Music is an experience that everyone enjoys and understands - it transcends languages and unites different cultures. It is a universal language that all people share because music is an expression of life. The first global museum dedicated to music and musical instruments has opened in Phoenix, USA. The Musical Instrument Museum - (MIM) features over ten thousand historical instruments and artefacts from every corner of the world. The visitors explore the history of global music through a program of live performances and music education.

The collection of the Musical Instrument Museum is a rich exhibit of instruments from around two hundred countries and territories in the world. The Geo-Galleries include historic musical instruments from Africa and Middle-East, Asia and Oceania, Europe, Latin America and United States/Canada. In addition to world instruments the museum features an Artist Gallery with treasured instruments from world renowned musicians as well as archives of historic concerts, photographs, costumes and other precious music artefacts. Some of the unique items in the collection include the Steinway piano on which John Lennon composed “Imagine” on the 15^th of December, 1970; Eric Clapton’s famous “Brownie” Fender Stratocaster guitar; Black Eyed Peas drum set; one of the enormous drums played at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the first Steinway piano built in 1836 Germany by Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg.

The Musical Instrument Museum celebrates the diversity of global music through live performances in the state-of the-art Music Theatre. The museum exhibits come to life in exciting presentations of the world’s traditional, contemporary, instrumental and vocal music. Audiences can experience the unparalleled variety and quality of music from all over the world. The music is of every genre and flavour ranging from jazz, classical, world folk traditions, to the latest contemporary innovations in the world of music. It is truly the most comprehensive experience of music.

The Education Department at the Musical Instrument Museum invites the audience to explore and learn music. The educational program is dedicated to teaching the visitors about music through museum tours, lectures and classes for adults and workshops for children. Visitors can take music lessons and participate in hands-on training. At the Experience Gallery guests can relive history and entertain themselves by playing the many different instruments seen in the collection. There are numerous amazing music activities and events to enjoy at the museum.

The Musical Instrument Museum lets you experience history like no other museum - it brings the world of music to everyone. The museum takes the guests on an extraordinary journey into the enchanting realm of music. Within its 190 000 square foot structure, the spacious and bright museum incorporates the Music Theatre with an adjacent recording studio, a classroom, a garden courtyard, a café and the museum store. Designed by award-winning architect Rich Varda and RSP Architects, the contemporary, high-tech building is specially constructed for the ultimate music experience and evokes the beauty of global music. The windows are designed to resemble music keys that are illuminated at night. The spiral staircase ascends from the floor mosaic featuring the map of the world.  Everything about the Museum is an expression of world music. For all of us that love music, the Musical Instrument Museum offers an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.