No matter what your age, there’s nothing quite like the joy of discovering a new musical instrument. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or have never touched an instrument in your life, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, Arizona, is worth checking out. With over 15,000 instruments on display from all over the world, MIM is home to one of the world’s largest collections of musical instruments. If you’re interested in learning more about different cultures or want to see some cool instruments up close, MIM is a must-visit attraction in Phoenix.

GALLERIES

Geographic Galleries

MIM has more than 4,300 instruments representing all of the world’s countries and numerous territories. Guests may observe, listen to, and participate in musical customs worldwide in the Geographic Galleries. The Geographic Galleries are for major world regions: Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, Latin America, Europe, and the United States / Canada. Many of the instruments on display are rare specimens representing the apex of their kind in terms of age or significance. Video monitors with performance footage showcase instruments in their natural habitats.

Artist Gallery

There are musicians worldwide who have an enormous impact on the lives of many individuals in every era and culture. The MIM’s Artist Gallery spotlights these figures through ever-changing exhibits that span a wide spectrum of music, style, and time.MIM features historic instruments owned, played, and loved by the musicians who have written a shared soundtrack to our lives for generations due to our numerous partnerships.

Experience Gallery

Visitors may play instruments from around the world in the Experience and Encore Galleries, two large rooms where musicians perform. The Experience Gallery is a gallery where you may examine your musical creations—and, more significantly, a place to let loose and have fun. You can play instruments worldwide to express your creative side through music—even if you have little or no experience playing them. Play a Javanese gamelan, West African djembe, Peruvian harp, theremin, and other instruments to discover and celebrate your inner musician. Families and visitors of all ages

Mechanical Music Gallery

The Mechanical Music Gallery of the Museum of Manual and Indoor Games in MIM offers a range of mechanical musical instruments, such as barrel organs, mechanical zithers, cylinder music boxes, disc players, automatons, and more. The Golden Age of Mechanical Music lasted from approximately the mid-nineteenth century until World War I. During the 15th and 16th centuries, there was a proliferation of self-playing instruments in Europe and North America. The Mechanical Music Gallery houses a variety of instruments from this era, including punched cards and discs, paper rolls, pinned cylinders, and electromagnets.

COLLIER STEM GALLERY

The Dr. Donald W. Collier STEM Gallery explores the intricate links between music and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In this exhibit, visitors of various ages learn about the science behind their favorite instruments and how humans hear sound. The topics covered in the gallery include sound production, technological progress, the human ear, hearing safety, and more. Multiple displays within the gallery introduce key concepts in the physics of sound creation through original video, interactive technology, and instruments from all over the globe.

CONSERVATION LAB

The Museum of Archeology and Anthropology housed some of the world’s largest and most important collections, representing raw material research and finished object study. In the Conservation Lab, MIM’s staff works to preserve the museum’s wide range of objects. MIM protects instruments and music-related items to ensure structural soundness and conservation for future generations. Conservation activities include precise testing and documentation of various techniques for stabilizing, conserving, and restoring artifacts made out of various materials, including wood, metal, bone, hide, and plastic. This research is significant for the broader field of museum conservation and helps inform the treatment of ethnographic and anthropological collections in museums worldwide.

EVENTS

SIGNATURE EVENTS

Signature Events bring the museum’s galleries to life with programs that pay homage to the world’s many musics and cultures, popular music genres, and renowned artists all year. Several family-friendly weekend activities worldwide, including live music and dance shows, curator talks, film screenings, workshops, storytelling sessions, and more!

Concerts in the Museum

The Musical Instrument Museum hosts more than 200 concerts in its galleries, ranging from jazz to traditional African music. Guests will be able to listen to contemporary music in a beautiful setting with intimate performances by up-and-coming artists MIM’s gallery spaces provide an acoustically generous atmosphere that complements the performance. Ticketed events are open to the public, and many are free with museum admission. Check the website for upcoming performances and buy your tickets ahead of time.

EDUCATION

MINI MUSIC MAKERS

MIM’s early childhood music and movement programs expose your youngster to the enormous and wonderful music world. With your children, explore music from across the world while singing, dancing, and playing instruments. Each session focuses on a new musical culture in fun ways for kids and their parents. The motor, pre-language, and musical skills are all developed simultaneously. Children actively participate in music-making during this period.

MUSICAL ADVENTURES

Take your MIMkids Passport and join the MIMkids Musical Adventures educational program for children 6 to 10 years old, a musical adventure with MIMkids. Participants will encounter new cultures through active involvement in music-making, the construction of musical instruments, and visits to MIM’s exhibits—with a designated tour guide, of course! Each session focuses on a distinct continent, providing participants with an international understanding of music and the opportunity to collect MIMkids passport stamps.

Visit Musical Instrument Museum Today!

The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, is a great place to learn about the science of sound and music. There are many different exhibits and events that you can attend to learn more about the topic. The museum also has a conservation lab where they work to preserve different instruments and music-related items. You can also buy tickets to concerts that are happening in the museum. The education programs at the museum are also great for kids and adults alike. If you’re interested in learning more about music and the science of sound, then the Musical Instrument Museum is your place.