Symphony in a Suitcase: A Curriculum for Educators
An immersive classroom journey through Europe, free for grades 5-12
Rick Steves’ Symphony in a Suitcase is a free curriculum built to instill a lifelong love of classical music and travel through sound, history, and culture. It’s inspired by Rick’s own Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey concert, filmed with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. The curriculum is designed to help students get even more out of the performance, though it also stands entirely on its own as a classroom resource.
Guided by Rick, students take a musical journey across seven European destinations and the European Union, pairing classroom activities with symphonic works that connect the notes on the page to the soil where they were born, before returning home to the USA. Inside: country-by-country lessons, listening activities, video content, and more, ready to use in any classroom.
Download the Full Curriculum (PDF)Video Playlists
The following video playlists are designed to complement the curriculum.
Partnership with CET
Symphony in a Suitcase was created in partnership with CET Public Television.
Explore more free classroom resources from CET’s education team.
