MIM (Musical Instrument Museum)

So yesterday ended up being a real treat. A friend and I ended up deciding after lunch that we should visit the MIM here in Phoenix. Niether one of us had ever been so it seemed like a good idea. $15 will get one adult admission and a set of head phones connected to, what I assume is, a bluetooth device that picks up a wifi signal playing each exhibits selected audio. Each display in the museum has a television that plays various videos showing individuals from around the world playing their county’s traditional, or modern, instruments. The set up is genius because it allows everyone to enjoy the music, but not be bombarded with surrounding exhibit’s audio. The museum covers music from all over the world. I began in Asia then moved to Africa and the Middle East. I was amazed by the overwhelming variety of percussion and stringed instruments. Some instruments displayed were centuries old. I then moved on to North and South America. I was blown away. I could easily spend all day absorbing mass amounts of knowledge and sound. The MIM also has a room dedicated to hands-on experience with some of the instruments from around the world. This is where I really began to lose my mind! I was 5 years old all over again and nothing else in the world existed! It was truly an emotional experience watching videos of people in their native land, playing native instruments and completely losing themselves to the music they create. The experience was so inspiring I could barely wait to get home, open Ableton, and begin making something myself. The URL I’ve provided is to the MIM itself, so you can learn what you wish about it.

http://www.themim.org/

Below are some photos I took with my Droid of various exhibits. I’d like to return sometime soon and take more photos to share. Perhaps I can talk a friend into allowing me to use his Canon T2i!

More pictures to come!