Musical Instrument Museum Gems of the World

"Musical Instrument Museum." Have you ever visited one?

Greetings, everyone! If you’ve ever wondered how music connects cultures across centuries and continents, then Musical Instrument Museum Gems of the World—podcast episode S2 E47 from Dave at Mighty Line Minute—is a must-listen. In this episode, Dave takes us on a fascinating tour through some of the world’s most remarkable, yet often overlooked, musical instrument museums. These places are more than mere buildings filled with old instruments; they are vibrant testaments to the power of music to tell human stories.

From Brussels to Tehran to Phoenix, Dave guides listeners across five incredible destinations (plus one special bonus stop) where history, craftsmanship, and melody intertwine. Let’s explore each of these hidden gems and discover what makes them so special.

Our journey begins in the heart of Europe, in Brussels, Belgium, at the Musical Instrument Museum, or MIM for short. The MIM stands as both a masterpiece of architecture and a treasury of sound. Housed in a breathtaking Art Nouveau building, the museum contains over 8,000 instruments, ranging from medieval bagpipes to Indian sitars.

What truly sets the MIM apart, as Dave notes, is its combination of history and innovation. Visitors don’t just look at instruments—they experience them. Thanks to infrared audio guides, each display comes to life with sound. As you walk past a 17th-century harpsichord or a West African drum, you can hear exactly how it would sound when played. This immersive feature transforms a static exhibit into a living, breathing concert hall.

But perhaps the museum’s most famous treasure is one of the most revolutionary instruments ever invented: the world’s first saxophone. Created and patented by Adolphe Sax in 1846, this instrument forever changed the sound of jazz, classical, and popular music. Standing before Sax’s original creation is like stepping into a moment of musical history that continues to shape our world today.

Although the MIM often flies under the radar of most Brussels tourists, it’s truly one of Europe’s finest cultural gems—one that proves how deeply sound can connect us to our collective past.

2. The National Music Museum, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA

From the elegance of Brussels, Dave takes us to the quiet town of Vermillion, South Dakota, home of the National Music Museum (NMM). Don’t let its unassuming location fool you—this museum is one of the most important collections of musical instruments in the world.

Founded in 1973, the National Music Museum houses masterpieces that trace the evolution of Western music. Its collection includes violins crafted by Antonio Stradivari, instruments so meticulously crafted that their sound remains unmatched centuries later. 

The museum also displays one of the earliest known pianos, offering a rare glimpse into the roots of an instrument that has become central to so many musical traditions. Two of the museum’s standout pieces are its Baroque-era pianos from the mid-1700s—one from France and one from Portugal. Both feature the original Cristofori-style action, a mechanism pioneered by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano itself. These instruments are among the rarest of their kind and represent a crucial turning point in musical innovation. 

For historians, musicians, and anyone fascinated by the craft of sound, the NMM is an essential pilgrimage site. Though it may not be as well-known as larger metropolitan museums, its collection makes a powerful argument for South Dakota as a true destination for music lovers.

3. Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, Hamamatsu, Japan

Next, Dave takes us across the Pacific to Hamamatsu, Japan, the birthplace of two global music giants: Yamaha and Kawai. It’s no surprise that this city also hosts a museum dedicated to the artistry and science of sound—the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments.

The museum’s collection includes over 1,300 instruments from every continent, offering a panoramic view of how humans around the world create and experience music. What makes this museum particularly engaging is its interactive approach. Visitors can touch, play, and explore how instruments work. You can pluck the strings of an African kora, try your hand at a Balinese gamelan, or feel the vibration of a massive taiko drum. This hands-on experience transforms the museum from a passive viewing space into an active playground of sound.

Dave emphasizes that despite its excellence, the Hamamatsu Museum may not appear on tourist itineraries. The museum is truly a true hidden treasure for those who seek cultural authenticity and creative inspiration with or from, music.

4. Grassi Museum of Musical Instruments, Leipzig, Germany

Our next stop brings us to Leipzig, Germany, a city forever linked to one of music’s greatest figures: Johann Sebastian Bach. Leipzig was Bach’s home for much of his life, and today it remains a hub for classical music. Fittingly, it’s home to the Grassi Museum of Musical Instruments, one of Europe’s oldest and most respected instrument collections.

The Grassi’s holdings span centuries, from Renaissance lutes and Baroque violins to modern experimental instruments. One of its most fascinating aspects is the inclusion of playable replicas, allowing musicians to hear authentic sounds from different eras. The museum also preserves original manuscripts and music scores, giving visitors an intimate glimpse into the minds of the composers who shaped Western music.

Despite its significance, the Grassi Museum often remains overshadowed by the more famous cultural sites in cities like Vienna or Berlin. Yet for those who make the trip, it offers a very rewarding (and rare) quiet, contemplative encounter with the living history of sound.

5. The Music Museum of Iran, Tehran

Dave’s next destination is Tehran, Iran, home to the Music Museum of Iran—a place steeped in the nation’s rich and ancient musical traditions. The museum celebrates instruments such as the tar, a long-necked lute, and the santur, a beautifully-resonant hammered dulcimer. These instruments carry stories that date back thousands of years, echoing through Persian poetry, ritual, and performance.

What makes this museum extraordinary is its use of archival audio and video to bring history to life. Visitors can hear recordings of legendary musicians and see performances that reveal how music shapes identity and emotion. It’s more than a museum—it’s a cultural archive, preserving the soul of Persian music for future generations. Standing in the Music Museum of Iran feels like listening to the heartbeat of a civilization.

Bonus Stop: The Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, Arizona

Finally, Dave offers a bonus for listeners in the United States: the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, Arizona. This museum, which shares an acronym with Brussels’ MIM, is one of the most comprehensive collections in the world, showcasing over 8,000 instruments from more than 200 countries.

The Phoenix MIM is renowned for its state-of-the-art wireless audio headsets, which automatically play music from the region you’re exploring. As you walk through the galleries, you hear the sounds of the instruments before you—African drums, Andean flutes, or Appalachian fiddles—creating an immersive global journey through sound.

In this space, music becomes more than just entertainment; it becomes a universal language that transcends borders and time.

The Soundtrack of Humanity

As Dave reminds us, these museums aren’t just about looking at old instruments behind glass. They are living spaces that celebrate human creativity, craftsmanship, and connection. From the handcrafted violins of Italy to the rhythmic heartbeats of African drums, every instrument tells a story about who we are and how we express ourselves.

Musical Instrument Museum Gems of the World is a vivid reminder that music is not confined to concert halls or recordings—it lives in the objects, hands, and hearts of people around the world. Whether you’re a musician, a traveler, or simply someone who loves a good story, these museums invite you to listen—to history, to culture, and to the world itself.

So next time you’re planning a trip, skip the crowded landmarks and step into one of these global temples of sound and creativity. You might just discover a new favorite instrument—or perhaps, a deeper understanding of what it means to be uniquely human.