EXPERIENCE GALLERY

Celebrate the joy of music making.

In the interactive Experience and Encore Galleries, guests can play instruments from around the world like the ones on display throughout the museum.

The Experience Gallery is a place to explore self-made musical sounds—and more importantly, a place to let loose and have fun. Find and celebrate your inner musician while playing instruments such as a Javanese gamelan, a West African djembe, a Peruvian harp, a theremin, and more. The hands-on space is fun for families and guests of all ages.

Encore Gallery

MIM’s Encore Gallery is another hands-on space that features developmentally appropriate instruments and activities for prekindergarten through second grade field trip participants. Designed with young children in mind, the Encore Gallery also offers elements important to early childhood learning, including natural light, open space, and materials for dramatic play such as scarves.

Plan Your Visit ›

Inside the Experience and Encore Galleries

Guests in MIM’s Experience Gallery Image

Guests of all ages can make their own music in the hands-on galleries.

Guests in MIM’s Experience Gallery Image

The Experience Gallery includes instruments from all of the major world regions represented by MIM’s Geographic Galleries.

Students in MIM’s Experience Gallery Image

MIM has commissioned a variety of instruments for these spaces, including large communal drums by Alex Maldonado of the Pascua Yaqui Nation.

Orquesta Akokán in MIM’s Experience Gallery Image

Musicians from Cuban group Orquesta Akokán play drums during a tour of MIM.

MIM’s Encore Gallery Image

In the Encore Gallery, large murals featuring youth musicians from around the world and geographical groupings of instruments aim to inspire child-centered interactions with diverse instruments and sounds.

Students in MIM’s Encore Gallery Image

Students visit the Encore Gallery on a field trip.

Guests in MIM’s Family Center Image

Visiting with kids?

MIM’s PNC Bank Family Center is a peaceful space for families with little ones. The room includes seating areas, tables, a family restroom, and plenty of space for kids to play.