Musical Instrument Museum, Arizona, United States

5ElParaguayo 5:00 PM Jun 25, 2022

A Gem in the Middle of the Desert
If you have any interest in music, from playing an instrument to listening, this incredible museum is an absolute must if you are visiting Phoenix. Housed in a beautifully designed structure with a vast collection grouped by place of origin (North America, Oceania, Europe, etc.) it is easy to spend hours immersed in the excellently curated collection. MIM has the best electronic guide system we have ever encountered. Admission is $20/person, $10/children, we have found that MIM is a place that requires more than one day to explore. In fact, we became members simply because on our visits we alway go back for a second and third day. MIM also offers a concert series in it's main auditorium that bring in musicians from around the world. The theater seats 300 people and has exquisite acoustics, which means that there really isn't a bad seat in the house. And, because the theater is small, there is an intimacy with the musicians that makes each concert a very special moment. Want to see Jimmy Hendrick's left-handed guitar, or the oldest full-sized guitar in the world, they are on display right now at the Museum. For music lovers of every taste, MIM is an absolute must see.

5Ed R 5:00 PM Feb 17, 2023

Musical must see!
Musical Instrument Museum is created to be a musical world-experience, housed in an inviting, modern building. As classical musicians we spent all of our time in the special exhibit (a slight cost but well worth the money and a welcoming introduction to the Museum) and South and Latin America, Middle East, and African sections. We visited none of North America, Canada, or Europe. Learning about and hearing music from parts of the world with which we were less familiar was gratifying. (In the future we look forward to learning and experiencing what we missed!) For representative countries, videos are available to hear indigenous performances, recorded on site. Headsets automatically adust from station to station when you move from country to country and are distributed when you enter the MIM, by welcoming, informative staff. Displays show local instruments and the prerecorded performances. (The MIM apparently did some of the recordings. Others are videoed by independent professionals.) The automatic transfer from one station to another works fairly well, and it is a pleasure for this to occur without having to manipulate buttons. The staff researchers, as presented in videos in the Special Exhibit, are communicative, positive about their work, in awe of indigenous musicians and artistry, and exuberant about instruments and local music. Their presence is felt and communicated throughout the Museum by scholarly and attractive presentations. Being able to watch and hear local performances from each country individualizes the country. MIM does well at highlighting performers famous within their country, as well as typical national culture within the country. I felt that MIM was successful at this, even when some countries share similar types of performances to neighboring countries. Anything unique to a country is highlighted. Food and comfort facilities are readily available. My cohort and I enjoyed playing the superb Steinway & Sons Model B, as we were invited to do by the staff. You can move at your own pace. Friendly, helpful docents are placed throughout the rooms. Anyone who is interested in music will find something of fascination in this world-class museum of world music!