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New museum features instruments from around globe
Marc Buckhout ~ The Foothills Focus ~ 6/2/2010

Whether it’s referred to as the universal language or the language of the soul, a trip to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix is an opportunity to experience the impact music and the instruments used to play it have on people around the globe.
The $250 million project, which opened in late April, features more than 10,000 instruments spread out over a two-story 190,000 square-foot facility.
Located at 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, music aficionados get the opportunity to wander through different rooms, called the Geo-Galleries distinguishing music from Asia, Europe, North American, South America and Africa.
“The goal of the Musical Instrument Museum is to illuminate what is unique about cultures, and also what is shared and universal,” stated Bob Ulrich, MIM founder and board chair. “MIM will provide an experience like none other, allowing musical novices and experts, tourists and scholars, children and grandparents to hear, see, and feel the powerful and uniting force of music in an entirely new way.”
Upon entering the museum patrons receive a pair of head phones with a volume control. As they walk through the different countries on display a video screen shows natives playing their instruments. A sensor in front of each country’s display triggers the headsets to pick up the music.
Beyond the instruments and music visitors get a sense of the culture for the various countries through their dress and dances. Some of the video displays show the unique materials that are used to make instruments in less developed countries as well as the slow detailed lengths people are willing to go to make their instruments. The displays also show a map of where the country is located.
In today’s economic climate, with some school districts having to cut back or even eliminate their music programs, Alan di Perna, the museum’s Development Associate, said the museum will try and help fill a gap.
“We have the Experience Gallery where kids of all ages get an opportunity to try out a variety of different instruments,” he said. “Certainly fostering that interest in music in our youth is something we look at as an important part of our mission.”
Along with the Experience Gallery, filled with guitars, drums, and a variety of other instruments for visitors to play, the museum also features a room where the instruments of famous musicians are on display.
The Artist Gallery features the Steinway piano John Lennon composed “Imagine” on, guitars used by Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton as well as a rare collection of Fender amplifiers, keyboards and transformers from Dick Dale, the “King of the Surf Guitar.”

The museum also sports a Mechanical Music Gallery with instruments from the early 20th century.
Beyond the opportunity to listen to music throughout the museum visitors can view museum employees working on repairing and restoring instruments or grab lunch from the onsite restaurant.
Additionally the museum features its very own concert venue, the 299-seat MIM Music Theater. A full schedule of concerts, films, lectures, educational activities and family programs are already on tap for the theater.
Di Perna said the early returns on the museum, which took 4.5 years from conception to completion, have been overwhelmingly positive.
“I think the first impression is people are wowed by the space,” he said. “The design and scope of the building is the first thing they notice, but then the quality of what is offered here I think is what will bring them back time and time again. This museum would stand up well against other museums around the country. Phoenix has something very unique.”
The museum is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Wednesday and Saturday and open from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors ages 65 and up, $10 for children ages 6-17, while children 6 and under are free.
For information on the museum or a listing of concerts coming to the MIM Music Theater go to www.themim.org or call 480-478-6000.