School Programs
School Tours & Field Trips
Bring history, music, and innovation to life with a school trip to the legendary Surf Ballroom & Museum! Our curriculum-based programs are designed to engage students in grades K–12 through interactive learning, guided tours, and hands-on musical exploration.
Explore Our New MEC Immersive Space
Students can now experience the magic of music like never before in our brand-new Music Enrichment Center (MEC) Immersive Space. This dynamic, multi-sensory environment introduces young learners to the fundamentals of sound, rhythm, and musical expression through interactive technology, creative play, and collaborative activities. It’s a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity that sparks curiosity and creativity.
Curriculum-Based Learning
Reservations
- Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance
- Requests must come from a teacher or school representative
- Customizations are available to meet your curriculum goals
Nikki Johnson
Education Coordinator
Classes and Programs
50s Forever Tour
Length: 60 minutes
Grades: K-12
Group Size: 10-100 Students
Curriculum Connections: English/Language Arts, Music, Social Studies
Get ready to hear the swinging Big Band music of the 40’s and that early Rock n’ Roll beat of the 50’s as students journey through the museum with a trained guide. Throughout the tour, students learn all about the pioneers of Rock n’ Roll music and the significance of the Surf Ballroom not only in our communities, but as a landmark in Rock n’ Roll history! This engaging tour also includes an exclusive video, scavenger hunt, and special keepsake.
Take a break from all the boogieing, grab your sack lunch, and sit back in one of the original booths for a full Surf experience.
NOTE: Virtual tours available.
Cool Cats
Length: 30 minutes
Grades: PreK – 1st
Group Size: 10-50 Students
Curriculum Connections: Music, Social Studies, Physical Education, Language Arts
Rock n’ Roll is here to stay! Learn about the Surf Ballroom and its ties to the early Rock n’ Roll era. In this program, students learn all about museums, what life was like in the 50’s, and how the Surf Ballroom has played a role throughout Rock n’ Roll history!
NOTE: This program can be offered on site, at the Surf Ballroom, or virtually! Pair a guided tour or virtual tour along with this program (add an extra 30 minutes if doing so).
Buddy, Bopper, Bamba
Length: 30 minutes
Grades: 2nd – 6th
Group Size: 10-50 Students
Curriculum Connections: Music, Social Studies, Physical Education, Language Arts
Did you know that Ritchie Valens learned how to sing in Spanish? Or that J.P. ‘The Big Bopper’ Richardson was a lineman for his high school’s football team? It may come as a surprise to learn that the first instrument Buddy Holly learned to play was the piano!
In this program, students get the inside scoop on the lives and careers of these Rock n’ Roll pioneers. We will learn about each musician’s life growing up, their musical influences, and how they shaped Rock n’ Roll as we know it today.
NOTE: This program can be offered on site, at the Surf Ballroom, or virtually! Pair a guided tour or virtual tour along with this program (add an extra 30 minutes if doing so).
Rock 'n Roll 101
Length: 30 minutes
Grades: 7th – 12th
Group Size: 10-50 Students
Curriculum Connections: Music, Social Studies, Language Arts
Where did Rock n’ Roll start? When did Rock n’ Roll start? And why do my feet want to dance every time I hear that rockin’ beat?! These questions and more get explored as we uncover the very beginnings of this influential genre. Students learn about the musical influences that came before and shaped the distinctive sound of Rock n’ Roll, the cultural impact that Rock n’ Roll had on the world, and the role that the Surf Ballroom has played throughout music history.
NOTE: This program can be offered on site, at the Surf Ballroom, or virtually! Pair a guided tour or virtual tour along with this program (add an extra 30 minutes if doing so).
Rock n’ Roll Instrument Trunk
Length: 30 minutes
Grades: 4th – 12th
Group Size: 10-50 Students
Curriculum Connections: Music, Social Studies, Language Arts
The Surf Ballroom’s new Instrument Trunk program gives area teachers the opportunity to “check out” a themed box of instruments to use in the classroom for two weeks. Students can hold and play the instruments, learn about the science of sound and explore the history of various genres of music. Each trunk includes a Teacher’s Guide and lesson plans to support the contents of the trunk. In-class experiences can then be brought to life with a visit to the Surf Ballroom and Museum to learn more about the instruments, their history and important players from the past to the present. Students feel that early Rock ‘n Roll sound with an electric guitar, bass and drum.
Building Blocks of Music
Active Listening
Grades: K-12
Active Listening Activities for K-12! It’s not often we have the opportunity to really take the time to listen. These guided active listening activities are a great way to exercise our listening skills and develop our musical ear. Have fun and get inspired with everyday objects, nature sounds, and of course- music!
Rhythm & Time
Grades: K-12
Rhythm is all around us. From our heartbeat to ocean waves, rhythm is one of the first things we experience. These guided activities are a fun way to explore different rhythm patterns through movement and active listening!
Volume & Pitch
Grades: K-12
Explore the science of sound by learning all about sound-waves, frequency, intensity and more! Put your knowledge to action with fun activities and experiments that you can do almost anywhere!
Classroom Bucket Drumming
Grades: K-5
The Surf Ballroom Presents: Classroom Bucket Drumming Learn about the history of the Surf Ballroom and the Winter Dance Party tour. Then, join Professor Anthony Stevens as he teaches the art of Bucket Drumming. This class works great in person or virtually! *Free supply delivery available to any school within a 50-mile radius of the Surf Ballroom & Museum!
Join Professor Anthony Stevens as he teaches the history, form, and techniques in the art of bucket drumming!
Dancing Through the Decades
Grades: K-5
The Surf Ballroom & Museum Presents: Dancing Through the Decades Join Nikki Johnson, Education Coordinator at the Surf Ballroom, and Kaitlin Boelman, Owner and Lead Dance Instructor of Dance with me Studio, for an educational journey through the decades. Learn about the history of the Surf Ballroom and the Winter Dance Party tour before you go dancing through the decades!
