Education
At the New Orleans Jazz Museum, education is central to our mission. Through a robust portfolio of programs, partnerships, and international exchanges, the Museum fulfills its mission to preserve, present, and perpetuate jazz as both a living art form and an educational catalyst for future generations.
The Museum’s educational philosophy bridges preservation and innovation, offering programming that spans from early childhood arts immersion to professional musician training. These initiatives engage learners of all ages, from toddlers to university students, and extend globally through digital resources and cultural exchanges. By connecting audiences to the history, culture, and continuing evolution of jazz, we ensure this uniquely New Orleans art form remains vibrant for generations to come.
Whether you are visiting with a school group, attending a workshop, conducting research, or participating in public programming, the New Orleans Jazz Museum offers meaningful ways to experience jazz as both history and living culture.
Jazz Museum Education
The music, history, and culture of New Orleans come to life at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. The New Orleans Jazz Museum’s educational philosophy and programming bridges preservation and innovation, offering programing that spans from early childhood arts immersion, K-12, undergraduate and graduate students, and professional musician and production training in the musical traditions of New Orleans. Through a robust portfolio of programs, partnerships, and international exchanges, the Museum fulfills its mission to preserve, present, and perpetuate jazz as both a living art form and an educational catalyst for future generations.
Core Educational Programs and Learning Initiatives include:
Digital and Virtual Learning
Early childhood education, innovation and future development
School and Student Engagement, from early childhood through Higher Education
Community and Cultural Events
Internships, Professional and Mentorship Development
International and Cross-Cultural Exchange
Through its diverse and expanding educational ecosystem, the New Orleans Jazz Museum embodies the enduring vitality of jazz as both history and living practice. By connecting local communities, students, and international audiences through performance, research, and innovation, the Museum ensures that jazz remains not only celebrated - but continually reimagined, taught, and lived in the city of its birth and around the world.
Guided Tours & Field Trips
The Museum offers customized tours and field trip experiences for K–12 students, universities, and community organizations. These visits combine exhibition exploration, jazz history, and interactive learning to connect visitors with the people, places, and cultural traditions that shaped New Orleans music.
In 2025….
4,136
Students
108
Field Trips
129
Educational Programs
The New Orleans Jazz Museum welcomes school groups for self-guided field trips every day the museums are open. Students will learn more about New Orleans Music and Culture through artifacts, artwork, and engaging interactive displays.
For all questions about group bookings, please contact Education Program Coordinator Claire Mulhollem at cmulhollem@crt.la.gov
Virtual Educator Resources
The New Orleans Jazz Museum’s Virtual Educator Resources extend learning beyond our walls by bringing the rich history and culture of jazz to classrooms and homes worldwide. Our free digital library offers lesson plans, virtual field trips, interviews, and multimedia resources for students, caregivers, and educators, covering jazz history, cultural heritage, Congo Square, music advocacy, influential New Orleans artists, and creative expression.
Virtual Field Trips
Resources include interactive worksheets, interviews, photo and video content, Google Slides, and worksheets featuring both current and past Museum exhibitions. Designed for in-person, remote, and hybrid learning, these resources combine hands-on activities with multimedia storytelling to make jazz accessible and engaging from anywhere.
Research
The Jazz Museum houses two archives on site: the New Orleans Jazz Club Collections and those of the Louisiana Historical Center. Both collections are open to the public through the Donald M. Marquis Reading Room. Researchers interested in viewing collection items do not have to pay admission to the museum.
Jazz Education Center
& Ruth U. Fertel Jazz Lab
Our Jazz Education Center and Ruth U. Fertel Jazz Lab provide on-site resources to further the Jazz Museum’s commitment to fostering the next generation of artists and advocates, serving as hubs for in-person exploration of music and culture. These spaces are available to students, educators, and caregivers.
Flagship Programs
For more on when our flagship programs take place be sure to stay tuned to the events calendar
Internships & Professional Development
The Museum partners with local, national, and international universities to provide hands-on training in museum studies, arts administration, research, communications, and cultural programming. Students gain practical experience while contributing to the Museum’s work.
Louis Armstrong Music Academy
Supported by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, the Louis Armstrong Music Academy provides intensive instruction for student musicians in New Orleans schools. Through ensemble coaching, technique development, music theory, and mentorship from professional artists, students strengthen both musicianship and cultural understanding.
Baby Arts Play!
Presented with support from the The Helis Foundation, Baby ArtsPlay! introduces infants, toddlers, and caregivers to music through sensory play, movement, rhythm, and creative exploration. The program supports early cognitive and social development while making first musical experiences joyful and accessible.
Little Stompers
Presented with Second Line Arts Collective, Little Stompers invites children and families into the world of New Orleans music through singing, drumming, dancing, and second line traditions. Interactive sessions with teaching artists and guest musicians help young learners engage directly with the city’s living culture.
NOLA Thru My Eyes
NOLA Thru My Eyes empowers youth through photography and visual storytelling. Students develop technical and artistic skills while documenting their communities and cultural traditions through their own perspective.
Next Generation Jazz Band of New Orleans
This advanced training program brings together talented young musicians from across the region for ensemble instruction and mentorship from acclaimed jazz artists. Through rehearsals, recording sessions, and live performance, participants build professional skills while carrying New Orleans jazz traditions forward.
NOCCA Circle Series
In partnership with New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, the Museum hosts performances featuring current students and alumni across music and the arts. The series supports emerging talent while strengthening ties between the Museum and New Orleans’ creative community.
Stanton Moore’s SONO Drum Camp
Led by Stanton Moore, SONO Drum Camp offers immersive percussion instruction rooted in New Orleans rhythm traditions. Participants study groove, technique, and musical vocabulary through intensive workshops with world-class drummers.
Jazz has always been a global language, and the Museum’s international initiatives reflect that spirit. Through artist residencies, cultural exchange missions, educational workshops, and performances, the Museum builds meaningful connections between New Orleans and communities around the world.
Recent exchange programs have included collaborations in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico, and France, fostering artistic collaboration and cultural diplomacy through the universal language of jazz.
The Ella Project provides pro bono legal services to low- and moderate-income artists, musicians, inventors, and grassroots nonprofits across Louisiana. Through representation, educational workshops, and policy advocacy, The Ella Project helps creators navigate the business and legal realities of creative work. Services include support with copyright and trademark protection, contracts, royalties, LLC and nonprofit formation, patents, and succession matters. In partnership with the Museum, The Ella Project also hosts the Crescendo Series and other workshops on topics such as artist management, copyrights and AI, publishing, and monetizing creative work.
Educational Events & Festivals
Second Saturday in September NOLA River Fest celebrates the cultural, economic, environmental, and historical significance of the Mississippi River to New Orleans and the Gulf South. Through live music, food, family activities, and educational panels, the festival explores how the river has shaped the city’s identity, music, and communities.
Panel discussions address critical topics including coastal restoration, sustainability, water management, and environmental stewardship, encouraging audiences to reflect on both the river’s legacy and its future. River Fest embodies the Museum’s commitment to connecting culture, education, and civic engagement.
New Orleans Cigar Box Festival
January New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival celebrates the craft, history, and musical legacy of homemade stringed instruments that helped shape early jazz and blues traditions. Held over three days at the Museum, the festival brings together acclaimed performers, instrument builders, historians, and enthusiasts from across the country.
Featuring live performances, demonstrations, and educational discussions, the festival highlights the ingenuity and folk traditions that influenced the development of American roots music.
Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival
MarchEach spring, the Museum hosts the Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival, honoring the life and legacy of legendary musician, educator, and cultural ambassador Danny Barker. Organized by Detroit Brooks, the festival celebrates Barker’s profound impact on New Orleans music and mentorship.
The weekend features performances by leading local and national artists, conversations with musicians who knew Barker, exhibitions, and community gatherings that honor one of the city’s most important tradition bearers.
International Jazz Day Festival
April Each April, the Museum celebrates International Jazz Day in partnership with Loyola University New Orleans and Professor Gordon Towell. The festival showcases performances by student ensembles, emerging musicians, and local artists while highlighting jazz’s global influence.
Featuring live music, educational engagement, and cultural exchange, the event reflects the Museum’s commitment to honoring jazz as an international language of creativity and connection.
NOAI Festival:
November
NOAI explores the intersection of creativity, technology, philanthropy, and artificial intelligence. Hosted at the Museum by the 11:11 Philosophers Group, the program brings together artists, entrepreneurs, academics, and innovators to engage with emerging ideas shaping the future.
Through panel discussions, workshops, and experimental programming, NOAI encourages interdisciplinary dialogue around AI, ethics, creativity, and social impact while ensuring innovation remains accessible and community-centered.
Dominican NOLA Festival
OctoberEach October, the Museum hosts Dominican NOLA Fest, a vibrant celebration of Dominican and Latino culture presented in partnership with Fermín Ceballos and the Dominican Consulate. The festival features music, dance, food, workshops, and community engagement.
From merengue and bachata performances to culinary demonstrations and cultural education, Dominican NOLA Fest highlights the deep cultural connections between the Dominican Republic and New Orleans while advancing the Museum’s commitment to global cultural programming.