Music Around the World.

Mesa, Arizona
Usery Regional Park

This morning we couldn't make up our minds on what to see or do.  I had wanted to go see the Music Instrument Museum but I found out that it was about an hour away and it was $20 admission.  I know Bill enjoys Bass Pro so we started out to it.  I was driving and then Bill said let's do the museum.  If anyone has ever traveled the 101 highway before 9 am, you'll agree it is nothing but bumper to bumper traffic.  

I never would have suggested this museum if it wasn't for my fellow blogger who blogged about it.  I'm not musical at all.  As a child I was told to pretend like I was singing but not to sing the Star Spangled Banner.  I had a very talented grandmother who could play the piano without music.  I have grandchildren who are very talented with singing and playing an instrument.  My mother was told that music lessons for me where a waste of money and the instructor refused to continue.

Now knowing all that, are you surprised that we loved it.  We were each given a set of headphones and every time we stood in front of a large tv, the sound and video came on.  We never had to fiddle with the headphones the entire time we were there.  

You expect to see a lot guitars in an instrument museum, but not so many different kinds.

They were all very different.  I'll bet this guitar is a lightweight.

I've never heard of any of the names of these instruments.

The most amazing sounds came out of this one.

The upper level contained separate rooms for Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Oceania, Europe, Canada and the United States.

Besides being a museum on instruments, it's also one on geography and culture.  

We're always interested when we see  something about the country of Georgia where two of our grand children, who were adopted, were born.  Notice the map showing you where the country is located.  

Some countries had larger displays than others but they all had the instruments being played.

Grandson, Levani, plays percussion.  He would have loved this drum instrument.






There was another gallery that will be opening November 11.  

The Artist Gallery featured such things as the guitar that Elvis played on his last performance.  Stage costumes from many famous stars.  I especially enjoyed the exhibit on Toby Keith.  The school kids knew Taylor Swift. 

The next gallery was the Mechanical Music Gallery.  One of these was 25 foot wide.

Next was the experience gallery where you could play a gong or an instrument that would have been on display in the museum.  We didn't make it to the Encore Gallery.  

There is a conservation lab with wall to ceiling glass where you can watch an instrument being restored and preserved.  The docent told us they have a giant freezer where they place the instruments to make sure any insects are killed.

I was puzzled when we entered the museum that they offered a two day pass.  Now I know why.  It was a very happy, fun museum.  You would see people keeping with the beat of the music, or someone humming a favorite song.  It was so intense, that it was like going to the Hermitage.  You just get to an overload point.  

After we left it, I made a quick stop at Costco to exchange an item I bought in Great Falls this summer.

Can you believe we still managed to visit a nice antique mall before we hurried home before dark?  

I highly recommend this museum, but plan on a two day visit.  It's a shame they didn't come up with a better name for the museum to encompass all the culture that it has to offer.  

Turtle Safely...........