Explore NMC's expanded musical menu of education offerings for 2023!
National Music Centre’s school programs at Studio Bell use music as lens for understanding the world around us, while connecting students to the ongoing evolution of Canada’s music story. Our hands-on, ears-on, minds-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 bring core-curriculum concepts to life.
With four new programs of varying lengths and activities, teachers can choose the trip that works best for their students!
For more information, please email education@nmc.ca.
Education Program Options
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The Ultimate Experience
Age Group: Grades 2-6
Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
Cost: $600 + GST per class*
Kimball: $100 + GST per up to 2 classes (60 students)**
Length: 4.5 hoursThe Ultimate Experience includes:
- 1 hour classroom experience with hands-on interaction including acoustic and electric instruments and an introduction to music-making
- Museum exploration based on a brand-new resource National Music Centre Greatest Hits
- A special educator-led hands-on activity in the museum of your choosing:
- Rhythmic Hand Drumming or;
- Draw What You Hear - Access to a lunchroom
- A special 30-minute demonstration of NMC’s famed Kimball Theatre Organ
- Discussion at the end
*The Ultimate Experience can host a minimum of 30 students and a maximum of 120. Price extends to each group of 30.
**Kimball price extends to each group of 60 to a maximum of 120.
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The Classroom Experience
Age Group: Grades 2-6
Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
Cost: $600 + GST per class*
Length: 4 hoursThe Classroom Experience includes:
- 1 hour classroom experience including hands-on interaction with acoustic and electric instruments and an introduction to music-making
- Museum exploration based on a brand-new resource National Music Centre Greatest Hits
- A special educator-led hands-on activity in the museum of your choosing:
- Rhythmic Hand Drumming or;
- Draw What You Hear - Access to a lunchroom
- Discussion at the end
*The Classroom Experience can host a minimum of 30 students and a maximum of 120. Price extends to each group of 30.
**Kimball not included.
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The Gallery Experience
Age Group: Grades K-12
Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
Cost: $300 + GST per class*
Length: 2.5 hoursThe Gallery Experience includes:
- Museum exploration based on a brand-new take-home resource The Great Canadian Tour
- A special educator-led hands-on activity in the museum of your choosing:
- Rhythmic Hand Drumming or;
- Draw What You Hear
*The Gallery Experience can host a minimum of 30 students and a maximum of 60 students. Price extends to each group of 30.
**Kimball not included.
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The Tour Experience
Age Group: Recommended for Grades 5 – 12
Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
Cost: $400 + GST per class*
Length: 1-2.5 hours (recommended 2.5 hours)The Gallery Experience includes:
- 1 hour Behind-The-Glass tour of Studio Bell led by NMC’s talented educators
- Museum exploration based on a brand-new resource National Music Centre Greatest Hits
*The Tour Experience can host a maximum of 30 students. Price extends to each group of 30.
**Kimball not included.
Add-ons
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Kimball Theatre Organ
Age Group: All
Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
Cost: $150 + GST per group*
Length: 30 minutes – to be added to the time of your stay*No minimum or maximum required
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.
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DIY Instrument Bundle
Age Group: All
Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
Cost: $30 + GST per class*
Length: Take home class project*Up to 30 kids; $2 for each additional
In this take-home activity, classes are invited to create their own wind instrument from everyday objects! Through this project, students will apply their knowledge of energy, vibration, pitch and volume in order to become ultimate sound sandwich masters!
Frequently Asked Questions
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School Programs 2023 FAQ
How do I book an educational program?
You can find online registration forms on the Book A School Program page. Here you will find a request form in which you can indicate the details of your booking. A member of our team will reach out to you to confirm your booking.
I booked my 2023 trip in 2022 – do these program and pricing changes affect my booking?
NMC will honor all previously booked 2023 programs at their original price and program description. Please contact us if you’d like to change your original booking for one of our new program offerings.
When should I book an educational program?
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 Gallery Experience: 60 students
- The Tour Experience: 30 students
What curriculum ties can I expect from these programs?
NMC’s education program continues to align with the former Grade 3 Science Hearing & Sound unit. However, many of the topic presented within the 2022-2023 draft curriculum are also present within NMC’s school programs, including:
Science K-6
Matter: Understandings of the physical world are deepened through investigating matter and energy.
Energy: Understandings of the physical world are deepened through investigating matter and energy
Computer Science: Problem solving and scientific inquiry are developed through the knowledgeable application of creativity, design, and computational thinking.
Scientific Methods: Investigation of the physical world is enhanced through the use of scientific methods that attempt to remove human biases and increase objectivity.
Mathematics K-6
Patterns: Awareness of patterns supports problem solving in various situations.
Social Studies K-6
History: Understanding the history of our province, nation, and world and developing cultural literacy allow us to appreciate the varied richness of our shared human inheritance of original writings, artifacts, stories, beliefs, ideas and great cultural and artistic achievements from different times and places. Lessons of the past and knowledge of diverse experiences help us overcome ignorance and prejudice and recognize our common humanity and dignity.
Geography: Understanding the world we live in, and the relationship of people and places, is supported by knowing features of the natural and political world, such as oceans, mountain ranges, and boundaries.
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 can be paid in advance up until the day of your visit. Any late payments will be charged a 10% fee.
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.
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 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 without two week’s notice. 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 call 403-542-5115.
Are 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?
Prior to your programs your group will be taken to remove jackets, drop off backpacks and get an 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 bringing a water bottle. Otherwise, the most important thing is to bring your imaginations!
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)