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Comments (199)
They have an amazing collection of instruments and antiques, like a serial number 2 Stratocaster and an original Echoplex unit! Brian was a really cool tour guide and played some Doc Watson that rocked, thanks!
Great place! Interactive, informational, and interesting. Fun for everybody and music lovers alike! Especially loved the Beatles section! Anyone can also play the instruments provided there (electric guitars, ukulele, banjo, bass, and even a drum kit.)
We had a blast here. Theres a bunch of instruments to play. The tech section was my daughters favorite. Highly recommend a visit.
Quick Facts:Size: SmallPrice: $10 (Adults)Est. time in museum: 45min - 1hourRecommended for: Musicians, Teenagers, AdultsBest Feature(s): Instruments you can playNice, small museum. Focuses primarily on musical instruments, with an emphasis on guitars and pianos, rather than on being a history lesson on musical genres or specific artists. They have some rare instruments that Ive never seen before and instruments that are one-of-a-kind works of art. All the instruments are beautiful to look at. Exhibits are divided by different time period from ragtime and early jazz of the early 20th century to folk, blues and early rock n roll of the middle 20th century to heavy rock and electronic music of the late 20th century.Very interesting especially if youre a musician or if your interested in vintage things. Each exhibit of the museum has a different instrument (guitar) that you can pick up and play and also there is a music station at the end where can try out other different instruments as well such as a guitar, drums, a theremin and a piano (a good distraction to keep little kids interested). If you dont play any musical instrument, I cant strongly recommend this museum to casual music listeners because its primary focus is the instrument and not the music.
This museum is tucked away the older ladies at the front were thrilled to receive us! they have a great introduction and from there it was all up to us. its a great walk through and a hands on museum for the most part. the best parts were actually being able to play some of the instruments. my personal favorite was the beatles drum kit they had. wow.
This is an absolute hidden gem.in Carlsbad. I cant believe Ive lived here for 15 years and have never visited! There is so much history and such a fantastic assortment of musical instruments. Of the course the end is the best!!!! You can play all the instruments! And the bug video screen of the world showing all the different cultures and their instruments was fascinating! Im going to make sure I take all my friends here especially all the musicians I know!
Such a cool museum! Amazing exhibits and my kids loved being able to play the instruments!
This was a great place! My 3.5 year old loved being able to play instruments! My 33 year old also loved the museum and playing the instruments! We will definitely be back!!!
Had fun with the kids. Very dedicated staff. Lots of hands on stuff. Everything kept in tune too!
My dad and I both love music and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history behind progression of musical instruments. Our favorite part, of course, was trying our hand at a variety of different instruments. Oh, and learning what a theremin is!! So crazy!! 😂
Unique place to see the history of modern music with friendly, knowledgeable, volunteer guides. Play various instruments. Kids will love it! Join the museum for special pricing to attend weekly events and workshops. Nice, modern building with easy access and plenty of parking.
As museums go, my experience here was quite fun! Having a walk-through time with making music seeing musical instruments from thousands of years before my time to musical instruments at the forefront of Music Creation today and moreover getting an opportunity to play some of them was a hoot! There was a family who joined us after we arrived at the Museum and it was especially fun watching their kids explore and express themselves musically. There truly is something here for everybody who loves music. I thank NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, for creating this Museum for the public!
We were able to play the musical instruments, read about their history, and listen to some of the older songs. My parents in their 80s and my grandnieces who were 12 and 6 years old all enjoyed the museum as well as my nieces and I. It was a nice afternoon of family fun.
I recently visited the museum after hearing of their major renovation and was extremely impressed! The displays are so well done and informative and the new interactive touchscreens are very cool! Oh and the staff and volunteers are so nice and knowledgeable about all things music. The entire experience was really fun and can truly be enjoyed by all ages.
Wonderful place to learn about the history of Musical instruments, the evolution of 20th century genres and to try out different instruments in a really cool environment. Definitely recommend 👌
Nice little museum last part where you can play different instruments was a lot of fun.
Pleasantly surprised with this museum. I learned a lot about music history and appreciated the hands on activities. Yes, they actually let you play the guitars, drums, etc.
An awesome place to visit! Especially if you love music. I visited here with the family and the younger ones (they’re teenagers) really enjoyed getting to play with the instruments. Very educational and love how interactive the whole museum is. Definitely recommend!
This place is a hidden gem.Was so fun to walk around and explore the different eras and genres of music. Lots of interactive things for the five year old. She thought it was so neat to play the instruments.Highly, highly recommended.
Very informative and encompassing of many different instruments and music types. I really enjoyed my time here.
Had a really wonderful experience. A nice small exhibit, but depending on how much information you enjoy reading and exploring, you could spend many hours at this spot. It even had a couple of interactive musical instruments that you could play with!
What a beautiful experience for my family at the Museum of Making music! The volunteers are super nice and very informative and definitely an added bonus to this experience!! Facility is very clean and organized and was super impressed on the organization and interactive learning experience!! Thank you!! Will see you again when we come back for a vacation next summer again from Westchester County NY! Thank you Again!!
Saw the Hillbenders. Incredibly talented bluegrass band playing the Who and original music. The venue has great sound.
Small but very friendly and nice museum to come alone or with kids. The local store has cute things to purchase and the price is OK.
So cool, this is such an eduction and powerful experience. Went with my family and we loved it.
Knowledgeable volunteers add to the experience. There are some interactive displays that allow you to play some of the instruments. There are touch screen monitors at each display area that provide good information and some entertainment. I would suggest kids 7 and up would enjoy. Takes about an hour or more to soak it all in.
This museum is so nice. Everyone was so kind and helpful, and very knowledgeable about music and the instruments. My children loved being able to play the many instruments at different points throughout the museum.
The MOM is a jewel of a venue. Close to us in North County, easy parking, friendly venue and crowd. Excellent talent, so far. Here are shots I took of Charley Hunter and his band.
Awesome experience. Great layout. My sons loved it.
Lots of twentieth century musical instrument history. The majority was strings and wind instruments. Could have had a bit more variety, but still very interesting and some very unique pieces.
Defenely a land marc in Carlsbad, educational, informative, recreational, for all ages, you see, hear, and hands on, ove it a must see place
I took. My grandson and we have plenty fun interactively:We love music..he love all different instruments..Its amazingThis place...for all familyKidsLove..it.!!!
The museum is back! Saw the member preview today and it is REALLY good! The format is completely changed from the decades model and is much more immersive with kiosks, demonstration stations with directional speakers instead of headphones, etc. An extremely pleasurable and deep new experience and even more to see and absorb than before. Youll need several visits to take it all in. Home run by the museum team and backers!
This museum is fabulous. We enjoyed everything, the music,the hands on lessons, the beautiful instruments and learning all about them.
I love this place, their employees are so nice and help you to find out everything.
Local or vacationing, you MUST visit the Museum of Making Music! It is newly renovated and youre going to love the interesting and interactive exhibits. The whole family really enjoyed our visit to this local gem.
It was well laid out, you can play various instruments and hear music from different eras . However, its a very small museum.
Great museum and experience. Thanks NAMM. We did wish more of the automated instruments would play.
Love this place. The remodel is stunning and my favorite areas are where you can play different instruments.The volunteers are all wonderful and very knowledgeable!
My first time at the Museum of Making Music and it was worth the trip. It is a small museum, but with exceptional exhibits from different decades. My favorite parts were playing examples of music from the exhibits era, playing on the musical instruments, and learning about how American music has changed over time. It was really fun to make noise and the workers were really nice.
So much fun stuff! Very interactive and a great gift shop :-)
Nice place, good for kids to play and adults. They have renewed it in the last two years and the new exhibits are great! Staff was super friendly!!
Fun for the kids, lots of hands on experiences.
Amazing, an so well put together. Gorgeous displays, areas for some hands on interaction, places to listen and learn. Well worth the few bucks to get in. Reservations on the website.
Fun place to explore the development of instruments in the US. The best is the instruments that are available to play, including the rare and unusual theremin.
Different type of museum! I love it. There are some areas where you can try the instruments yourself which is pretty nice!
I had a great time with my out of town guests and almost 2 year old. I got asked by several friends how it was for little kids, so I will speak to that. The gift shop has a coloring station, which my little loved! There were instruments to play in each section and buttons to play the music of the Era. At the end there was a great interactive room and my little one was given a musical shaker at the end. Overall I recommend it for young kids, but do keep an eye on them because there are several pianos that say do not touch.
It’s a nice place but they don’t allow pets so I’m giving two stars if that
Worth every penny!My kids and I had a blast! Towards the end of the tour, we were able to play with instruments. The gift shop is amazing and very affordable.We will be returning for sure.
Dont judge the museum based on how small it is. It definitely has a lot of interesting facts and music pieces. The innovation studio is also pretty amazing because you can try out a bunch of different instruments. As a group we also played drums together in a large room. We also had Zach from NAMM come speak to us about what it is. It was pretty cool to see how big their conferences are every year. This is definitely a cool museum that everyone should experience. I know it just looks like an office building, but it truly is much more than that.
The National Association of Music Merchants founded the Museum of Making Music in 1998 to showcase and celebrate the music products industry. It was opened to the public in March 2000, and has since provided the community with many opportunities for cultural enrichment while preserving musical heritage through special exhibitions, innovative concerts, and educational programs. Hundreds of vintage instruments, audio and video clips, and a vibrant interactive area are permanent exhibits in the museum. Each gallery features historic milestones and the popular music and instruments of the eras, all organized chronologically, giving visitors a nostalgic glimpse into the music products industry. Twice a year, special exhibitions are displayed, along with music presentations and workshops that showcase renowned international and national musicians as well as local talent.
Went there for a event.This is a hidden treasure and great place that every music lover have to visit.Its a very small museum relatively, but it is packed with some great information. Every nook and corner have lovely instrument. Not like other museum, you could try each of these instruments. And some of these are very old and rare instruments, at the end where you could try these instruments, they even have instructions for the same.Price: Admission is $10 for admission also they have student discount. This place has a private parking lot and can handle good crowd.Staff are great.
The museum is great for older kids and adults. Not too big so it stays interesting. Very interactive. The staff was very friendly and were committed to the best possible experience. Parking was ample for the number of visitors. Walking distance from nearby resorts and hotels.
What fun! Great displays, informed staff, you can play some of the instruments. Only downside is the outside of the building only says NAMM, nothing about it being the home of the Museum as well...drove thru the parking lot a few times before deciding I was in the right place. But thoughtfully laid out, and a great overall experience. I will add it to my list of things to do that I can offer visitors coming to town.
This is a small museum that is located on the first floor of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) offices. The fee is reasonable, $10 for the general public, $7 seniors, students and active military, children under 3 are free. It follows the history of the musical instrument manufacturing industry from 1900 to today. There are displays and some interactive areas. We spent about 1 1/2 hours. It is an interesting place to spend some time if you get rained out of Legoland or Carlsbad in general.
Good way to introduce music and different type of instrument. Entertainment for the kids.
My grandson had a great time with the interactive instruments. When we arrived, the lady at the front counter offered him a booklet that deepened his involvement via a scavenger hunt, and he received a prize when he finished. The people were friendly and attentive, and the displays were nicely curated. The prices for most gift shop offerings were a challenge for my grandson because they exceeded his allowance by a wide margin.
Loved this experience! You get to try out instruments and listen to old recordings. But the best part is the staff. One guy in particular was amazing. My husband and I had all kinds of odd questions (like when accordions became popular, how pianos were delivered, and what material records were originally made of) he always had fantastic answers for us and expanded on the related history answering lots of why. Wish I had read his name tag.
Great venue. I held a meeting at The Museum of Making Music. The staff were flexible and very responsive. The conference room has a view looking out to the Pacific Ocean. I will definitely use this location again.
I love this place. 4th year I have an annual membership. $30 for the year and you can go there and play guitar, drums, keys, bass, banjo, mandolin, and the many weird and unusual instruments that they have available. The artifacts of music from famous musicians is also incredible. If you are a musician or just a lover of music, its a must-see!
Loved this museum! Staff were welcoming and very helpful. The interactive displays interspersed with different genres and eras along with the actual instruments was outstanding. The gift shop was amazing...I just didnt have enough time to fully explore.
Small museum but with great and interesting stuff. I dont recommend it for little kids, Id said its appropriate for 7 years old and older, especially if your kid is a lot into music. The staff is very friendly and proud of their musuem. Oh! When you leave the museum just across the street enjoy the beautiful view of the flower fields!
A quaint little museum. It has a fairly small loop of historic instruments and educates about mostly American music history. At the end there is an area for kids and adults to try out different instruments. It was fun and interesting, depending on your love of music dont expect too spend more than an hour there.
We had fun at this little museum. Everyone was super nice and helpful! It was quick to go through, I wish they had more to play or interact as you walked through. We had a spread of age 2-50 and everyone found something they enjoyed!
A definite must for anyone who appreciates music of any kind. The staff are sweet and very helpful. They place various instruments throughout their very well thought out displays and at the very end is a music room so you can play anything from a Fender strat to a Synthesizer and several keyboards theres even a Roland electric drum kit. Spent 2 hours and going back tomorrow.
Great music museum the staff is so helpful. My son loved being able to play the instruments.
Fun place. Great instrument collection
It was wonderful! Trish was very friendly and helpful. I wish it was longer, it felt short and small but nonetheless it was still a very entertaining experience. Definitely would recommend you playing every instrument there that can be played.
A wonderful place to visit. Historic and modem instruments on display and to play. Samples of music from 1890-1990. Staff is friendly, enthusiastic, and love to share and teach. They have rooms where you have an opportunity to play interesting electronic instruments. Great for kids and adults!
I have had the pleasure of visiting this Museum several times as a teacher. Our school takes the third grade class there every year. The facility is gracious enough allow the students to visit for free since we are in an economically disadvantaged area.The guided tour usually begins with a walk through the exhibits of history of Music in America starting from the late 1800s and leading up to the 1990s; from John Philip Sousa to the Big Bands and all the way the MTV age and beyond. There are plenty of unique displays that allow the visitors and students to become immersed in the experience of the different periods.At each station there is a sound box where visitors can select several different songs and music of the era, instruments of that time, and photos/videos of notable artists.Of particular interest are some rare instruments that are both owned by the museum and also that are loaned to them from donors. On our last visit there was a piano that was actually in use at the Ford Theater the night Lincoln was assassinated, a fascinating relic of history.The finale of the tour is a stop by the instrument room which has a variety instruments for visitors are free to play, experiment, and fully immerse themselves in the experience of music..Highly recommended for a visit on a quiet weekend afternoon. As an added bonus there are several other attractions in the area including the Flower Fields ( springtime), Legoland, the Carlsbad Beach, and the Carlsbad Company outlet stores.
This is a hidden gem! We visited as part of a school group. This was fun, interactive and educational musem. I highly recommended it!
Nice looking area and setting, plenty of parking. Apparently many volunteers to assist patrons.Acoustics are better in seats at or near the the back of the room than in the front several rows. Definitely better than in the front row. Despite the fact that there are smaller speakers farther back from the stage, the poor up-front acoustics are because they never set up the sound equipment properly. Too often I have been in the front row, only to experience horribly loud, even painful sound.Poor planning for some events, such as the beer tasting in conjunction with classical music? Long line surrounding the auditorium, arriving at one corner of the room with ONE person serving dinky tasted of beer, which is from ONLY ONE brewery. Poorly conceived, poorly executed.Another time, a blond woman, the director, SHOUTED into the microphone, literally blaster HERSELF at the audience. All others who used that same mike were appropriate in their demeanor and speaking voices. There you have the reason that this place is a good idea, in a nice setting, but it falls on its face because the narcissistic selfishness of director herself is the primary objective of the organization.Those few events, above, were so unpleasant, therefore off putting, that I subsequently declined to continue my previous contributions to, or my regularly patronizing of, MOMM. Too bad that selfish egos of the director. and ill conceived, clumsy, tacky social stunts, and improperly coordinated and arranged performance events - including the sloppy, unprofessional stage and sound production... Too bad those things pull the rug out from otherwise ostensibly good intentions.The narcissism of the management, which is not true leadership, gets in its own way.Notice the inordinately long, haughty backlash? That which confirms the narcissism?Aw gee. Well? This place has problems, the most significant of which which is that the management refuses to consider anything beyond their own narcissistic ego - to their obvious detriment.
Great museum with a variation of musical instruments. My 5 month old and I had s great time exploring the musical decades and seeing the way instruments and more have changed throughout the years!$10 - general admissionFree for under 3!
Small, plenty of cool instruments to see and some interactive exhibits. My kids race through exhibits to the making music area...the drums are a highlight. They have free days with activities...highly recommend.
Its fun! Not a large museum but I still spent three hours there. The instruments that youre allowed to play are tuned and in good working order. The volunteers are friendly, knowledgeable and what they dont know theyll try to find out for you.
This place was so interesting and fun. You get to play guitar, piano, drums, etc. It tells the history of all kinds of instruments and who played them. Its a small museum but, a must see. We had a blast there.
Great place. Happened to go there during a guided tour for children. They all seemed so fascinated with all the different instruments. Especially the hands-on stuff. Educational and with a very knowledgeable staff, this a great place to learn and experience music from long ago to now.
Very nice museum - plenty of professional exhibits with interesting info, plus the ability to try out various instruments, and sound booth kiosks were you can listen to recordings of various styles of music performed by the greats. I thought I knew quite a bit about music, but learned all sorts of new and fascinating info!
Small, booths are interesting but if anyone is playing music can become a jumble of sounds because of small space. In time may grow and be able to be spread, or would recommend individual headphones to play music/information with closed circuit connection. Some good information.
A lot of fun and just the right size. You can spend an hour or two looking an musical instruments, getting to go hands on with some of them. knowledgeable staff that can speak on the instruments and give you pointers on how to play them. Great for families.
Just plain fun. Whether you play an instrument or just the radio, if you appreciate music this place is amazing. There are interactive displays throughout, press a button and hear the instrument youre looking at. Pick up a guitar, bang a gong or play a virtual drum kit. I spent hours there and loved every minute.
This place is a fun and interactive learning experience for anyone who likes music or instruments. The staff is very nice and well informed and the items in their gift shop are very well priced! A good place to go shopping for a musician.
As mentioned before, definitely a hidden gem. Friendly staff, cheap prices and adults and kids get to play a multitude of instruments including but not limited to drums, Gibson and a Fender Stratocaster guitar, pianos harp, etc. I plan on coming here again with my family. I recommend this place to anyone and everyone!!
This place is radical, we visited from Utah, the tour guides were patient, kind, and provided great information.I love the expository materials, the plenty of information and the music Workshops.Thanks for being such nice to visitors.
Wonderful place, we learned a lot, we happened to visit it on Making Music Day (21st June) so we got to see a lot of concerts and hear new music. Their interactive exhibits are present all year round and are a great activity for kids, adults, families, everyone! A highly recommended visit
As we were leaving the Museum of Making Music, a dad who was headed there with his wife and three young children asked, So is it worth it?I understand his reservations because its located in an office building located within an office complex and doesnt look like much from the outside. As a matter of fact, its not all that big on the inside, either. And anytime you take the whole family out for any kind of fun that isnt free, the expenses start to add up quick.But if you consider that general admission for adults is $8, kids $5, and little ones under 5 free, and you can get at least a good hours worth of musical exploration, some of it even hands-on, and possibly even inspire your kids to want to learn to make music, yeah - its totally worth it. And the people who volunteer there are so nice and welcoming.Its also right around the corner from Legoland, so if youre staying in the area, this is a nice, low-key activity to follow up a crazy day at the amusement park.A few more hands-on exhibits, including a few more kid-sized ones, would rate 5 stars for me. :)
Dont expect an experience like the Museum of Natural History. This is a very small museum, and it is practically free. The exhibits are highly interactive, educational,and interesting. A great way to spend an hour or so before dinner, which is exactly what we did.
June 2021. The new layout is great and everyone who works there are friendly.Great place for kids of all ages. The hands on area was so much fun for my kids.
Great spot and kid friendly (scavenger hunt and lots of listening buttons to press and instruments to try). Stroller accessible. Covers the history of the music making industry from the 1890s through today. Being the music lover that I am, I throughly enjoyed it even with an infant in tow.
Weve know about this place for years, but finally made our first trip.Spent about an hour exploring the history of music in America. Turns-out this place is in the lobby of NAMM (the trade association of music manufacturers), so theres certainly some credibility behind the effort.As music lovers, my wife and I really enjoyed it!
Super cute. Its interactive so you can press buttons that show you the music of the era, and you can play instruments. Takes about an hour and a half minimum to walk through. Staff is very friendly.
This little museum is worth going out of your way for. It’s the history of musical *instruments* in America (not all music or all of time), and it covers that very well without being boring. Every section has audio features and a playable instrument; and the final room has a collection of oddball and electronic gadgets that is a lot of fun to try.(The location is near Legoland but in the middle of an ordinary office park, which was a little weird because it was deserted on the weekend; this is explained by the fact that it’s the offices of Nat’l Assn. of Music Merchants (retailers), which built and subsidizes the museum.)
I live very close by this location, but Ive never visited there until my family was in town. Well worth a visit and I am sure you will enjoy your time there.The staff is very hospitable and helpful. One thing I did find you interesting with it being a Hands-On type of museumis that they did not have hand sanitizer all around. So bring some with you.
Its your classical museum when most of the instruments are behind the glass and there are boring labels everywhere.There are seldom instruments you can play with but I would rather visit my local Guitar Centre instead.In addition, its super tiny and the last two decades of making music arent even on display!
Small museum, with plenty of interactive exhibits. Great for young kids. :DAdditionally, the docents are quite knowledgeable and try to explain more about the history of musical instruments beyond just what is on the placards.
Good history of music. Last part is great. Ever wanted to try out a guitar or bass or drum set or piano or synthesizer or congas and other instruments, youll love this. You can try to play them all
I was disappointed. My kids loved it. But 10 years ago was so much better. It put the history of music with the instruments
Beautiful day a the museum of making music. Watched William Close play the Earth Harp. Beautiful. Museum is full of family music making fun.highly recommend for all ages. Get kids into music and away from video games!!!!
Fantastic place for music enthusiast and children of any age. The museum provides a creative prospective on the history of music through use video, audio samples, and hands on/interactive instrument exhibits.
Its a great museum to spend a couple hours learning about music and playing instruments. Great for kids too. I took my two and a half year old and he loved it.
Small museum with history of music instruments. The cool part is that there are various instruments for you to try and play. There is also a dedicated place to try out instruments, some are quite exotic.
Amazing place for music lovers but honestly it’s an amazing place for anyone
Pretty cheap admission, $10/person. Has a lot of different cool instruments and showings of their inner workings. Focus is mostly on pianos and guitar/guitar-derivative instruments.
Went on field trip with 6-10 year olds. Docent Jack was great, very knowledgable. Kids enjoyed the music and fun facts. Hands on with instruments was fun. Tour took about two hours including session with the kids on Brazilian timbau drums.
A surprise gem. I know everyone is in the area for Legoland, but this is a hands on museum about musical instruments. The history of the instruments was something I never paid attention to, so I really learned a lot.If your child is on the older end for Legoland, this is a good additional stop to make on arrival or departure day. Allot 1-2 hours.
The Museum of Making Music is a fabulous gem in Carlsbad: A world-class museum and concert series that is always pursuing excellence! From historical and contemporary interactive exhibits for families to a stellar concert series, it is not to miss!
So many cool things to see in such a small space. The collection is quite impressive. I wish there were more audio samples and that they correlated more with what I was looking at. Videos of people playing the instruments would be very useful.
Love this place. Very informative and interactive. Reasonably priced admission and nice collectibles in the gift shop. A definite museum to visit for music enthusiasts.
A unique place to go if youre from out of town, but great for locals too. Its sponsored by NAMM which has the largest music trade show in the world just up the road in Anaheim every January.
Admission for two adults is 20 bucks and you certainly dont get the moneys worth. The experimental area is the only area worth mentioning becasue it lets you try some pretty cool things hands on. However most of these are either malfunction or just set up in a very boring way so that people with actual music making background get their legs chopped off and unable to produce something of value.
This is such an intimate and amazing venue to enjoy all kinds of different artists live. You cant beat the price, the ample free parking as well as the staff and volunteers that make this venue so warm and welcoming
This is a pretty obscure museum located in an office park near Legoland. There are few directional signs and the the front entrance reads NAMM for the National Association of Music Merchants, which is a bit confusing. I was a bit shocked to read on a plaque inside the museum that NAMM was originally organized to break a piano makers strike in 1901. It seems they would want to distance themselves from that, but apparently they dont. The museum is full of interesting instruments with some you cant touch and others you are encouraged to play. They also host a number of interesting musical performances throughout the year. The volunteer staff are very knowledgeable and helpful.
I play music and Ive always wanted to visit. I was not disappointed. Its fun for all ages. I saw toddlers and Seniors. Its a fun way to learn some history and get to play some instruments yourself.
Very nice museum. Lots of history. Learned a lot. Brought my young daughter and my family as well. Shes into music and really enjoyed it.
A fun, educational, and interactive museum
They had a large collection of instruments, and it was very well organized by time period. They also had at least one instrument that you could play and some music samples in each room.
Enjoyed the trip down memory lane and learned many things I had not heard of and of the origins of the phrase put a sock in it....Do you know the origin? I am sure most know the meaning though. A fun & entertaining afternoon and it was even more fun to be with and watch my musical inclined wife revel in all the exhibits. Recommend it.
I have used only the practice rooms. Have not seen the museum. I have attended only one concert there. The stage was small but the acoustics and sound were good.
Its a cool snapshot of music and the instruments that created the music in America over the last 120 years. It has an interactive where you can play some of the instruments. Small museum though.
Interesting exhibits showing the instruments and musical styles popular over the last hundred or so years. If youre in North County, this is a worthwhile stop for a couple of hours.
Small but informative museum, with a bunch of real instruments for visitors to play with, ranging from Mandolin to electronic drumkit to theremin.Yes, you read that right, theres a Moog Etherwave Plus Theremin to play with among other cool stuff...
I had a great time. Not a big place but if you enjoy music history and playing fun instruments you will have a good time.
Great attraction for all ages. It will keep you busy and entertained.
Nice updates to the exhibits with touch screens, and a lot of unique instruments to play with.
Very interesting museum. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever played an instrument.
The historic significance of this museum is readily apparent as soon as you advance to the first exhibit. A must-see for musicians visiting the Carlsbad/San Diego area.
It should be called the History of Modern Musical Instruments Museum. I go the impression from the name that it was more of an interactive experience which its not really. Spent only 30 min there. Would not recommend.
Very informative tour and the exhibits are exquisite and many are interactive. Highly recommend it. It also has a great gift shop.
Lots of musical instruments and history
Small but wonderful. Tons of hands on for all ages. My 1 yr old even loved it. Watching people play and pushing lots of buttons that play all sort of music.
Wonderful place to take your kids plenty of sensory play for them with the instruments or great just to go learn the history of music
The team is very friendly and helpful.Fun experience!
Went to a free Jass concert last night & it was a very pleasant experience, they also served refreshments. I would suggest checking out their website for other upcoming concerts.
Hands down one of the coolest experiences of my life for a fenomenal price and I am so eternally grateful that I got to come here through a class course and would encourage any one of any age to come because it is truly amazing ♥️
We went to Happy Taubs concert and conversation. It was outstanding both in his playing and singing and as an insider in the 50s, 60s folk revival.
If youre interested in recent history of musical instruments and gear, this is the place. Ok for children, too. Parking available but variable.
Super fun and interactive! No matter what kind of music you like this place makes you appreciate music on a whole other level 🎶
This is a cool look back at the history of music creation. They also have some interactive displays that are fun for the kids. Our guide was also very cool.
Loved everything!! So many types of instru,being able to play some in the studio and the lovely woman behind the register. A very classy place!
What fun for music lovers! Lots of musical instruments to see, including historical content. You can get out some instruments. Affordable entry fee.
Informative and interactive fun as you can play various instruments throughout the exhibits. good entertainment for the whole family
Really cool stuff for the whole family, just wish it had more international flavor since it features pretty much only American and European music instruments.
Had some good stuff in here. Great gift shop. Some great views and other amazing things to do around here. Try your hand a geo caching while your here..lots of nice ones in area
I definitely enjoyed the time I spent there and learnt a lot, got to play and feel the instruments learned the history as well.
I have never been in a museum where they let you touch the instruments, this one lets you play many. Takes a couple of hours.
Great place.great staff.over priced
What a cool experience. We all communicate in different forms. With hands, lips, instruments, poems, rythmn. I most lowest and darkest times in life I turn to music for a pick me up.
What a great community event...found Wm Close n Earth Harp fasinating n informative. Glad we have Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad...n Free Music Day.
Best 2 hours of our vacation. Highly recommend. My 80 yo MIL and my teen son both enjoyed it.
A great intimate venue for hearing talented musicians from around the world, plus it has an interesting museum about The manufacturing of instruments of all types.
Lots of cool instruments to to see and play! Something for all ages.
Cool museum, a little pricey but fun
Great samples of historical music and lots of fun opportunities to play instruments! Great place for school age children
Highly recommend a prescheduled group tour (10+ people). Ive been here multiple times and the self-guided tour just isnt as exciting.
Short tour if you dont read anything (yknow, if youre following a toddler at their pace), but getting to try various instruments was a blast for myself and my daughter!
If you can get your young kids past the gift shop, its fun entertainment. Young musicians will like it best.
Lots of fun. Kids loved the hands on music room at the end where they could actually try out the instruments.
Really fun place. Learned a lot about music history. You get to play some instruments too!
Small, but they use the space very well. A lot of fun interactive exhibits and instruments to play.
It is a great place to go if you want to or already learning music such as guitar or mandolin.
Very interesting displays and it is very fun to play with all the instruments they have available.
Excellent customer service at here!
Worth it to expose pre-teens to music culture. Would like to see more programs for pre-K. Expanding their parking now (Sep 2015).
So much fun. Informative and hands on. Everyone should go.
Small, but fun. Small museum targeted at 19th and 20th century music. Volunteers are very nice.
Fun place for kids and adults to learn about music and music history. Nice way to spend an hour in Carlsbad.
Great venue for piano recital.
Good level for my 5yo and 7yo combo. Was too much for them a couple of years ago. Excellent hands on section.
Great interaction give fun!
Great place for musical instrument nerds, like me! They have some truly amazing guitars
Not what you might expect, but a nice place to see the different styles of music over the decades of time. Some hands on, for the little ones too
The Museum of making music is temporarily closed. It will reopen in June.
Lovely place to understand music evolution and try out a few instruments. Kids loved it. They also solved a puzzle.
Always a fun, educational experience about music and its history. Friendly, educated and helpful staff.
Very interesting and informative!
Everyone was so kind. This would be a great place if you were into instruments that were used by famous people.
A wonderful tour, especially if Jerry is there to share the history with you and your group.
Great place to see all kinds of instruments. Good to take kids.
Didnt have enough time to see everything but it was really nice. Lots of instruments to see and even play. Would indeed recomend.
Cool little museum. Cant wait til my kids are older and can enjoy the hands on experience.
A great place to get out of the weather and enjoy history of musical instruments and all types of music.
Really nice staff. If you are into the history of music, it is great
Great place to visit those who are interested in learning music..For sure this will give an idea about if a person has zero knowledge about Music..
Incredible priceless, collection of musical artifacts. A great place for all to visit.
Kinda hard to find, but was definitely worth walking around. The tour guides are very knowledgeable.
Such a cool, interactive museum. A must for the music lover.
Alot of great music history and the ability to have hands on interaction. Cant wait to see how they set it up next!!!
A great collection and put together very well. Love the ability to try out the instruments.
Its very interesting and they even let you try out some of their instruments!
4.7 (199 comments)
Review №1
2022-05-12Amazing place!! From precious instruments to historical video-recordings of famous artists; from exclusive interviews with composers and music producers; and from videos showing the instrument manufacturing process to the unique chance to play with an incredible array of instruments, this museum has it all. Well informed staff that pop up whenever you have a question and a truly gem of a music and books store. And the entrance fee is ridiculously low, too! Cant wait to bring the whole family for a fun filled afternoon here!!
Review №2
2022-03-17The staff was knowledgeable and engaging. We talked at length about the history of different instruments and the industry of making instruments. It was great and the interactive displays along with the instruments available to play made it a blast.
Review №3
2022-01-29Fabulous museum!The exhibits are interactive and some of the instruments left my party in awe.From exhibits arranged by curated instrument categories to the catogory arranged by the history of music in the USA, this museum will be enjoyed by musicians and music fans, of any age.Best part; you play instruments played by the artist in our party.
Review №4
2022-05-31We loved the MMM, there is a big variety of instruments to learn about. There are also some instruments that can be played by guest. You can be there all the time you need and the staff is super nice and knowledgable. You can finish watching everything in less than 2 hours but we stayed about 3 hours since we wanted to play the intruments. My 10 year old loved the Museum and now he understands a bit more about instruments incase he would like to learn how to play one. Thanks MMM!
Review №5
2022-06-17Beautiful instruments. Fun interactive exhibits. Play stations for kids. Perfect family friendly stop.
Review №6
2022-01-26Touch screens and well educated, personable volunteers make this a wonderful experience. The array of rare and exotic instruments is unsurpassed. Really enjoyable. Well worth the visit!!
Review №7
2022-04-26My Son and I really enjoyed our visit there. Staff was helpful and knowledgeable. My Son is a musician and makes his own music , it was a great day!
Review №8
2021-11-30The museum displays instruments through out the ages. There were tour guides/musicians who introduced us around. There were also videos and interactive programs. Everyone is welcome to try out instruments at the designated area.
Review №9
2021-08-15Excellent interactive musical instrument museum. Plenty of fun instruments for younger kids to play with - guitars, basses, synthesizers, drums, etc, Free admission for NAMM (North American Music Merchant) members. Great way to spend an hour or 2.
Review №10
2020-03-10Came here with my husband , 7 yr old and 12 year old . Really loved seeing the old instruments and working our way up through the years . My kids love hearing the different sounds the instruments made . The last room is SO cool. I think we spent at least an hour trying different instruments . The volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend .