following key skills:

• Analyzing lyrics to interpret theme, message, and cultural context
• Examining how social and historical conditions influence artistic expression
• Engaging in discussion by sharing ideas, supporting opinions with evidence, and considering multiple perspectives

Why is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio? This dynamic program answers that question by exploring Cleveland’s pivotal role in the birth, rise, and continued legacy of rock & roll. Through stories of trailblazing radio DJs, record store owners, and unforgettable concerts, students uncover how Cleveland became a driving force behind the genre’s popularity.  They’ll examine how the city’s enthusiastic fans, legendary venues, and local advocacy ultimately helped secure Cleveland as the physical home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—outpacing other major cities in a national campaign.

Students will also discuss the purpose and impact of the museum today and explore how Cleveland continues to carry on its musical legacy.

After participating in this program, students should be able to:

• Summarize Cleveland’s role in the development of rock & roll.
• Explain why the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation selected Cleveland as its physical home.
• Describe how Cleveland’s music scene carries on its rock & roll legacy today.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for Science and the Ohio Learning Standards for Fine Arts in Music, with focus on the following key skills:

• Local history of Northeast Ohio
• Using timelines to place events chronologically in history
• Analyzing primary sources
• Media as a force for shaping public opinion

Music has long served as a powerful tool for protest, expression, and social change. In this engaging, discussion-based program, students will explore how artists have used music to respond to major events and movements throughout modern history.

Using listening and video examples, students will analyze songs from key moments such as the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. They’ll examine how artists like Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and Black Sabbath used lyrics, style, and sound to speak out—and how those messages connect to modern protest music today.

By the end of the session, students will be able to:

• Examine how music is shaped by social and political movements.
• Analyze how artists use different musical styles to share powerful messages.
• Discuss how protest music continues to evolve while echoing themes from the past.

This program is tailored to the Ohio Learning Standards for English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Fine Arts in Music, with focus on the following skills:

• Analysis of figurative language as a songwriting tool
• Lyric analysis of songs as poetry
• Historical events of the late twentieth century and their impact on art and music
• Use of song lyrics, recordings, and performance footage as a primary source in historical analysis

1. Submit a request form with your preferred dates.
2. We’ll confirm your visit or offer alternative dates.
3. Once booked, you’ll receive:
   1. Visit details
   2. Pre-visit materials
   3. A Teacher Guide
4. A reminder email with your tickets will be sent closer to your trip.

When you book your visit, your group will be assigned either a 10:00 AM or 11:30 AM program time.  Programs are 45 minutes in length and take place in the Foster Theater.

• For 10:00 AM programs, groups should arrive at 9:45 AM, attend the program in the Foster Theater at 10:00 AM, and then explore the museum afterward.
• For 11:30 AM programs, groups should arrive at 10:00 AM, explore the museum first, and attend the program at 11:30 AM.

Departure time is flexible–groups are welcome to leave whenever it best fits their schedule.

In the weeks leading up to your visit, we’ll send you detailed information about arrival and check-in, as well as pre-visit materials to help you prepare your students.  On the day of your visit, you’ll receive resources designed to support you and your chaperones in guiding students through the exhibits.

Due to construction related to our building expansion, we are currently unable to provide a guaranteed lunch space for school groups. You may still bring packed lunches and use available tables in our café space; however, please let us know your lunch plans in advance. Depending on your group’s size, we may ask you to stagger student lunch times due to limited café seating, so that some seating remains available for other museum visitors.  Our temporary café (October-May) will not be able to accommodate school groups purchasing lunch onsite. Weather permitting, students are welcome to eat outside on the plaza. Thank you for your understanding as we grow our building!

Thanks to generous support, many school groups are eligible for free admission with the booking of a free educational program.

Schools that qualify for free educational visits include:

• All Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) schools (plus transportation reimbursement)
• All Northeast Ohio schools (ZIP codes 440–443)
• Any Title I School
• Howley Scholars schools

If your school doesn’t qualify under one of these categories, please email us at education@rockhall.org for pricing details.

For programs at the Rock Hall, we require 1 adult for every 10 students. Teachers and chaperones are admitted without charge up to 1 adult for every 5 students.  Additional adults will be charged a regular admission fee.

We do require that chaperones stay with the students, of all grade levels, during the entirety of the visit, helping ensure that students explore the exhibits, artifacts and interactives with care.

Our Foster Theater, where our programs take place, has a total capacity of 165. If you are looking to book groups with more than 150 students, please email us so we can assist with booking multiple programs.

If you have a group size less than 50 and are having trouble finding a date/time, reach out via email, as we may be able to add you to a preexisting smaller booked group.

Edu@rockhall.org

We are in the process of developing a Preschool-1st grade field trip program that we will be offering a pilot version of in Spring of 2026.  The program will focus on the basic building blocks of music, using an interdisciplinary approach and integrating early literacy along with movement to get your smallest students engaged and learning.  If you are interested in attending one of our pilot classes for this program reach out to us via email! edu@rockhall.org