MIM - Musical Instrument Museum Adventure

Today we took a drive to Scottsdale with my parents to check out the MIM or Musical Instrument Museum. The entire upper level is devoted to different regions of the world. Each continent has its own room and within those rooms many countries have a display of musical instruments. These amazing guitars, drums, flutes and rattles were made out of the craziest materials, from cans to human bones! As you walk from room to room you see the instruments displayed and then watch a video of people using that instrument in the actual setting where it is used. The audio plays automatically in your headset as you approach the exhibit.

Gianni was absolutely interested and asked the most amazing questions. It is amazing to me how much we have to teach our children. Things that you just don't think to do as you are covering the basics with your kids. Gianni was looking at video of an African tribe. They were dancing and banging on drums. They were outside of a little hut and were not wearing shoes. He looked up at me and said, "is this what they do when they go camping?" He was serious and very curious. I had to explain to him how things are in other countries or regions of the globe. It was a great educational opportunity for Gianni who if interested has the ability to focus but I could see how little ones could eventually grow bored in the upper level.

Carmen liked the music at first and then decided she was done. 

  It was great to be with Nonna and Papa.

 Finally we headed downstairs to a room that is really meant for kids to explore and play. The kids loved playing guitars, drums of all kinds, and some of the most interesting and unusual instruments I have ever seen. They loved the chance to be creative and put their hands on the instruments. So glad we saved it for last because they would never have wanted to walk through the galleries had we headed there first.

 John Lennon's piano behind a glass case. Pretty cool!

 After about 3 hours the kids had some milk and cookies in the cute little cafe and they each got to pick out an instrument from the gift shop. Gianni chose a "frog drum". It is a drum shaped like a frog and it really does sound like a frog. It is used in Vietnam. Carmen selected the "thunder tube." Ohh yah....the thing is loud and sounds exactly like the name. Thanks Nonna! My house was fun tonight.

One last picture here of our new herb garden. Everyone is helping as we take care of our basil, parsley, chives, thyme, oregano, and rosemary.