Musical Instrument Museum In Phoenix

The Musical Instrument Museum Gift Shop

This gift shop is a wonderful place to buy something for yourself, or for someone else, to celebrate this amazing museum. The artwork is created by artists from all around the world and many pieces are one of a kind.

There are also beautiful pieces made by local Native American jewelers and crafts people.

You are welcome to visit the gift shop even if you do not buy a ticket to the museum.

It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Musical Instrument Museum Highlights

• Open 7 days a week. They are closed on Thanksgiving and have limited hours on Christmas Day.

• Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for teens ages 13 – 19, $10 for children ages 4 – 12, and children 3 and under are free. There are no discounts or free days.

• The address is 4725 East Mayo Boulevard. It’s on the northeastern side of Phoenix.

• Plan to spend anywhere from 2 to 3 hours here. You could easily spend 5 or more hours here if you want to see all the exhibits and displays.

• COVID – 19 requirements are in place. Masks are required for anyone aged 2 years and older . Always follow the markers and signs to stay socially distanced by at least 6 feet at all times. Wash your hands for 30 seconds after using the restroom. Use the hand sanitizing lotion stations around the museum as often as possible.

Are There Other Museums Like Mim

There are other museums of musical instruments across the globe, but MIM is unique in that it brings together in one place an expansive collection of instruments from every country. Other musical instrument museums primarily focus on Western instruments, with much less attention paid to those from other areas of the world. MIMs experience also brings these instruments to life through technology that enables visitors to see and hear these instruments in their original cultural settings, like in no other museum in the world.

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All The Events Happening At Musical Instrument Museum Theater 2022

Discover all 21 upcoming concerts scheduled in 2022-2023 at Musical Instrument Museum Theater.

Musical Instrument Museum Theater hosts concerts for a wide range of genres from artists such as Jack Broadbent, Monsieur Perine, and Melissa Manchester, having previously welcomed the likes of Cowboy Junkies and Sierra Hull.

Browse the list of upcoming concerts, and if you cant find your favourite artist, track them and let Songkick tell you when they are next in your area.

What Dining Options Are Located Near Mim

MIM has two dining options for you to enjoy everything from specialty roasted coffee and tea drinks to delicious pastries and lunch dishes showcasing local produce and flavors from around the world. Beats Coffee Bar is open during museum hours, and lunch at MIMs award-winning Café Allegro is offered daily starting at 11 a.m.

Youll also find a variety of restaurants at nearby Desert Ridge Marketplace, and downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale are within a short drive from the museum.

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Who Was The Architect And What Type Of Materials Were Used

MIM was designed by awardwinning architect Rich Varda, in conjunction with the Minneapolis and Phoenix firm of RSP Architects. MIMs distinctive architecture evokes the topography of the Southwest. Its materials and patterns pay homage to the desert landscape, to the rhythms of musical composition, and to the familiar details common to musical instruments from around the world. Indian sandstone is the primary element on the buildings dynamic façade. MIMs lobby is light filled and fluid in form. Guests are linked to all the galleries through a spacious main corridor that conjures up the lyrical forms of music and graceful musical instruments. Likewise, patterns on the floors, walls, and ceilings suggest the geological striations of the Arizona landscape, the rhythms of musical composition, and designs and shapes common to musical instruments.

How Long Does It Take To Visit

This museum is huge. It covers over 80,000 square feet. It has over 15,000 instruments and exhibits from almost 200 different countries and territories. Some of these are temporary so you can be sure to see something new every time you visit here.

This means that you could easily spend all day here if you wanted to see everything and learn about each of them. However, Jill and I would suggest about 3 – 4 hours since trying to see it all in one day might wear you out. And if you bring children, it could easily be a shorter visit since many of the exhibits are focused for adults that love music.

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Not Your Average Guitar Museum

Not only does MIM offer a one-of-a-kind experience to visitors, it also provides a singular space for research into conserving the instruments in its collection and beyond.

At the Conservation Lab, we intently watched conservators meticulously restoring, testing and documenting instruments of all sizes and materials. Like watching paleontologists slowly chipping away sediment from fossilized bone, it was an entrancing experience to behold and shines a new light on the staggering amount of work it takes to keep the museums collection pristine.

Although the wonders housed inside the MIM ensure hours of entertainment, the actual structure is just as amazing. In any museum, the architecture of the space can tell just as much of a story as the objects it contains. Its clear that architect Rich Varda understood this when designing MIM.

Outside, sandstone walls reflect the museums mountainous desert surroundings while the world map in the entrance is inlaid with stones sourced from the regions represented in the museums collection. Raised stones on the exterior are a nod to the neumes used in early musical notation, and the shape of the rotunda itself is meant to suggest the contours of a grand piano.

A World Of Sound: Phoenixs Musical Instrument Museum

• Passion Passport

Humans have found ways to communicate through creative expression since the dawn of time. In Phoenix, these efforts can be observed in a myriad of places: from the prehistoric rock art that dots the citys hiking trails to the annual Hoop Dance World Championship.

When it comes to music, however, there isnt a more expansive collection of instruments played every day by people worldwide than the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. When the Passion Passport team visited, we were blown away by the historically rich and culturally significant collection of instruments and other accoutrements thoughtfully laid out within immersive and interactive exhibits.

From its special exhibitions to geographic and artist galleries, MIM is home to more than 8,000 instruments, which pay homage to auditory traditions that span continents, cultures, and centuries.

Upon arrival, were greeted by the museums mantra: Music is the language of the soul. We were also provided headphonesour passport for this self-guided journey. These devices sensed when we approached an exhibit and began to play music of that specific instrument, followed by narration that includes historical and cultural insights as well as corresponding videos.

We embarked on the worlds musical history as we would a map. Each guest is welcome to navigate this experience at their own speed, and its easy to get lost in the musicthe average visit lasts three hoursso plan accordingly.

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History Of The Musical Instrument Museum

The Musical Instrument Museum was originally founded by Bob Ulrich, was who the CEO of Target, and was primarily focused on Western classic musical instruments. When Mr. Ulrich visited the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels, he decided he wanted to build one here in the United States.

Mr. Ulrich decided that Phoenix would be the perfect location for the museum since it has a population that is growing and includes people of many different cultures. The musical and artistic scene is also very vibrant here, and it is close to many gorgeous natural locations such as the Grand Canyon.

Since Phoenix is one of the top 5 populated cities in the USA, many people fly through here or have conventions. Having the museum here allows for more exploration and enjoyment even if you are just on a short layover or a long stay.

Highlights Of The Musical Instrument Museum Phoenix

• The Artist Gallery featuring instruments, concert footage, photographs, and outfits, of notable musicians
• The North American Gallery features instruments that shaped the musical landscape across the critical music genres
• The Experience Gallery featuring instruments that can be played from many different cultures
• The Europe Gallery features instruments ranging from an antique charter horn to a foot-operated drum kit
• The Mechanical Music Gallery features musical instruments such as player pianos, mechanical zithers, and cylinder music boxes that play themselves
• The Africa and Middle East Gallery features instruments and artifacts from sub-Saharan, North African, and Middle Eastern nations
• The Asia and Oceania Gallery features instruments from Asia, Oceania, and the Caucasus
• The Latin America Gallery features instruments from South America and Mexico and the Caribbean

Puerto Rico exhibit Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix

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How Was Mim Formed

The Musical Instrument Museum was founded by Robert J. Ulrich, former CEO and chairman emeritus of Target Corporation. An avid collector of African art and a world museum enthusiast, Ulrich and his friend originated the idea for MIM after a visit to the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels, Belgium. Their unique vision was to create a museum and collection that afford equal representation to the musical instruments and music of every country in the world. Using stateof-theart audiovisual technology to show musical instruments being played in their original cultural context and delivering the sound of these instruments through high-quality headphones, MIM provides a one-ofakind experience to museum guests.

MIMs collection was assembled by five expert curators, with consultation from distinguished ethnomusicologists, organologists, and other field experts. The bulk of the collection is highlighted in Geographic Galleries that focus on five major global regions. There are also exhibition spaces such as the Target Gallery, which hosts traveling and special exhibitions, and the Artist Gallery, which includes noteworthy musical instruments and artifacts associated with some of the worlds leading musicians. The museum opened its doors to great acclaim on April 24, 2010.

Musical Artifacts And Costumes Too

Each exhibit also includes artifacts and costumes found in the country. These add to the aesthetic appeal of the exhibits while also providing more education.

Each exhibit teaches about each country while entertaining you enough that you dont realize how much you are learning.

The headphones mentioned earlier come into play among most of the exhibits. As you approach the video screen, music flows into your ears.

Typically three to five selections rotate on the screen. The small sign below the screen gives the title, artist, and year recorded.

Selections range from a local townsperson playing a simple lyre to an orchestra on a stage.

The videos often depict dancers and performers, from local villagers joining in a traditional dance to choreographed professionals on stage.

Interspersed among the countries are exhibits focusing on a certain type of music or instrument. Who knew there were so many different types of brass horns or bagpipes? You can compare the subtle differences that develop in various countries and marvel at how similar instruments arose in widely separated areas.

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Museum Of Musical Instruments Visiting Details

Rated as one of the top attractions in Phoenix by Tripadvisor, this museum is a gem and a must see for all music and history lovers.

It is beautiful, both inside and out, and has many interactive displays, exhibits about musicians and their lives, and about other cultures and what inspired them and their music.

Find out more information about this amazing museum below.

Restaurants Near Musical Instrument Museum

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Why Is Mim Located In Phoenix

Greater Phoenix is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, with a vibrant and culturally diverse population. Its resorts attract many conventions and holiday travelers who seek worldclass attractions such as MIM. Drawn by the Grand Canyon and other natural wonders of the Southwest, many international visitors travel through the user-friendly Phoenix airport.

What Membership And Donor Opportunities Does Mim Offer

To view MIMs memberships and benefits by level, .

MIM also offers a variety of other donor opportunities for individuals and businesses, which provide benefits to the donors and their families or their companies. From funding an exhibit to sponsoring a concert in the MIM Music Theater, support of MIM will allow generations of people to explore and experience the rich diversity of the worlds music and musical instruments. For more information, contact MIMs Institutional Advancement Team at 480.478.6062 or .

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Music Is The Language Of The Soul

Its a close encounter of the musical kind. The Musical Instrument Museum , located in the Northern Phoenix desert, is the worlds only global musical instrument museum with a collection that crosses centuries, styles, and continents. In just 39 months, RSP designed a 190,000SF building that resonates on every level. Sound. Touch. History. Culture. Elegance.

In materials and configuration, the museum is evocative of the desert landscape that surrounds it. An ideal showcase for a diverse collection, MIM includes a theater, recital hall and outdoor courtyard for events and performances. The design is intentionally simple, so as not to distract from its purpose. An immersive experience for tens of thousands of annual guests and 12,000 global instruments.

The museum is a new landmark for Phoenix, said Bob Ulrich, MIM Founder and Board Chairman. Our team has created a museum like no other, where guests will see and hear how people everywhere share their experiences through music.

Tours And Special Events

Besides the permanent collections and galleries, MIM hosts monthly Signature Events that celebrate a specific culture or genre that have come to be defined as MIMs, well, signature.

Pro tip: check the events calendar and, if possible, plan to catch one of the museums 200 concerts that take place throughout the year. This acoustically superb, 300-seat theater hosts reed quintets, jazz ensembles as well as emerging and renowned artists from around the world.

Admission to the museum is $20 per adult, but for an additional $7, you can add on a VIP small group tour. As lovers of music and museum curation alike, the Passion Passport team ranks MIM as a must-do. The bonus, for us, was the lovely members of MIMs team who were an absolute font of knowledge.

On our next visit, well be willing to shell out a bit more and elevate our experience with the museums Balloons and Tunes package, which combines a hot-air balloon ride with the museums usual offerings.

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Concerts Special Events And Programs

MIM hosts concerts in its Music Theater, special events throughout the year, and classes for all ages. Visit the calendar for more details on upcoming events.

• MIM Music Theater: This intimate space seats 300 and hosts approximately 200 artists, many of whom are performing in Arizona for the first time, every year. Tickets for the concerts can be purchased online or at the box office located in the museums main lobby.
• Signature Events: These family-friendly, weekend-long programs celebrate cultures, music genres, and musical icons with live music and dance, hands-on activities, curator talks, and more. Admission to signature events is free with a paid museum admission. MIM typically holds one signature event per month.
• Programs: MIM offers several programs for kids. Mini Music Makers introduces the youngest, from ages 0 to 5, to music through song, dance, and playing instruments while Musical Adventures for kids ages 6 to 10, explores culture as well. Junior Museum Guides prepares kids in grades 6 through 12 to become museum guides.

Tickets & Admission Fees

At this time, we recommend you purchase your tickets online. They have limited entry and you want to make sure you get a ticket before you arrive. The cost to visit the museum is as follows:

• Adult: $20
• Children : $10
• Children under 3 are free
• The museum does not offer discounts of any type. The museums also does not have any free days.

Note: Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all time.

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Can I Play The Instruments

Yes, there are several options for both kids and adults.

For adults, there is a Steinway piano in the lobby which you can play.

There is also the Experience Gallery, where you can play with other instruments. This area allows you to play instruments from around the world and see what it is like to be a musician.

This area is especially wonderful for kids , since they have a nice assortment of instruments around the world. These include a Javanese gamelan, a Peruvian harp, a theremin , and more. It is also decorated with art from around the world.