The Musical Instrument Museum, simply referred to as “MIM”, is located in Phoenix, Arizona.

As you enter the facility be sure to pick up your headset before starting off on your adventure. This allows you to see, hear and experience musical traditions from every corner of the globe. I was also given a paper guide to help navigate through the six Galleries: Geographic Gallery, Artist Gallery, Experience Gallery, Mechanical Music Gallery, Collier STEM Gallery and the Conservation Lab.

Before heading off to the various Galleries I decided to watch the short introductory video located very close to the ticket counter. In addition to learning the mission of the museum, the video boasts that the MIM houses over 10,000 musical instruments representing all the world’s countries and many territories. Each instrument inside the museum tells a unique story about the musician that played it as well as the places it has traveled. I was anxious to begin my musical journey around-the-world.

As I headed to the Geographic Gallery I wasn’t sure what to expect nor was my mind prepared for what I was about to experience. Note: Be sure to wear very comfortable shoes as my visit took almost three hours.

The Geographic Gallery focuses on the major world regions, namely Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, Latin America, Europe, and United States / Canada. Many of the instruments displayed are rare, historically significant, or part of distinctive musical cultures. Video monitors with footage of musical performances show instruments played in their original contexts.

Some of the more interesting and unusual items you will see include:

Over 64 rare mandolins from the Zeliker Collection
barrel organs
mechanical zithers
cylinder music boxes
instruments created from recycled and discarded materials such as oil drums, water pipes, kitchen utensils and x-ray film by a youth orchestra in Cateura Paraguay
a Nouveau Alto 6-valve Sax by Belgian inventor Adolphe Sax (1814-1894)
the first Steinway piano made by Heinrich Englehard Steinway in 1836
an ornate kamancheh - "Zendegi" (bowed spike lute) Iran (1750-1794) in Middle East Gallery. One of only 7 remaining in the world.
a Degara gyil - the largest and most complex wooden African xylophone
bagpipes from around the world
a Japanese Sho mouth organ made in 1509 by a Buddhist priest - in working condition for more than 500 years.
Degara Gyil in Ghana exhibit

"Zendegi" Kamancheh (bowed string lute) in Middle East Gallery

First Steinway piano built 1836

Nouveau Alto 6-value Sax

Recycle Orchestra

Japanese Sho mouth organ cerca 1509

Bagpipe Exhibit

You won’t want to miss the Artist Gallery. No matter your age, you will find a display that you can relate to. This Gallery celebrates music’s most influential artists. Those artists who have deeply touch our lives. Exhibits in this Gallery span sound, style and era. Nearly 40 displays showcase instruments and artifacts from some of the greatest musicians in the world.

You will be able to both see and hear instruments played by an outstanding list of music icons such as Elvis Presley, Tito Puente, the Carter Family and Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Joan Baez, Maroon 5, Glen Campbell, Black Eyed Peas, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver, Roberta Flack, Roy Orbison, The Who, Carlos Santana and many more.

You TubeVideo of Artist Gallery

After your stroll down memory lane in the Artist Gallery, you will want to proceed to the Mechanical Music Gallery. Here you can explore instruments that ‘play themselves’.

The period between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is known as the Golden Age of Mechanical Music, when there was a surge in the creation of self-playing instruments in Europe and the Americas. In this Gallery you will find a range of instruments that use technologies such as punched cards and discs, paper rolls, pinned cylinders, and electromagnets.

At noon and again at 3pm daily, you can view the "Apollonia" Orchestra perform Copacabana.

Also in the Mechanical Music Gallery, watch the Violano Virtuoso Instrument demonstration.