This museum was recommended by my neighbor. They told me it was an immersive experience. And they were right.
To just call it a museum would be falling short of it’s whole description. It truly is immersive. Filling two full floors of a massive structure in North Phoenix, the MIM as it is called, is quite impressive. Home to thousands of musical instruments from all over the world, the place does a great job of showing how culture and geography contribute to music making.
I was fortunate in that the daily overview tour was just me. So, the docent, Denis, gave me a personalized tour. He made a point of giving me a general overview and telling key stories. While we skipped around most of the second floor (where the world is divided by continent), he made some key points. Of special note was travel on the Silk Road and how it influenced the development of instruments and music across teh continents and cultures it spans. And how those instruments evolved into many of the popular and common instrument we see today.
On the first floor is more of a performance area. There is a whole section devoted to giving visitors access to touching and playing instruments. And across from there is a restoration area that screens and maintains all the instruments that come into and call this place home.
The docent told me the MIM is about 15 years old and the brainchild of a former Target Corporation executive. Nice to hear that.
As they say about any important travel or experience, this was my first time. I’ll be back.
Relentless
