Catherine Fusillo
The Musical Instrument Museum is located at the corner of Tatum and Mayo Boulevard, just off of the 101 freeway. It is a completely unique museum to Phoenix and offers an experience that draws the attention of music lovers from all over the world. However, they could do a lot more to reach college students who are interested in music.
According to the museum’s website, more than 13,600 musical instruments from all over the world are housed within the museum, with about 6,800 being displayed for the public at a time. These instruments range from a Chinese drum that dates back to somewhere between 5000 and 4000 BCE, to a broken electric guitar used by Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and the piano that John Lennon wrote ‘Imagine’ on. The collection displayed by the museum are often accompanied by videos and recordings of the instruments being played in their places of origin as well as a description of their history and craftsmanship.
The Musical Instrument Museum, in addition to galleries showcasing over 200 countries and historically significant instruments, has several special exhibits. Open to the public with a general admission ticket include the Artist Gallery, where visitors can see instruments played by their favorite musicians such as Taylor Swift and Elvis Presley, and the Experience Gallery, where they can interact with versions of the instruments displayed throughout the museum. Visitors can play a Theremin and touch a large Chinese drum similar to the oldest one displayed in the museum.
Open now with an additional cost, is the museum’s special exhibit The Electric Guitar. This exhibit showcases the history of the instrument as it relates specifically to American music history. The museum is displaying some of the oldest electric guitars ever created, as well as some played by music legends such as Mick Jagger and Pete Townsend. This is a great exhibit for young musicians and music lovers who want to learn more about one of the most iconic instruments in history.
Overall, the Musical Instrument Museum could do more to actively reach younger audiences. While visiting the museum, it is not hard to notice the lack of diversity in the generations of visitors walking around. The museum might consider a student discount of some kind to encourage younger audiences. But for those college students who can afford the $20 ticket, it is a great place to explore the cultures from all around the work through their music and instruments.
Museum Showcase 