Delta Blues Museum Programs
Blues Classes
The purpose of the Delta Blues Museum's Arts and Education Program is to continue the great musical tradition born in the Mississippi Delta: the Delta blues. The Arts and Education program teaches students to play music and keeps the history of the Delta blues alive. Students are taught to play the blues on the instrument or instruments of their choice. Instruments ‐ drums, guitars, and keyboards ‐ are provided by the museum for use in the classroom and authorized performances. However, we encourage students to purchase their own instruments.
Instructors utilize the oral tradition, recorded music, video, instruction books, and handouts to educate the students in a classroom environment. The students progress from learning the basics of playing music to working together as a band.
Click Here to download the Delta Blues Museum Arts & Education Enrollment Form
Explore & Learn
The Delta Blues Museum website has a section designed to give a vivid, graphic overview of the essential facts of a blues master's life and musical highlights. Muddy Waters and Son House were our first "Explore & Learn" programs. Since then, we have added Charlie Musselwhite, Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker plus Blues Migration and Exploration programs. We are always looking forward to additional Exlpore & Learn programs, so be sure to check back to see what's new. Scroll down to the Explore & Learn banner to follow these blues artists and blues trails.
Special Events
The Delta Blues Museum sponsors special educational programs and workshops in conjunction with local festivals and events. In the past, these have included sessions such as piano workshops with Henry Gray; harmonica workshops with Geneva Red; and oral history conversations with David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Charlie Musselwhite, and others. Check the museum calendar for these special programs.
Traveling Trunk / Teacher Lesson Plans
To access the lesson plans, which can be adapted to various grade levels, you must first register. Click here to access the lesson plan area.

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Explore and Learn
Catch up on your Blues History and various Blues Artists through our Explore & Learn Programs.
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Workshops
The Delta Blues Museum hosts a variety of workshops for teachers, students and the public. Most workshops are centered around the blues music genre, while others are focused on music education. Teacher workshops are complemented with lesson plans and teachers can also receive continuing education credits upon workshop completion. Workshops generally run one to four days. Over the years, the museum has hosted workshops about the Mississippi Blues Trail, Great Migration, plus music camps.
DBM Band Featured in Documentary
The Delta Blues Museum Band is featured in the documentary, From the Crossroads to the White House on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) television network. The documentary television premiere aired July 14, 2015.
Press Release
Two Mississippi Teen Musicians Awarded Full Scholarships for Summer Study at Boston's Renowned Berklee College of Music
Boston, April 22, 2009 - PJ Walker, from Clarksdale, and Demetrius Williams, from Brookhaven, both 18, will spend five weeks this summer in Boston, studying at the prestigious Berklee College of Music on full scholarships.
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MVSU B.B. King Workshop Featured Delta Blues Museum Students
The Mississippi Valley State University Ninth Annual B.B. King Blues workshop held June, 2019 featured students from the Delta Blues Museum.
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2014 National Arts & Humanities Youth Program (NAHYP) Award
The Delta Blues Museum is proud to announce we have been awarded the 2014 NAHYP Award for our youth eductional programs. The DBM Band performed at the White House and accepted the award presented by the First Lady during a ceremony on November 10, 2014.
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Delta Blues Museum Selected as Finalist for 2014 NAHYP Award
The Delta Blues Museum's Arts & Education Program has been chosen for recognition as a 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (NAHYP).
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Delta Blues Museum Selected as Finalist for 2013 NAHYP Award
The Delta Blues Museum's Arts & Education Program has been chosen for recognition as a 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (NAHYP)
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2013 IMLS National Medal Award
The Delta Blues Museum is the proud recipient of the 2013 IMLS National Medal Award the nation's highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.
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Mississippi Delta Blues - Blues Education
NewOrleans.Com - New Orleans,La.,USA
It's 3 pm on a Monday at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Miss., and students are trickling in for the Delta Blues Arts and Education Program.
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This site made possible through the support of Mississippi Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Rock River Foundation.
This site made possible through the support of Mississippi Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Rock River Foundation.
Support for the Delta Blues Foudation, Inc has been provided by explore.org, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation.
Latest Posts
Keeping the Beat
2023 Fellows Program
Press Release - MDNHA Grant Award
Museum Links
Museum Contact information
Clarksdale, MS 38614
Phone: 662-627-6820
Email: info@deltabluesmuseum.org