Top museums dedicated to bands, artists, history of music, and for musical instruments, around the world.
Beethoven Haus
Bonn, Germany
Love classical music? You must visit Beethoven’s birthplace in Bonn, Germany, where this humble museum pays homage to the composer. You will find several artifacts from his life, including letters, books, and sheet music. And the real treat is the music that plays within the building.
ABBA The Museum
Stockholm, Sweden
The members of ABBA are very much involved in the museum’s curation, donating costumes and recording Swedish-language audio guides. And that is why the museum feels so much like a living history. The encyclopedic collection at ABBA The Museum is sure to impress you.
The Beatles Story
Liverpool, UK
While the Beatles did most of their recordings in Abbey Road, London, their hearts always belonged to their native Liverpool. The Beatles Story is an interactive museum that features 4-D versions of some of the characters in Beatles songs, re-creation of the clubs where the band played their earliest gigs, and background on the band members.
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix
The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix has one of the largest collections of musical instruments from around the world — both historic as well as contemporary. The venue also hosts musicians from every musical genre for concerts in its Musical Theater.
The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, since its opening in 2010, has become one of the most popular visitor destinations in Phoenix. Its a must-visit place for any music enthusiast. The museum exhibits musical instruments from every continent in the world, except Antarctica; you will find popular instruments, used by hundreds cultures around the world.
Certain instruments have their own exhibits — accordions, harmonicas, guitars, and even an air guitar (the case looks empty, but a label says that the instrument is there).
There’s a section on ukuleles, where its described as “among the world’s most popular and beloved instruments.”
Learn About the History/Evolution of Musical Instruments
Did you now that bagpipes have a history that far predates their arrival in Scotland in the early 16th century; they originated in the Mediterranean region, where many forms are still played.
Other exhibits explore the evolution and various forms of different instruments, with displays tracing their growth from rudimentary to more complex or decorative — such as how the banjo evolved from African roots to a staple of American bluegrass.
Examples from Various Regions
The display for the African country of Niger, for example, includes a goge — an ancient, traditional bowed lute made of gourd, lizard skin, wood and leather. An electric guitar, used in the country’s contemporary pop-music scene, features metalwork incorporating native Tuareg symbols.
Exhibits about China show historical instruments, including ancient metal bells that are magnificently decorated. I was interested to learn about the ancient Chinese tradition of dividing musical instruments into eight categories of sound based on materials used in their construction.
The United States is represented with extensive displays of various musical traditions: zydeco, blues, electronic music and bluegrass. Other exhibits explore the manufacture of contemporary instruments, such as Steinway pianos and Martin guitars.
Audio Visual Explanation of Every Instrument
Most exhibits include a high-definition video screen showing short clips of instruments being played by native musicians.
The wireless headset system, lets you hear the music from the closest screen, and flawlessly switches from one track to another as you wander.
Larger countries are represented with multiple displays of various traditions and regions.
The geographical displays also include colorful costumes associated with musical instruments and performances and worn at dances and street festivals.
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM): Video
Music is the language of the soul, heard in the voices of every nation, only one museum unites them. Come, See & Listen. Experience the world’s museum as never before, at the most extraordinary museum you will ever hear – The Musical Instrument Museum, at Phoenix, Arizona, US.
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) Commercial
Musicians Get Recognition Too
Musicians, too, get recognition at the museum, especially in the Artist Gallery. There, visitors will find mementos of popular contemporary musicians such as the Carter family, Savia Andina, John Lennon, Carlos Santana, Tito Puente and Jake Shimabukuro (plays ukulele).
Among the many items displayed are a black suit worn onstage by Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison’s Grammy Award for “Pretty Woman” and a baton wielded by famed conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein.
Phoenix native Alice Cooper has his own exhibit, complete with some of his outlandish stage costumes.
The Musical Instrument Museum schedules performances by professionals from every musical genre throughout the year, and — for the potentially less-professional visitors, especially the younger ones — the Experience Gallery offers instruments to bang, strum or pluck.
More serious musicians might be moved to play the Steinway Model B, which greets visitors near the museum entrance. A sign reads “MIM invites you to play this beautiful piano for the enjoyment of other guests.”
MIM: Contact Details
Contact: call 480-478-6000 or visit MIM.org.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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