Musical Instrument Museum - MIM

Among the flutes of ancient Mesoamerica, the tubular duct flutes produced by the Classic Veracruz culture are especially elaborate. These flutes are characterized by several connected tubes often sculpted with zoomorphic or anthropomorphic figures, and each tube contains free-running clay pellets that create birdlike warbles and other unique sounds when the instrument is tilted.

The Classic Veracruz double duct flute in The Magical Flute: Beauty, Enchantment, and Power displays high-quality craftsmanship and detailed, symbolic decoration, implying its social and ritual importance. Listen as Indigenous Mexican artist Mazatl Galindo demonstrates the tilting effect on a replica of a different Classic Veracruz flute.

See this figural double duct flute and more than 100 other rare flutes in our current special exhibition, The Magical Flute: Beauty, Enchantment, and Power.
https://mim.org/special-exhibitions/

Loan courtesy of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Gift of Frank Carroll

Did you know that July is Educator Appreciation Month at MIM? 🍎

All month long, prekindergarten through 12th-grade educators receive free general admission to MIM! Educators also receive free admission to these events! ⬇️

📝 Music PLUS professional development sessions, July 1 & 8
🎺 Spotlight on Sousa, July 4
🎭 MIM Talks: Musical Theater Around the World, July 7
🇫🇷 Experience France, July 11 & 12
💈 World Choir Workshop: Barbershop, July 23

Tag your favorite teacher in the comments to let them know!

More details and a full list of ID requirements for Educator Appreciation Month. ⬇️
https://mim.org/events/educator-appreciation-month-2026/2026-07-01/

Learn more about July events. ⬇️
https://mim.org/events-and-classes/

Sponsored by Robin & Robert Craig

The iconic sounds of salsa! 💃

MIM’s new Salsa exhibit illustrates the story of this iconic musical style. Latino musicians in New York City and the Hispanic Caribbean led the salsa movement with tight dance-band arrangements, powerful rhythmic drive, and an urban sound blending Afro-Cuban styles with multicultural influences. More than simply a genre, salsa captured the shared experiences and sentiments of Latinos while embracing their distinct cultural identities.

Come see this new exhibit in our Latin America and the Caribbean Gallery! Learn more and plan your visit.⬇️
https://mim.org/plan-your-visit/

Sing your soul out with us today! 🎶

Today is the last day of our Celebrate Soul Signature Event. Move your body to and sing along with live performances, listen to a curator presentation, and dance in a soul train led by our Junior Museum Guides—all included with museum admission!

Felicia Penza joins us this afternoon from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m. for a sing-along full of soul favorites.

Don’t miss out! Learn more and plan your visit in the link below! ⬇️
https://mim.org/events/celebrate-soul/2026-06-13/

Supported by Desert Soul Media and Support Life and Music (SLAM)

All the way from sunny St. Lucia, our friend Michael Robinson is bringing the soul to MIM! 🇱🇨🎵

This weekend is for soul lovers! Join us today and tomorrow, June 13 and 14, for our Celebrate Soul Signature Event. Let the timeless melodies of this beloved genre move your body as we enjoy two days of live performances, curator talks, sing-alongs, and more—all included with museum admission!

Robinson joins us for a Caribbean soul performance today from 11:30 a.m. to noon.

Learn more and plan your visit! ⬇️
https://mim.org/events/celebrate-soul/2026-06-13/

Supported by Desert Soul Media and Support Life and Music (SLAM)

New install alert! ⭐ A new exhibit in MIM’s Randy Vosti Artist Gallery honors the legacy of innovative composer and guitar virtuoso Michael Hedges.

Hedges is best known for his mesmerizing playing, which included two-handed tapping on the fingerboard, percussive slapping on the body, and other unconventional techniques. MIM’s exhibit highlights the breadth and impact of Hedges’s music, which continues to inspire people nearly 30 years after his death in 1997.

See instruments from Hedges’s iconic career—including “Barbara,” his famous Martin D-28 acoustic guitar—on your next visit!

Learn more and plan your visit! ⬇️
https://mim.org/plan-your-visit/

Loan courtesy of Taproot, LLC