Tennessee is a hugely popular travel destination for student groups—and for good reason! Educational opportunities in both Nashville and Memphis abound, in addition to music being found around every corner. They don’t call Nashville “Music City” and Memphis “Home of the Blues” for nothing! Come along as we explore some incredible opportunities available for students visiting these iconic destinations.
A creative melting pot that seamlessly stirs together rock, country, bluegrass, jazz and more, Nashville also blends together world-class art, award-winning cuisine, unique shops and boutiques and outdoor activities to create an unforgettable experience filled with sweet southern soul.
Performance opportunities are aplenty: Musically inclined students could perform outside on the Opry Plaza before a performance at the Grand Ole Opry or outside the popular Country Music Hall of Fame. They could even do a recording at RCA Studio B and stand in the same spot where artists such as Elvis and Dolly Parton recorded many of their hits.
Another enjoyable stop in Music City is the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM). Located on the famed Broadway, NMAAM is a destination whose mission is to educate the world, preserve the legacy, and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack. Through six distinct galleries, students can explore more than 50 music genres and styles that were created, influenced, and/or inspired by African Americans, including spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B and hip hop.
Get a chance to get up close and personal with your favorite musicians and celebrities at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, you could zip line through the trees at the Adventure Park in Nashville. Don’t forget the rest Music City has to offer: The Hermitage, Belle Meade, Musicians Hall of Fame, Parthenon and more.
Memphis is a city of striking combinations and boundless creativity, a place where passion, ideals, cultures and opportunity converge in authentic ways. A visit to Memphis is a one-of-a-kind experience to step foot in a place that helped change the world and continues to be influential.
While visiting, students could step inside the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Stax Records and American soul music; enjoy a walking tour of historic Beale Street; enjoy world-class entertainment at the Orpheum Theatre; and more.
A can’t-miss experience is a visit to Memphis’ National Civil Rights Museum, located at the former Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. It’s here that students could reflect upon the museum’s interactive exhibits and historic collections that offer a glimpse into history and a tumultuous and inspiring period of change.
Performance opportunities in Memphis include Elvis’ Graceland, the striking Peabody Hotel and the historic Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Students could also sharpen their skills with a workshop or clinic led by a music professional at Memphis University.
Let the team at ETI help you plan your Nashville and Memphis adventures today!
Courtesy of ETI.
