A visit to the MIM

Phoenix has several museums, and I have visited lots of them.  My husband does have a degree in Humanities you know.  My favorite has to be the MIM (Musical Instrument Museum)!  There are instruments from all over the world of course, but the cool thing is that you wear head phones that are activated by your proximity to each display.  Each has a screen where you see and hear the instrument being played by the people of the country, plus often some history or a festival.  In some cases you watch the construction of the instruments.  As you can see, there are costumes too.

She identified the mermaid right off!

This is the eastern music section.

When baby got hungry we went down to the family room.  There were boxes of toys and instruments to play with.  Genius!

 

We decided that hungry kids wouldn't have much patience, so we ate our lunch.  We enjoyed having Great Grandma with us. 

 

The peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth. Great Grandma is such a trouper!

Two pretty ladies!

  The first time I went, I didn't get to all of the exhibits, and I was dying to try to play some of the exhibits.  It took all my self control not to touch.  This time I made sure we went to the 'experience' part of it and Lo and Behold...we got to try all kinds of music makers.   I was more tickled than the kids.  I may have to go back when I can spend more time here.

He had to try everything but only spent a moment on each one.

Heavy!

He's not interested in posing either.

We weren't alone either.   Note the 'bells' in the back ground.  Those where what I was most interested in playing.

They both loved the player piano!  The docent let M play it twice!

There are examples of instruments from all over the world, plus, in the US section they had disassembled and displayed a guitar and a grand piano so you can see all the parts and how they go together.  They have old, current and regional  music displays.  The admission is expensive ($20 for adults and $10  for kids over 5...no senior discount either) but it includes the ear phones and I find it very much worth it!