Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Music Museum interesting and interactive

With 6,500 square feet of museum space, the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad takes visitors on a 100-year musical journey from 1890 to 1989.

The museum is split up into different musical eras beginning with 1890 to 1909. This era’s focus is band music, with John Philip Sousa highlighted. One of the first inventions showcased is the Edison Home Phonograph, first introduced in 1896. The sousaphone on display (1918) is a large tuba-like instrument that was invented for the military type of music written by Sousa. There is also a display where visitors can push a button and play different music from this era. In fact, all of the sections have their own music boards so visitors can listen to music from each era. One of the most popular areas of the museum is where visitors can play instruments or listen to records through headphones.

Some of the displays are temporary. The “Harp Guitars: Passion • Imagination • Artistry” exhibit is temporary and will be on display until July 30. In conjunction with this exhibit the museum will offer two harp guitar concerts: March 24 featuring John Doan, and on April 21 William Eaton will demonstrate his harp guitar abilities.

During the era from 1910 to 1929, ragtime (the first American musical genre), Tin Pan Alley and hillbilly music were featured. The era between 1930 and 1949 saw a lot of innovations in music. Some of the inventions highlighted included the Hammond Organ that was produced in 1935 and the Gibson ES-150 guitar that was introduced in 1936. During this era popular musicians included Benny Goodman (jazz and swing), Louie Armstrong (jazz), Dizzy Gillespie (jazz) and the Glen Miller Orchestra (big band music).

The era between 1950 and 1969 saw early rock and roll and country western become popular. Behind glass, the museum has a replica of Ringo Starr’s drum set and a Höfner guitar (left-handed 1962 500/1 model) like the one Paul McCartney played in his early days as a Beatle. A poster displayed on the wall reads: “Paul McCartney plays a Höfner original. Why don’t you?” Other innovations of that era included a Fender telecaster guitar (1950), a Wurtilizer electric piano (1952) and a Moog synthesizer (1964).

The era displays end with 1970 to 1989, which includes references to Elvis Presley, heavy metal, super groups, Madonna and MTV. At the end of that section is a wall display for “Singing Saws” that showcases saws used to create some kind of musical sound.

The museum seems to be in need of another era display, since 1989 was 18 years ago and much has happened on the music scene since then.

Each Saturday at 2:30 p.m. the museum offers guided tours. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, seniors and active military. The museum is also available for rent for up to 150 people.

The Museum of Making Music is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed on Mondays and on major holidays, including New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Museum of Making Music

5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad

(760) 438-5996

http://www.museumofmakingmusic.org

 

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