NMAAM’s academic partnerships transform how students, educators, and researchers engage with African American musical heritage. Through strategic collaborations with leading institutions like Fisk University and Vanderbilt University, we’re breaking down barriers to cultural education while fostering groundbreaking scholarship that positions African American music at the center of American cultural studies.

Bridging Academia and Culture

Our partnerships create meaningful pathways for academic institutions to integrate authentic African American musical history into their curricula. From undergraduate explorations to graduate research initiatives, NMAAM serves as a living laboratory where students don’t just study music history—they experience the sounds, stories, and cultural innovations that shaped America’s soundtrack.

Educational Innovation in Action

Through our Rivers of Rhythm Institute for Social Education (RRISE), we’re revolutionizing how educators teach African American history. Our professional development programs have equipped dozens of teachers with innovative tools to bring musical heritage into their classrooms, reaching thousands of students with engaging, culturally authentic educational experiences.

Our Soundtrack for All program has welcomes students and educators to NMAAM, providing free access to world-class exhibitions and programming that deepens understanding of how African American creativity transformed global music culture.

Metro Nashville Public Schools has embraced this opportunity by bringing all eligible Title I schools through our doors, ensuring that over 75,500 students have experienced world-class cultural education regardless of economic barriers.

Building Tomorrow’s Cultural Leaders

Our academic partnerships cultivate the next generation of scholars, educators, and cultural stewards. Whether through student internships, research fellowships, or collaborative projects, we’re nurturing young minds who will carry forward the legacy of African American musical innovation.

Ready to partner with us? Contact our Education team to explore how your institution can join NMAAM’s mission to educate the world about the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.

The National Museum of African American Music and Vanderbilt University share a transformative partnership that extends far beyond traditional collaborations.

Through a comprehensive five-year agreement supported by Vanderbilt’s generous annual contribution, we’ve created an ecosystem where all Vanderbilt students receive complimentary NMAAM memberships with unlimited museum access, connecting thousands of future leaders directly to African American musical heritage.

Our joint steering committee oversees groundbreaking initiatives that range from recovering lost histories—like the choral traditions of Roger Williams University, the historically Black institution that once flourished on Vanderbilt’s Peabody College campus before being destroyed by suspected arson in 1905—to developing innovative educational programming through the Blair School of Music.

Together, we’re not just preserving history; we’re actively rewriting the narrative of how African American educational and musical excellence shaped Nashville’s identity as Music City, while ensuring that every Vanderbilt student graduates with a deeper understanding of the African American musical legacy that defines our shared cultural landscape.

The National Museum of African American Music is proud to collaborate with Fisk University, the historic Nashville institution where the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers first formed in 1871.

This meaningful partnership brings together NMAAM’s mission to preserve and celebrate African American musical heritage with Fisk University’s rich legacy as a cornerstone of African American education and cultural preservation. Through the groundbreaking Jubilation! exhibition and ongoing educational initiatives, NMAAM and Fisk University work hand-in-hand to honor the Fisk Jubilee Singers—the pioneering ensemble that introduced spirituals to the world stage and helped establish Nashville’s identity as “Music City.”

This collaboration ensures that the stories, artifacts, and enduring impact of these musical ambassadors continue to inspire and educate visitors from around the globe, while strengthening the bonds between two institutions dedicated to celebrating the profound contributions of African Americans to our nation’s musical legacy.

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