Museum of Making Music Reviews

It was my first visit but my husband's second. We are both band geeks and this place did not disappoint.

Lots to see, read and hear. There are even stations where you can play some of the instruments.

When you're sick of Legoland, visit the Museum of Making Music.

We were in Carlsbad and stayed near Legoland with kinds that just grew out of that park, so we looked for other ways to entertain them. That is where we found this little place literally a couple of blocks from the park. This is a small, absolutely affordable, but incredibly fun pace, that immensely pleasantly surprised us. It has a great mix of informative displays about all kinds on musical instruments and a wonderful play-it-yourself room with different kind of instruments and musical videos showcasing music and instruments from all over the world. I cannot recommend this place enough for families with kids to stop by and learn about a truly wonderful musical world!

This is a delightful museum that does not get enough attention. The attractions are very well thought out and informative. The goal of the museum is straight forward and refined. I am going to be perfectly honest in that for me this museum is more focused and relevant than the overpriced goofy museum in Seattle. I personally loved getting to try the Theremin, as its relatively uncommon and had never played one. I highly recommend this museum for kids especially for the price.

We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon with about 1.5 hours until closing. Honestly we could have used about another half hour to get through everything.......my wife is a retired music educator and loved the entire display. I enjoyed the interactive areas where you can touch and play various insturments. Lots of history as well. Really time well spent that day - we both enjoyed it !

This museum offers an entertaining and informative series of exhibits on the culture and music of America, primarily in the 20th century. Great music clips at the touch of a button. Also, some fun instruments to play. Very friendly and informative staff.

We are music people, my husbands a music teacher so we had to go! We weren't planning on going, we just needed something to fill our night, and we were pleasantly surprised!!! It was SO much fun!! We got to play instruments we've never got to hold or play, we saw instruments we've only read about or seen pictures. It was very cool, and we'd def recommend it!

We only had a few hours before our flight, and this was a great way to spend them. The instruments and music were organized by decades with many unique pieces. There were also many interactive exhibits and instruments to play. The guide checked back with us multiple times to point out interesting things and give further instructions. I would recommend this for all ages.

I was there years ago and was glad to come back after a visit to LEGOLAND (also worth the trip for the under 12 crowd, or young at heart). It goes through the history of American music from the early 1900's through "today". It is very hands on where you can play real instruments and interactive stations where you can hear music from the times. There is also a history of some instruments. We were only there for an hour but I could have been there longer. My 7 year old loved playing the instruments.

This is the sweetest place - dedicated but really fun for the whole family (unless you are not into music) It's nice to have a manageable place to visit when you want something to do!

We saw a movie & met of a bunch of old great Soul masters there. Got to talk with them about the origins of great music! LOVED IT!

My wife and I toured this museum the other day and found it interesting. Neither of us plays, or have played an instrument, but it was great hearing the sounds that some of these instruments put out. It was interesting seeing the drum set that the Beatles played when they were going strong.

This is a wonderful musical experience,and the museum appeals to all ages. When was the last time you went to a museum and was allowed to touch anything? You are encouraged to ask questions, and pick up and play certain instruments? The stories of the different eras are so interestingly. As you see how the music and knowledge progresses, you can relate it to our here and now. Please don't miss this!

This is a great museum. There are displays of lots of musical instruments. Best of all you get to play many different instruments. This is a great place for children. Many interactive exhibits where you can hear music through the ages

We enjoyed our visit to the Making Music Museum. Instead of just showing the instruments the museum also reviews the various sounds and songs of the time. Would have enjoyed learning a little more about the trends in music not just hearing them. Sometimes there was no context of the song and who/where performed.

Near sea world, but without the long lines, this museum captured us with its instruments and the selections of old and new music. There are hands on exhibits and I tried my hand at a guitar, ukulele, drum set and keyboard. What a great way to spend a couple of hours away from crowds and sure to please kids and adults.

We had a great time learning about the history of music and even were able to have some hands-on time at the end of our visit with many different instruments. A great asset to the community.

I was amazed. Well put together and interesting for both adults and kids.
Great showcase instruments. Lots of interactive experiences.

We were really surprised at the quality and number of historical musical instruments. We would highly recommend this to all families and children. It was a trip down memory lane for us. It's just above the Carlsbad Flower fields and offers lots of interactive entertainment as well.

I drove by and talked to a native of the area while visiting the flower fields. She said that she had gone to this museum with school children and it was wonderful. This place really teaches children low and adults all about musical instruments and the history as well as interactions with music. If you have time do go here as well as check out the flower fields too while in Carlsbad Ca. The cost is $8.00 for a tour.

I highly recommend bringing children with you...preferably those old enough to be interested in trying the various instruments they have to play. And the staff is Wonderful about kids. I can't stress that enough...kind and patient...even though I'm sure their patience is tested daily...they Never show it.

Absolutely recommended...

Tons of experiential points for this place! A great place to learn about instruments and their connection to the people and the tools of the music industry. I am a music teacher- Looking forward to returning!

The museum does a wonderful job of presenting the interaction of instrument development and culture on the American music of the last 120 years. Examples of some of the most important instruments of the last century are on display. You get to play a number of instruments, and explore innovations in sound creation.

I was in Carlsbad for the Harp Guitar Gathering, and in conjunction the Museum of Making Music is hosting a 6 month exhibit, "Floating Strings", a history of the American Harp Guitar. Don't miss this exhibit if you're traveling through Carlsbad- beautiful instruments and photographs of one of music's unique and beautiful instruments.

MOMM is a great destination for virtually everyone. It is extremely well done, and touches numerous aspects of the vast and diverse world of making music. One of the most distinctive features of this wonderful attraction is the number of interactive opportunities. Visitors can hit a big Chinese gong, bang on an electronic drum set, listen to any number of unusual musical devices and instruments or pick up and play all kinds of instruments. The descriptions and illustrations are exceptional and provide the visitors, of all ages, with excellent entertainment and education. Don’t miss it! Single negative: it’s a little hard to find, but well worth keeping a sharp eye out for the sort of small sign that identifies the entrance driveway.

Interactive and great for all the family, really informative and well put together , make the effort to find it !!

My boyfriend and I stopped here after our visit to Legoland since it's very close by. A small museum, you can get through in under an hour without a problem. Lots of interactive exhibits with the opportunity to try out a variety of instruments as well as high-tech musical paraphernalia. A fun little visit!

My husband and I needed a break from Legoland and since this museum was so close we decided to check it out. What a cool place! It is divided into five sections and each sections covers 20 years of music trends. Each section has a different instrument to try. At the end there is a room full of instruments to experiment with. The docents are really friendly and willing to answer any questions. They even had a little quiz for the kids to do and there was a prize for completing it at the end. This little gem was totally worth taking the kids to for an hour or so break from Legoland.

If you have any interest in music and musical instrument, and have a couple hours, this museum is a must see. Learn about the history of music and musical instruments in the United States from about the 1880's. Great rainy afternoon place to take the kids as they'll love that at the end of the exhibit, they get to try out multiple type of instruments, from the mandolin, electric guitar, keyboard, and many more. We've been twice now, and will likely go again the next time we're in the area as we have not been anywhere else quite like it. Don't be afraid to bring your young kids. They will have to grin and bear the history exhibits, but will love playing the instruments at the end. Something for everyone!

What a wonderful museum! Great for anyone that loves music and musical instruments. There are 5 galleries with a diverse collection of musical instruments, with an instrument hat you can play in each gallery, including an electric guitar and a Chinese gong! The treat at the end is a studio with about 15 instruments that you can play. My kids (ages 6 and 11) loved playing the drums the best, and the neat part is you wear headphones for most so that only you can hear what you are playing (good or bad). Definitely worth visiting, more than once.

This museum is conveniently located not far from the 5 freeway in Carlsbad however it is in the middle of an industrial park so you'd never know it was there unless you were looking for it. My husband and I both love history and music so this museum was perfect for us. The museum is organized by decade so early 1900's through current have their own space with memorabilia, instruments, information to read, etc. of that era. They have instruments to try and options to allow you to listen to music of the period. The price to get into the museum is very reasonable and they allow you to leave and come back the same day if you need to leave, for lunch, for instance; they are very accommodating and friendly. The day we visited, a group of school children were there being lead by one of the museum workers - he did an excellent job explain the exhibits to the children. I highly recommend this museum.

Great staff! They were friendly and knowledgeable. They even have instruments that you can play throughout the museum. we loved it! They even gave us direction of how to get to the beach which is very close

This is a very fun museum that makes for a great stop on the way to San Diego or a perfect thing to do if you're staying at Legoland and want to try something steps away. This would be a great place without kids if you were actually to listen/watch all the videos... but if you have small children, they're just going to want to play stuff. There is an opportunity to do so, but if it's busy, it might be kind of difficult with kids who have a hard time waiting.

The up-side is that I got the impression that this place isn't busy all that often. So it's definitely worth a try. I got to try a couple of things I've always wanted to (like a goli and a chapman stick). I did feel the price kind of exceeded our experience. It cost us $40 ($15/adult, $10/kid, 2 and under are free) to get in, and I just felt like this was more of a $20 experience... but it's still worth it. You'll see some amazing things, especially if you have older kids.

This was an interesting museum with musical instruments, sound and written descriptions. Very well organized, lots of different instruments. There were samplings of each type of music by pushing buttons. At the end of the self tour there was a section with instruments that you could try. I've never seen a music museum of this calibre.

We stumbled across this museum by accident, and so glad we did! Really nice collection and history of musical instruments- many of which you can actually touch and play. My husband is a musician and he had a blast playing instruments he'd never had the chance to play before. We'll definitely be back- hopefully for one of the shows. We were there late on a Saturday afternoon and there were only a couple of other couples there. Apparently the place is full of children in the mornings- if you're actually going in to play with the instruments you may want to wait until later in the day.

This small museum has a wealth of historical information on music of the past century focusing on the business of selling music and musical instruments. The best part is the availability of instruments to try out. Second best is the recordings of various important types of music and artists. Well designed and thoughtful.

Wow! Have spent lots and lots of time in Carlsbad and never made it here until yesterday. Well worth a visit. Enjoyable for adults and kids. Historical review via different interactive stops. Lots of opportunities to try instruments and listen to music from different decades.

Wow, a museum that has instruments that you can play. In the back of my mind I was was expecting some thing like a children museum, this place was ways cooler then that. Lots of interactive actives. We spent a little over an hour. We played with at least a dozen different instruments. At times it was like we were in a music shop.
PS: it is right next to Legoland, both in the same day might not be good.

We attended a luncheon and had a most enjoyable tour. Our only disappointment was our particular docent was hard to hear and wasn't quite as knowledgeable as we wished. When we have a further opportunity we will return.

We have been here a few different times as the exhibits change. It is always a pleasure to visit. We have met a couple of Music legends here over the years, but you never know who might be there. We have used it to expose the grandkids to some "Real" Music. Definitely worth the stop.

I have been here several times with grandkids ranging in age from 11 to 15. The kids really enjoyed playing the instruments and I enjoyed seeing the history of music. It is a good place for kids but it is also a great place for adults to visit also

The museum is within walking distance from Grand Pacific Palisades Resort. There are interactive instruments to experiment with. The museum is a great collection of music history.

Came down to Carlsbad on a Wednesday to see the flower fields, spent an hour or so at the MoMM. Great for families with kids as there are a lot of interactive exhibits and instruments they can play. You could spend more time there if you have a real interest in musical instruments as they trace the evolution of American music from the mid-1800's pretty much to the early 2000's. Very inexpensive, nice little gift shop. Free parking.

Founded in 1998 by the National Association of Music Merchants the exhibits are organized chronologically with each gallery in the museum featuring historic milestones, popular music and instruments of those eras. Several locations are provided for visitors to actually play instruments. Great displays and interesting instruments from all periods.

The hands-on experience for the kids is great! It is such a great and under-the-radar museum. Would highly recommend for kids and adults.

My kids are into music and love all genres of music. They also play piano and guitar so this little museum really appealed to them. It doesn't look like it would be a museum from the outside because it's in a commercial building. It was very interesting to see the early versions of instruments and how they have changed. I would recommend it, definitely worth visiting. It would take about 1 - 2 hours at the most.

Located within a quiet corporate park, even for someone not gifted with musical talent - I possess less than zero of that benefaction - this is an interesting attraction. Well laid out with easy to read historical notes, we spent approximately 90 minutes here. Very near to Legoland and Costco gas station with easy access to and from the I-5 freeway; excellent, free parking, as well. Wonderful view of the Flower Fields (in season) and the coast from the promenade across the street. Outlet stores and good variety of restaurants within a mile. Recommended.

I have 2 young kids growing up and I love to expose them to as much as possible, especially music. This is a great museum because it is very hands on for everyone and the kids can touch and play the instruments. I'm not talking tambourines and silly drum sticks, I'm talking base guitars and keyboards that they can play on and learn about. It's really great. My husband has taken the boys here twice already, and I went along on the 3rd trip. To them, it was like the first time. This will be a regular part of their exposures, especially since the 3 yr old is showing an interest in guitar.

This is a little hidden gem of a museum. It’s off the corniche around the corner from Legoland.if you’re going there, take the time and stop by.
My son has performed his formal music recital here every year for the past 7 years. Great venue. They have a nice gift shop too.

A well done collection of musical instruments with a historical perspective. Good tours available or see it on your own

Nice cozy museum about the history of music and musical instruments. If you play an instrument, it is fun to see where it came from. There is a lot interactive activities, listening to music, trying to play instruments and learning about music history.

I went with friends and we were all interested in all the instruments, their history and their sound. Educational and fun.

A fun trip down memory lane with helpful docents. Great idea for a rainy day (though we have very few)

We went on the free day in June. Amazing day at MOMM. Earth Harp was great. Open mic was fantastic. Great musicians.

Great for kids! Lots of musical history. There is plenty to look at and to PLAY WITH!!! You can spend hours here trying out all the cool instruments. I have an 11Yo and a 9YO and they didn't want to leave. Price is cheap and affordable. In October, Kids are free. No pets allowed. Free parking.

A low key place to learn about music. Great for kids and adults.
Rarely overcrowded. Fun for the musically inclined.

You probably wouldn't schedule a trip to northern San Diego County just to visit the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad -- unless you're a die-hard musicologist perhaps. But if you're in the area for Legoland or other activities or resorts, stop in and spend an hour or so visiting this unique home to the music products industry. You can see vintage instruments, items from the Beatles, etc. It's an easy stop off the Cannon Road exit on I-5 and then a turn toward Legoland. If you like music, I think you'll like this.

I came here specifically for the Martin Guitars expo, but ended up spending my whole morning here! The friendly and abundant staff advised me to go the opposite direction, so i could go straight to the Martin Expo where i actually got to play Martin, Taylor, Collings and Washburn guitars! And then the fun part: at some point one of the tour guides asks me if i would like to play something for a goup off 7 year-olds, which of course i did! Then i saw the rest of the museum, which has an amazing and interactive collection. Definitely worth your while!!

Took the kids during school break and we had so much fun! There is a lot of history to read through and many instruments to try out. The best part of the trip was being able to play the various and unique instruments from drums, harps, guitars and countless others. My teens play the saxophone in jazz band so the special exhibit on saxophones was an added plus. We would definitely come back.

MoM has some interesting instruments in the Museum but they also have cool shows. Keep an eye open for concerts at this nicely curated Museum.

We enjoyed the variety of music history displayed, as well as the many types of instruments. The short recordings illustrating the various types of music through history added a lot to our enjoyment.

This was an unexpected "find" and we were happy we took the time to go through it. It is very interactive and you can do it your own pace. The display takes you through a musical history journey along with displays of the actual instruments. You can actually try and play many instruments. We went at 2:30 so all of the school children have left by then so it is quieter and a good time to go!

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful little museum that featured historical instruments and samples of the music of the times. What was most fun was the areas where guests were free to play instruments ranging from banjos and guitars to theramins and organs that sounded like full orchestras.

We enjoyed all the samples of music and instruments. We sang along with some of our favorite singers.

This small museum offers a wide range of instruments and the ability to play them as well as providing an historical perspective on the development of instruments. Ongoing activities, presentations and docents. A wonderful gift shop, too.

I am sure this place is wonderful for those with an education in music but for families and kids this is not a great activity. It is pretty small, and not very entertaining for those with no musical ability.

If you love music, musical instruments, and a touch a music history, run, don't walk to the Museum of Making Music. Tucked in the middle of a Carlsbad business complex, this museum is truly amazing. Great history, beautiful displays, and musical treasures galore. Great hands-on fun for adults, though kids just get carried away pushing buttons and banging on instruments, yeah, a bit annoying. We (4 adult women) planned to spend about 1-1/2 hours here and were still enjoying the exhibits after 2-1/2 hours. We just loved it. We especially enjoyed the Henry Diltz rock photo exhibit as it was our era and his journal/calendar entries were well worth reading every line. What a life he has led.
A really great museum that should be on every music lover's radar.

This is a really unique place-great for all ages, and really educational for children (and adults). It was a wonderful experience.

Adults and children can interact with musical instruments. There's a lot of history and information regarding the instruments. Fun for short family outing.

I purchased tickets for this museum from Groupon for something to do in case it rained while we were in the Carlsbad area. I thought that we may spend an hour or so in this museum to pass the time.

Much to my surprise, we spent over three hours in the museum. It is extremely interactive for all ages. Very interesting history of music and the making of music. All kind of instruments that you can actually try. A fun experience for all ages.

My teenage son and I spent about an hour and half here. The place is small but had some interesting hands-on exhibits. My son loves music so this was a nice place to visit instead of shopping like the rest of the family. Parking was easy and the entrance fee was reasonable.

We took our 11-year-old granddaughter to the Museum of Making Music on a Sunday afternoon. The museum is well staffed with knowledgeable personnel. The cost was very reasonable as my wife had purchased a Groupon. They have an extensive collection of musical instruments and plenty are available for kids (or adults) to try their hand at. All in all it was a very enjoyable couple of hours.

We had a rainy day to fill with our 18 month old music-loving granddaughter and found this little treasure fit the bill perfectly! The staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming and the exhibits which tell the story of music from 1900 to 1999 are both educational and entertaining. Each vignette has a hands-on musical instrument to play and various songs of the time period to listen to or in our case, dance to! Intimate concerts are also performed there regularly. So very happy we found this place and will continue to go back as our granddaughter's musical education continues.

This is a fascinating albeit small museum. Lots of hands-on experiences and fascinating pictures and memorabilia about the history of music. Lots of opportunities to try out different instruments and see really old ones and those who played them. Really loved pushing the buttons to hear different types of music. Very nice gift shop. Reasonably priced. Plan to spend a good hour there, especially if it's crowded. Discount tickets are available on Living Social or other coupon sites.

Museum is very nice with lots of interactive exhibits that you can play. Great place for kids and nice gift shop. Saw Muriel Anderson and Stanley Jordan concert on Jan 30th, 2015. Spectacular show in small, private setting (small room with padded folding chairs).

This is a very interactive museum focused on making music. From the early 1900s on, this museum spans the different eras in music right up to today's hits and technology. Whether the museum is quiet or not depends on who visits while you're there. The first half of our visit (about 2 hours) was very peaceful. Midway through a family came in and the place got very noisy with the kids' undisciplined efforts to 'make music.' Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to backtrack and/or jump forward to keep the tranquil atmosphere. This really is a gem worth exploring.

An out of the way treasure, easy access, free parking and a totally interesting place to browse through.

I took my 3 grands ages 7,5, and 2 to the museum and was pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed it. The museum covers the evolution of American music from approximately 1900 forward. There are buttons to push to hear different instruments, musicians, styles of music etc. The best part is the area where the kids can play a variety of instruments from guitars, pianos, and drums, to modern synthetic music machines. It’s not overly expensive, which was good because we were only there an hour or so. It was a great “first museum” visit for them and they liked it!

Set in an office park, this place is a hidden gem, but definitely worth your tome and attention.The exhibits concentrate on musical instruments, and are arranged by decade.

There are buttons to push to here snippets of songs, and every gallery has at least one instrument you can play. While I was there, they also had a photography exhibit of portraits of rock and roll musicians. Great stuff!

This is a small venue that allows you to walk through various "era's" and see the types of instruments that were popular at the time. You move through ~10 decades of music and learn how changes in the World impacted changes in Music. Hands on at some exhibits were interesting but a lot of young children were just making noise which was distracting and annoying. Parents, control the kids. A cute little 3 year old banging on a piano is not fun for anyone else.

A really great place to visit; try to go to a concert there as the venue is small & intimate. Very interesting & educational.

There is a great history of music and musical instruments including some film footage and even trying some instruments yourself.

Well hidden behind Legoland, this little tranquil museum (1-2 hours tour) is a real little treasure. It is strongly supported by gentle and competent volunteers that will pick you up and give you and your family a private (and free..) tour of each instrument and its history and sounds...These volunteers are (rightly) very proud of their place and will change the way you think music is made...
A must while visiting San Diego...

My music buff husband & I were in Carlsbad and decided to do this museum. The price was great and we spent about 2 hours learning about the history of music from the late 1800 to the 90's. There were instruments to try and lots of sample music to listen to. The guided were great. I would definitely recommend if you are in the neighborhood.

Loved this little museum. Great docents, who told us it was completely rearranged during the pandemic, so it's more by instrument group than chronological. There are a wide range of new and antique instruments, great videos with history and music, and multiple areas where kids and adults can play a bunch of different instruments, physical and electronic.

If you’re a musician, this is a must if you live in north San Diego county or visit.

It’s not large, but I got to browse before a Carl Verheyan & Friends concert. All kinds of instruments (this is a NAMM-National Assn. of Musical Manufacturers sponsored museum) is a great display of music makers.

The concert- cheap, intimate, and incredibly good. Enjoyed chatting w the band afterward but had to pass on the “invitation” they gave their audience to join them at Karl Strauss Brew House after the show—found out they weren’t buying.

We enjoyed our visit to this Music Museum. Interesting displays, especially the many musical instruments and stories about them. Entertaining docents and volunteers. Nice gift shop.

This small museum is very interactive. 3 school groups were there on the afternoon we visited. The guides were exceptional. Great teaching going on here!

we saw the Huell Houser video clip of this museum and were very pleased. many rare musical instruments covering the history of music in the US.

This is a very well-curated museum of musical instruments and their history, with a fun area at the end of the exhibits (as well as a few throughout the galleries) that allows visitors to try out different instruments themselves. Exhibits ar colorful and effectivley displayed. We really enjoyed our visit.

A great way to spend an afternoon learning about making music. They start in early years and move to different decades with the instruments and the music. It is really fascinating! The fun part is you get to play the instruments! You are absolutely encouraged!

I loved it. There was just enough to learn and lots of fun hands on displays. It is great for young children or anyone who has tried to learn an instrument like the violin or drums.. It really had a lot about guitars and keyboards. It is a great one hour acitivity for the whole family.

The museum isn't very big so you only need a couple of hours. You walk through different rooms and learn about the history of music - it's importance as entertainment and how it evolved with technology. The best part of the museum is that you get to play with real instruments - different types of guitars, drums, a harp, etc There is also a panel of buttons you can push to hear the different type of instruments on display and the music of that time period. My husband and I went alone. My teens would enjoy it. They suggest you go in the afternoon to have a quieter (less children) experience. Good idea because you want to play with the instruments. Lots of fun. I would like to go again.

Well done history of musical instruments. Lots of interactive music and instruments to try, really missed having sheet music by the demo instruments.

MMM is a great place to have fun while learning about musical instruments and history of music. There are a lot of hands on items and displays that encourage you try out instruments. I highly recommend.

My mom and I went here on our recent trip to the San Diego area. This is a cute museum. It’s divided by different eras and there are lots of different instruments to try out. My 9 year old and 7 year old daughters enjoyed it.

This is an interesting little Museum with musical events. We come to Carlsbad frequently and even bought a membership one year.

What a great stop for music lovers! So much rich history and information and some gorgeous instruments to look at. All the interactive pieces were a definite highlight

Went to a concert at the MoMM, you can tour the museum while waiting for the show, included in your admission. I only had about 15 minutes but there were tons of historic instruments on display. Not many of them were identified with placards, I think you have to get an online audio guide to find out exactly what you're looking at. I imagine if I had done that I would have enjoyed it more

I visited with my 15 year old and she really enjoyed the hands on section. There were some nice photos taken by Graham Nash and wonderful displays of instruments from the 19th century to now. It is a small museum, but well worth a stopover. Don't anticipate spending more than a hour.

Even though I'm not a musician, I really enjoyed my visit to the museum. It is more about the instruments themselves and their evolution. The museum is much smaller than the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ, which can take a whole day to work your way through. The Museum of Making Music would require an hour or two at most. They're closed on Mondays.

Since we have the MIM close to us in AZ I had my doubts that this museum could come up to that standard. But I was so happy to see my grandson who is ten years old enjoying himself because he got to play some of the instruments. (he is in band at school)
The staff were friendly and helpful which was perfect. So YES.. great job, Museum of Making Music.

Just kidding about playing like the pros. But they have a wonderful examples of instruments and history of music and who made it.

The best part was that you had an opportunity to play some of the instruments! They had volunteer docents who really know their information and want to share it. That could also be a problem as one docent grabbed you ear and I almost felt embarrassed by the need to disconnect from his monologue.

I was visiting my parents over the Thanksgiving holiday so checked this out since we had some time to kill before my flight out...they live in Carlsbad. I would not go out of my way to get here. The museum was OK...it's very focused on the commercial music business since its operated/maintained by the National Association of Music Merchants. In hindsight, I'm surprised they even have an entrance fee...they should really lower it since the value is pretty low. They do have some instruments to play but they're a horrible out of tune mess and mostly stringed instruments. There are no wind instruments to play with since I'm sure that's a hygiene concern. The gift shop is great.

It looked like the kids that were there that day were having fun so keep in mind my perspective is skewed a bit. Cheers!!

This place is so impressive for all ages. We have been a few times and each time we learn something new.

If you like music this little museum is a nice way to spend a few hours. Nice exhibits displaying the history of music in the US... Manufactures, musicians and instruments.

We had a 50% discount coupon, so the already-affordable-for-seniors entry fee was very, very affordable. We stayed about 3 hours. There was hardly anyone else there and my kids weren't there to be embarrassed, so I danced along to most of the music at the exhibits. The harp guitar special exhibition was the most interesting thing I've ever seen in the music world, and the prettiest music on earth, possibly. Well worth the trip, especially for anyone with interest in the history of modern musical instruments. It's a walk through our cultural history in some ways, too.

It doesn't take long to go through the Museum - although you can go at your own rate - making this a very cool thing to put on your list of things to do! I took 2 children when they were very young and showed them the instruments and helped them play the recordings. I took them back years later, after both had taken music in school, and let them gravitate to their own interests. Both visits were such a memorable event - what fun learning should always be. As a parent, you won't get bored watching your kids, as there's plenty of access for everyone. As a couple, this is such an opportunity for an incredibly interesting stroll together. As a solo visitor, it's easy to get lost in the exploration. The staff is welcoming and helpful. The history is outstandingly entertaining. The experience is very satisfying. Absolutely worth the time and price.

what a wonderful collection of history and music, could not believe some of the Guitars and displays. Very Interestring

It's a very clean, very well maintained place, and it's awfully interesting. They've got a collection of incredibly rare musical instruments, and though the place is fairly small, you can easily spend a few hours here. Most of our time was spent in the hands-on exhibit where there are a variety of musical instruments to try out. Guitars, keyboards, even a theremin and other exotic stuff. Great staff too.

Musicians will love this place, more for adults than children. Lots of instruments This is one of a kind.

This place is super fun little museum for all ages. They have some amazing instruments from decades ago and lots of instruments that you can play yourself. It's a great place to send a few hours just soaking it in.

Tucked away in Carlsbad is the Museum of Making Music. Great place for people of all ages. Many hands on displays and opportunities to play different instruments. We'll worth the visit.

What a fun Museum for the young and the old! If you do not know much about music, there are exhibits, demonstrations, and opportunities for Everyone to learn. Try out different instruments to your heart's content! The staff of volunteers are eager to assist in every way they can. The concerts and classes are most certainly enjoyable, and the gift shop is chock full of fun musically themed items. What a great way to spend a few hours--at any age.

Great little museum, We saw a banjo demonstration there(extra charge) also ran into a nice docent "Doris" who was entertaining and knowledeable.

As museums go, the MoMM is relatively small, but I always find it interesting. Keep in mind, the museum not only shows vintage and current musical instruments but it also teaches about the eras during which various kinds of music became popular, so there’s an educational element here too. In each of the galleries you will find a combination of instrument displays and TV screens that allow you to push buttons to view examples of the artists that made their brand of music popular. [Note: some of the interactive features might not work; upkeep needed] Also, there are “stations” throughout the galleries where one can put on headphones and play instruments to learn how they create sounds (e.g., digital drum kit, electric guitar, lap steel guitar). Recommended for anyone who appreciates music.

The MoMM holds numerous concerts throughout the year. Many of these feature renowned artists and sell out fast, so check the website for a schedule. Arrive early so you can get a good spot in line.

Also for your consideration:
* Plenty of free parking on-site. General admission = $8; discounts for various categories.
* Push as many buttons as you have time for. It’s fun to watch the videos and sample the sounds.
* At the end of the galleries is a room where you can try out lots of instruments: guitars, drums, harp, keyboards, etc. Kids swarm to these things like bees around honey… then they proceed to pound away. Everything is “percussion” to a kid, I guess.
* Beware of elementary school tours. The group will take over virtually the entire place and majorly impact your “flow.” Also, you will be asked not to push the buttons, as the music bothers the tour guides. I happened to arrive just after a large group of kids and it was uncomfortable to hear some of the rambunctious ones get publicly scolded. Front desk staff informed me that Thursday mornings are the most popular for school tours.
* The gift shop has some clever, music-related things.

This place is an absolute GEM! You could spend an hout in the gift shop alone, enjoying shopping for your delightfully unique friends. There's so much great history here - so much to learn. I glean a bit more every time I go!

We had gone by this museum the last 3 times we were in Carlsbad, CA. We decided to check it out what a wonderful place to see all the different kinds of music. This is a very interactive museum with things for both Kids and adults. Beautiful photo's and wonderful display's of different music eras.

I'm just a joe schmoe who enjoys music and I am happy to review the MOMM.

Been here four times over 6 years and I will visit again. Clean newer building. A gem in the newer part of Carlsbad. I think I payed $10 entrance fee and it was worth it.

Last year took the inlaws and spent 2 hours. Had a great time. Lots of hands on play with outstanding expensive instruments like martin and taylor guitars, moog synths, e drums. There is a great section describing and displaying intruments and other real memoribilia of 1960+ r+roll history; beach boys, beatles...

For a weekend last year they hosted "The worlds largest stringed instrument" that spanned across the parking lot, huge building size, giving several live concerts for free.

There are sections that will keep the kids entertained and it's interesting for adults too.

Lots of eateries nearby for afterwards.

We really enjoyed this museum. Fun history and timeline with great facts about the era and musical instruments.

WOW! What an amazing place! There are all kinds of instruments - some from the 1800’s! Great place to take the kids - there are a few “sit & play” areas to try out different instruments: guitars, banjos, drums, percussion instruments and more! You could spend hours here.

My wife and I purchased a Go San Diego Card, and this museum is one of the attractions where admission is covered by the card. The location is strange - an office park in Carlsbad. The museum is operated by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and resides in their corporate headquarters.

The exhibits provide a great insight into the production of musical instruments over the last 150 years or so. There are several displays of various wind, brass, string, and percussion instruments. Some interactive stations throughout the museum allow visitors to try and play instruments themselves (instructions are provided)! A small gift shop holds really cool music-themed books and toys, and the volunteers that oversee the museum are great. If you are a music nerd, this is a must-see hidden gem.

Everyone enjoys some type of music, so this small, interactive museum would be enjoyed by all. We loved the history of music in the U. S. exhibit. There are audio clips to enjoy and instruments to try. Don't miss this!

Great for music aficionados. Teenagers enjoyed it, especially my nephew who played drums. I like the way it is growing.

Extremely well done with many hands on instruments. A separate room for children to explore. Beautiful instruments on display with attention to history. Outstanding gift shop and Extremely personable staff

A great place to take children of all ages. On hands instruments that adults and children will love. Plan on at least an hour or more for your visit.

Be sure to take the kids when you come here! This is a very well put-together museum of the history of musical instruments and styles. Interactive exhibits make this great for kids.

This small museum depicts music in America from the late 1800s to about 1970 with one display on MTV. Each room focuses on a musical era and displays instruments from that time. Personally, I'm not that musical (even though I like to listen to music), so I skimmed over much of it. But, my husband loved it. My oldest daughter, who isn't really into music either, really liked the displays about the musical instrument association that sponsors the museum and how the marketed instruments over the years.

We couldn't get my youngest daughter (16 years old) out of the museum, though! She breezed through the displays but spent time trying her hand at the "Play Me" instrument in each room. Then, at the end, she spent 45 minutes in the room dedicated to instruments you can play. What she really liked was that, unlike the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, the instruments you could play were familiar ones, i.e. a Fender guitar instead of a sitar from India.

A word about this museum versus the MIM in Phoenix...This is a much smaller museum than the MIM and not as technically advanced, but it's definitely worth the stop. Plan to spend about 1-2 hours, depending on the level of interest.

We took advantage of half price museum month to visit this museum. It is not too big and on one floor. There are many instruments to look at as well as other exhibits. The best part is that you can play short pieces of different music from different eras and even have a try at playing some instruments yourself. The children were having fun. It's up the coast from San Diego in Carlsbad. We like to have lunch at Ki's in Cardiff so we stopped on the way back.

This is an excellent museum that takes you through the development of instruments and styles of music form the 1800s to the present day. The exhibits are well presented and at the end of every section there are instruments to try, all in pristine condition. There are also sample tracks to listen to. This is a superb museum and their shop is worth a visit on the way out.

I was so excited to visit the reopening of the museum during member preview weekend.
The newly designed museum provides a sense of community and a place to celebrate making, providing, and using instruments and there are many artifacts with cultural and historical value on display.

There is so much to see and experience, I could have spent hours in just one area. My favorite is the sit and play areas because where else can you try to play a tongue drum or harpejji?

We have been to this museum three times now and absolutely love it! So informative and fun! Great insights into music with knowledgeable staff and the hands on portion makes it so much fun for kids and adults alike! An absolute see!!

This is a hidden gem. Close to Legoland. I was impressed with the docents, the amount of instruments they had on display and both kids and adults enjoyed testing out the available equipment to play! Would definitely come back again!

The hands on stations of this museum brings the history and influence music has had on our lives to life! Engaging and entertaining, I look forward to their occasional live music, too.

This small museum was especially interesting to me as I played instruments in the band throughout high school and college My husband did not, but he is a history and music buff and enjoyed it as much as me. Our special era, the 60s-70s was our favorite part. Our least favorite part was being in the same area where children, or college students, were "playing" instruments. It would be nice if those areas could be in small rooms by themselves. They are important, but they do then to interfer with patrons who are listening to music, or reading, in the same room.
I am so glad we decided to see this small museum.

Cool museum that didn't know existed until my wife said we were going. Pretty small but has interactive exhibits. Nice place to spend and afternoon

Enjoy a unique museum with a hands on experience. Good for all family members. Great location in Carlsbad.

Being a non musician I didn't know what to expect prior to visiting this little museum. Well it is a rare find from the youngest of child to the elderly....an amazing history of music, even some instruments that I didn't know existed. A very welcoming staff that treat you like family....a must to visit if you are in the area.
Get there early if you want to have the place by yourself cause it will be busy...however, it will not take away your pleasure of music.

It was a very interesting little museum worth the look if you are interested in music and instrument history.

What an incredible little local museum! Found it thru a Groupon special.
It is not a large scale museum, but a nice collection of instruments (hands on in one room!) and displays offer pushbutton choices for audio history of sounds and style thru song snippets from early 1900's to the 80's.
A quick musical history and displays of instruments and equipment that, until now,
I had only seen in pictures! A great little find!
I visited late in the afternoon, and yes, as one reviewer mentioned, some "noise" could be a distraction, as I experienced, when some youngsters, were banging away, in the hands on area!

you like old guitars. The collection is a bit mind boggling. There are other instruments too of course, but the guitars really caught my attention. Gibson, Martins, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Old Tele's and Strats, you name it. If you're in the Carlsbad area and enjoy history, especially musical history, stop by.
P.S. The volunteers at the museum were very enthusiastic and friendly.

My family recently visited and loved this place! As music lovers, we appreciated the wonderful displays and opportunities to play. The staff were friendly and helpful. The gift shop had some unique items,

Highly recommended!

Easily accessible on Armada Drive above the Flower Fields it is beautifully maintained and a place for the family to enjoy the history and instruments of American music. Many concerts are available there not available anywhere else in North San Diego County. I am a member and recommend that to all locals.

The museum is small and full of information. Lots to see, hear and even touch. Most everyone should be able to find something to interest them. Children can push buttons and play with real instruments. One group of visitors were singing and dancing to Jazz. I think this would be a great place that someone with memory loss could really enjoy. A great field trip for nursery schools or nursing homes. I enjoyed seeing the changes in brass instruments throughout the years. My husband liked trying out the different guitars. The volunteers are very nice.

We took our grandchildren (6) and their parents plus other visitors to this museum. It was our first time so we did not really knew what to expect.
It was a great experience for all of us. You start out with getting some historical info on music and musical instrument. The set up is great for all ages but specially kids. At the end, there was a room with lots of musical instruments that everyone was able to use. We spend a longer time then what we had anticipated at first. Great place to see.

This museum is very interesting! You can easily spend 3 or more hours inside it if you have enough time and is curious enough to go through all the details and information regarding the instruments and the how the music industry developed in America. Although this museum competes with a lot of other attractions in the region, it's really worth the visit.

This place is a gem. Not only can you learn a lot about instrumental music's evolution through the decades, but there is also an opportunity to play play play! Both my children (now 14 and 16) have enjoyed it for years, and my husband and I get something new every time we visit. Staff is extremely helpful and are eager to share their knowledge and experience.

If you're in the Carlsbad area, this is a delightful activity. Parking is free and plentiful. Admission is affordable. It's lots of fun. It's a regular stop on our tour for any out-of-town guests. It makes a nice morning activity and you're done in time for lunch. Our grandsons love all the hands-on activities. They've been having fun here since they were 3 and 5 and will for many more years I'm sure.

This is a cool experience for anyone who really loves music. If you aren’t really into music, this isn’t for you. I’d say it would be best for ages 12+. We spent probably an hour here. We have also been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio, which was farrr better. The hands-on exhibits here were fun.

worth going out of the way to experence this museum... history of musical instruments, music trends , artists.

I liked it very much, the way that you could play interactively or try various instruments was interesting...

Smaller museum but has interesting variety of instrument displays. Interactive to begin, but best part is section allowing hands on with drums,guitars, keyboards. You use headphones to hear your musical mayhem, so it is quiet!

Very small, focus on instrument history like piano, sax, guitar, radio, genre's like big band, jazz, Beatles and rock and roll. Booths could play music but not individual headphones, so close proximity due to small place can be noisy and distracting. Some interactive areas for small children. Nice gift shop, informative volunteer.

A museum that takes you from the history of music to allowing you to try out the instruments. A fun indoor activity when the weather isn't perfect in Carlsbad, California. From musically inclined adults to children, it is a fun day and a fun place to visit. Groupon often offers discount tickets

This is a very small museum, great for adults and was focused more on video's and antique instruments vs actually learning about the history of music. There is one fun section at the end where you can play instruments but it is not a kid friendly museum although the reviews state that it is. Skip this place if you have kiddos under 10 years old, not worth the money or time.

We like the performances on listed evenings. Very reasonable ticket prices, plenty of free, safe, well lighted parking. Best kept secret in North County San Diego. Friendly, volunteer staff. Excellent location close to Karl Strauss Restaurant.

This little museum is a gem if you or your kids like music. You can see, hear, and play instruments from the late 1800s through the jazz age, rock'n'roll, and post-punk-grunge-reggae current stuff. Everything from ordinary little harmonicas to unique horns, amazing vintage guitars, and gorgeous keyboards. Well worth the little detour and the admission when you're between LA and San Diego.

Great time. Lots of musical instruments from previous eras. You can listen to the music from 100 years ago. While many of the instruments can't be touched because of their fragile nature, there are many hands on and interactive opportunities. Check Group On for discounts.

Far an away the best feature here is the music room where kids or kid-like adults can try a number of musical instruments. They set it up so that it is via headphones and it all works. To my knowledge there is nothing else like this anywhere. Very hands-on. I went here to see a concert, which was great, but was taken by the music room

A bit out of the way of everyday traffic, and that is good, this museum focuses on the history, evolution and making of the instruments musicians use to created. Most enlightening! Several hands-on settings too. Knowledgeable volunteers too.

This museum is very easy to get to and easily accessible from Palomar airport road. It's great for families or anyone who loves history or music. The museum houses musical instruments from the early 1800s forward and has some amazing items with the history behind them. This isn't just a display, it's also a learning experience as you move forward through time. You get to try out various instruments like guitars, mandolins, lap-guitars, harps, drum kits and even a working therimin. This is a great experience for everyone.

From the moment you walk thru the doors you will be glad you came. Great pieces of art, instruments and key memorabilia from all the greats in the Industry. Take at least an hour to enjoy it all.

Very small Museum, it has a lot of old instruments and it's fun to listen and you can play a few of the instruments.

I play an instrument that would be considered exotic by this group: the hammered dulcimer. This museum focuses on instruments in school bands and entertainment bands of the last century. Quite a few interactive features, which are lots of fun. Their displays do a nice job of telling a story working with the instruments they have to display. And the "play me" instruments (most with headphones) are fun if you're used to messing with instruments at all. If you're not, they also have drums which are pretty unintimidating. I spent an hour there and was glad I went. Nice gift store, too, if you have friends with musical inclinations or interests.

Very close to LEGOLAND, you’ll find the small but impactful Museum of Making Music. Opened in 2000, the museum is designed to highlight musical instruments; however, you get a real feel for the types of music that were popular in various decades since the early 1900s. It’s quite educational (don’t tell the kids) with its emphasis on music appreciation. Finish up trying out some of the instruments.

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The staff was very warm and welcoming and had assisted me with anything I needed. If I had a question about an exhibit in the museum, they gladly would have walked with me to the item and answered my questions - I have no doubt! Lots to see, even for adults! Only reason why I have it 4 stars vice 5 is because one if the exhibits speakers were not working properly.

Took grandchildren and we all enjoyed the experience. Some displays are hands on! The museum is close to legoland,and takes about 2 hours to go through.

We loved this museum. The instruments included many eras and styles of music, from early instruments to rock to electronic. Some of the instruments displayed were interactive, so you could actually play some unusual instruments. This is a must see if you are in the area.

We are NAMM members and we had no idea this was even here, just saw a brochure for it in town. Even if we had paid the $8 to get in that would have been fine with us. There is a LOT to see and it traces the history of music and many rare instructions from 1890 to the present.

You also get to try a lot of different instruments so that was fun. Since we are the owners of The Midi Store, the MIDI section towards the end with all the synths was especially interesting for us, I would totally recommend it!

We went on a tour with a group and if was fascinating. The museum is divided up into multiple exhibits. The history of musical instrument stores, the making of instruments and the evolution of musical instruments. They had a number of very interesting instruments on exhibit. Great touch screen oriented information systems in each area. We were in a guided tour and didn't get enough time.

From Ragtime to Rock, from Big Band to the Beatles, whatever your taste in music is, there's something for everyone. This is a museum that LITERALLY lives up to its name. The visitor can actually play over a dozen instruments that are available all through out the exhibit. From an electronic percussion set somewhere at the entrance to a harpsicle near the exit, one can actually strum a Stratocaster or concertize on a Clavinova. Come on over and make your own kind of music!

A quiet break from the hustle and bustle of a crowded beach town, the museum comprises the first floor of the modern headquarters of the association of musical instrument manufacturers. Included are displays of vintage musical instruments of all types, dozens of audio-visual kiosks depicting the history and manufacture of instruments, and the performers who played them. You can walk through on your own and come out informed in an entertaining way about the history of making music and the value music plays in our culture.

Even if you are not a music lover, you will find the technology and business aspects interesting. This museum is sponsored by (and sited with) the NAMM and provides an interesting view of the music business and it's development over the years. It is well worth the trouble to find the place. Look for the small discrete sign and the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) building.

We had a diverse group visiting representing all ages (from 10-85) and everyone had a great time at the museum

My sister and I visited this museum recently. We had never heard of it until she found a Groupon for it, but the admission prices are very reasonable without one. It's on the bottom floor of the office building that houses the National Association of Music Merchants, near Legoland Carlsbad CA. In addition to the museum, there are restrooms, a gift shop, and areas for classes and concerts. You can listen to excerpts from songs and eras, play some of the instruments, and listen to music from around the world on a user friendly computer map. I think most kids would have fun here!

Great museum with incredible collection in very nice facility. A trip down memory lane. Learned many new things about musical instruments. Truly a World-class museum.

We came here with our kids (who are heavily involved in music) one rainy day. We were excited to visit, as we have a music museum back home, and it is awesome.

Unfortunately, this museum is nothing like the one back home. It was pretty expensive, and cost our little family of six $36 to visit. The museum itself is really small, and there are about five small rooms in all. It took us about 30 minutes to see the whole thing, and we were stopping to read placards and interact with the instruments.

The exhibits they do have are a lot of fun, but we felt strongly that our money could have been put to better use. When you are on a vacation budget, this just did not give us much bang for our buck. I really wanted to love it, but sadly, we were very disappointed.

different museum. It covers musical instruments. Some hands on others interactive. We dropped in on a whim and spent 2 hours there. Fun

The small but significant museum mainly covers music and musical instruments of the 20th Century in the U.S. The music focuses on ragtime, big band, jazz, and rock and roll. Although many instruments originated in Europe, the U.S. was well represented by acoustical and electrical guitars, woodwinds, brass, and synthesizers. The interesting harp guitar exhibit will only be around until April 2018. Anyone who isn't well acquainted with this genre of music could learn a lot here.

What a great experience
As a musician it was a lot of fun to see the old instruments and the stories about them.
Hands on playing guitars drums and other instruments

Great experience a chance to do some fun hands on stuff. Fantastic atmosphere and volunteers .

Check out their concert opportunities very eclectic.

This is a fun, warm and inspirational adventure. Small but excellent . Lors of parking available.

This is a very underrated museum. It features exhibits that I have only seen at the Experience Music Project. The displays are very informative and the descriptions are well written. There is a whole area where you can play different instruments.

An unexpected treasure that we found on our westcoust trip. The collection of unique and history changing instruments is amazing. The very friendly staff and guidance with interisting stories about bands, instruments and muscial history was an outstanding museum experience.

Great place with some "hands on " instruments. This museum is a gem. You can play some of the instruments. Also learn the history of some. 1-3 hours to see most of it.

If you have any interest or love of music, I encourage you to visit MOMM. It is a small museum developed by the National Association of Music Merchants who have done a superb job in showing and explaining the music and the instruments we all know and love.

The current exhibit is called ‘Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA’ which does a masterful job of telling the rich heritage of accordions...throughly enjoyable.

And don’t forget the various ‘hand ons’ instruments where visitors can try their hand...a favorite with younger visitors.

Lots of instruments that we could actually play and period music we could hear (and dance to- there were very few others there). Education was thrown in and a school class was entering as we were leaving. The front desk can tell you
when classes are scheduled.

This is an educational and fun place to visit. Good for adults and kids alike. Reasonable admission for families.

WE expected to spend part of an hour ... and spent 4 times that. This is a top notch museum with many interactive exhibits. It will be particularly compelling for baby boomers who will recognize many artist and artifacts ... well worth a visit for anyone interesting in listening to, the making of, or the history of music.

This museum is a little gem with a great deal to offer. There are many beautiful instruments on display and historical/musical facts to accompany them. The museum offers tours for children and adults alike, as well as educational programs for the school kids. They also feature a variety of evening concerts highlighting music of all types so there's something for everyone. The museum is located right behind the Carlsbad Flower Fields so a trip to both followed by lunch at one of the nearby restaurants makes for a perfect day!

We went to the Making Music Museum. It was interesting, but small. It would be impossible to visit if there was a school field trip there. As it was, there was a Boy Scout Troup and several families with young children. There are instruments that say, "Play Me", and other places where you can push buttons and hear various songs representing the adjoining display. So, there was LOTS of background sound (or noise, as some may say). Geobear #28 had a very good time though.

My 17 year old-who sings and plays guitar and piano-could have stayed here all day. He would give this a 12 out of 10. I also enjoyed this museum-what I really enjoyed was that all the interactive exhibits actually worked. Lots of instruments to touch and play. My 12 year old, who does not play or sing was bored. If you can play a string or keyboard instrument even a little bit, you can have a lot more fun with the instruments. The museum is very inexpensive ($5 for students and $8 for general admission) and extremely well-maintained.

My husband, adult son and I visited the museum late one afternoon so only had 1 hour before it closed. Would have liked to spend a little more time there, but still managed to see all the exhibits and try out most of the instruments.

The areas are setup as different time periods/ eras of music and you can select various recordings to listen to. This was really nice to easily get a feel for what the music was like during the era.

There are also instruments- mainly stringed- throughout that you can try playing. I wish for the keyboard they would have had a score or sheet of music that you could play as I can read music. They did show you in a video several chords to play, but I didn't have the time to watch and learn the chords properly to play along. I'd have done better with the printed music.

All in all a nice museum with hands on things to do.

The museum lacks alot of musisical instruments. Also it is not including in its exhibits, video's, and presentations or anything about music from other parts of the world, cultures, backgrounds, sounds, concerts, it just lacks alot, it should not be called the museum of making music. It is also a small museum.

Really great displays, some interactive (you can play some of the instruments... very cool!), helpful docents. On our Sunday visit, the Museum was all but deserted, which worked for us because we were on a very short timeline. I can't wait to go back again... it's definitely a re-visit.

This music museum is a rare find, unexpected in this location. Don't let that fool you. . It is worth taking the time to find and explore. For all ages who enjoy some element of music and its history. A must see if you are visiting.

This museum is a wonderful little gem in Carlsbad. Set up as a resource for music store owners, adults and children alike will enjoy learning about and actually having a chance to play many of the instruments showcased here. We took our four grandchildren and spent a delightful afternoon testing our skills on the various drums, guitars and keyboards. They are looking forward to going back on their next trip to California!

When we walked in, a volunteer asked us what kind of music we like. We said "opera", and she told us we would not find it here. However, there are operas composed by Americans, it's just that they cannot possibly include everything.

What was included were numerous instruments of all kinds, and much interesting history of music in America. In each room, you could play an actual instrument, or press a button and hear a familiar song. We pressed "White Christmas" and Bing Crosby crooned it beautifully. We couldn't wait to reach the 1950-60s room as those would be "our" songs. Unfortunately no "Lonely Boy" by Paul Anka, or "Save the Last Dance for Me" by the Drifters.

The instruments displayed are fascinating. We admired them, and came across some people, who were seriously studying them very closely (although most are in display cases). It's a quiet Museum (even though one of the instruments you can play is the drum), and the people who were there that day (May 1) walked slowly, and talked in low voices. Somehow, you feel that you are in a special place. There is a small gift shop attached, and lots of free parking.

This is so close to the LEGOLAND Hotel, that one could walk over there, if one does not mind a small hill. We are so glad we did.

This museum is small, but tons of fun. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, the museum has so many different (and unique!) instruments from all over the world, there are touch screens with so much information packed into them on each section of the museum, and there are a handful of different areas where you can play with many different instruments yourself!

Each touchscreen corresponds to about 5-15 different musical instruments or items and you can click to find out info on those items, read about the history related to that group of items, listen to music created with those instruments, and more. At the end of the walk, there is a room with tons of instruments to play and also a giant touchscreen with a globe on it. You can click around the globe and hear what traditional and modern music sounds like in different countries! This was one of my (Becca's) highlights.

The spaces to play with the instruments were so much fun, especially as there are some really unique instruments in the bunch!! We particularly loved the harp guitar, the theremin, and the synthesizer board.

We could have stayed in this museum all day, hahaha. If you love instruments and/or know how to play several instruments, we would suggest at least 1-2 hours, if not 3-4 hours or more!! :)

Brought four kids on a rainy day and had so much fun!! Loved the interactive displays. None of the kids wanted to leave!

This is an awesome museum run by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). On the surface, this is a musical instrument museum, but it's really about how the American music products industry has developed amid societal and technological changes.

Along with all the various instruments, there are interactive displays that show how the instruments are made as well as how they've adapted over the years, for instance how Steinway built heavy-duty pianos that were parachuted to troops in WWII to boost morale.

There are also several areas where you can try out instruments yourself. It isn't a big museum, but musicians and music lovers will find plenty to explore and appreciate.

..."The Museum of Selling Mass-produced Musical Instruments to 20th Century Americans." This is a very targeted museum, put together by the Trade Association for musical instrument manufacturers/marketers. It is very small, and as noted, except for a few people, not really a destination museum. That said, my husband, a luthier and musician, LOVED it! And I saw many children and teenagers appearing to have a great time, because along with all the information about selling musical instruments in America during the 1900's, there are all kinds of instruments which you can strum, beat, play, etc. So if you are in the area, by all means drop by!

I had no idea that so many varieties of an instrument existed before visiting the Museum of Making Music! My partner and I spent a good hour and a half browsing, learning and pushing every possible button in sight and left better educated for the experience. If you are in Carlsbad, don't miss it! The volunteers are very knowledgeable too.

My Wife and I visited and found the self paced tour to be enjoyable. We really liked the audio music at each section and really enjoyed the hands on instruments that we could try.

Great interactive displays, beautiful instruments and wonderful experience for kids who get to play the drums to their hearts content!

Do this! Go here! Had such a great time. A wonderful balance between historical pieces and hands on play. We spent three hours here just having fun with everything. The little gift shop is really sweet too. The staff was all super friendly as well. Do this! Go here!

How often can you go into a sound-booth and play an instrument of your choice? Great exhibits for the whole family.

Our friend is a retired teacher who taught music, so when she and her husband were visiting, we took them to the Museum of Making Music. There are a lot of historical displays telling about the evolution of the music industry and an interactive area that is great for getting kids interested in musical instruments. We had a great visit. The staff were very friendly and informative.

The Museum of Making Music is operated by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) along Armada Drive with an expansive ocean view and walking path across the street. The admission fee was $10 seniors, $15 adults. There are several rooms explaining the history of musical instruments of all kinds and related equipment like synthesizers. In three areas there are instruments that you can play yourself: guitar, ukulele, banjo, drums, electric organ, hammer dulcimer. The exhibit information is on screens so you can click on (with pointer): artifacts, stories, or hear music. If there are people playing instruments and people playing music displays nearby it can get a bit noisy. The docent started up the player piano and offered information that we wouldn’t have known to ask about. For example, she explained that Don Lewis came to the museum to set up the display of the assembled electronics and keyboards he used to create the Live Electronic Orchestra, pre-dating MIDI. There is a nice gift shop with music-focused items. In the lobby, you can see through to the organization’s board room and its ocean view. Well worth an hour or two to visit.

We had fun learning about American music and how it has played a great role in our nations economy and more importantly as a magnificent art form. We played many instruments and recorded statements about what music means to us. What a great afternoon "making music!"

This small museum has a variety of instruments from the 19th century up to the 20th century. It was developed by the makers of instruments so while it is about music making, it is about the history of the late 19th through the 2oth century. If you like to listen to music from the early 20th century up through the 90's...this is the place. It is interactive and highly visual so children can enjoy it as much as adults. Some instruments can be played. if you ever played an instrument in a high school band or orchestra, you will recognize some manufacturers and instruments. My husband and I played clarinet in our high school bands so it was fun to see some of those instruments and learn more about them. There is a volunteer docent to give a tour but one can look around on one's own. If you to to Carlsbad for the beach, there are those rainy days and cool days and this is a great indoor activity.

Went wondering exactly what we would find but were more than surprised this is such a little gem. Too bad they don't start earlier with their evolution of music in America and the modern world. A great minimum of 1 hour and 2 would be better. Also a neat hands on area to try some instruments and sound systems. The inevitable gift shop had very nice things at fair prices too.

Good for a quick visit. Interesting instruments, and really appreciated the opportunity to try some instruments as well. Good parking. If you want A LOT more than this, go to the instrument museum in Phoenix.

Visited museum with my 12 year old, who plays guitar and is in school band. We had a great time and spent over 2 hours in this smallish museum.

The museum traces the history of musical instruments and their manufacture from the late 1800's to present. Each section had at least one instrument to try. At the end, there were many electric guitars, drum kits, keyboards and even a theremin, all available to try. In some cases, the instruments had accompanying video tutorials for the neophyte. All of the instruments were in great shape and everything worked!

I highly recommend this museum for older kids, teens and adults who like music.

The museum is right next to Legoland and is a good alternative if some in your traveling party feel too old for the theme park.

I have only been there once and went to one of the most enjoyable concert, focussed on the double bass, accompanied by various flutes as well as violin, viola and cello. A sheer delight. I will be sure to go again.

Need a break from the sun or the rain? Have kids who like music? This is a small but hands-on museum where they can try different instruments. If you yourself are into music, it's worth a trip to see early guitars by Rickenbacker, Gibson, etc.

Small museum targeted at 19th and 20th century musical instruments. A retrospective for adults and great fun for children. Some of the instruments can and should be played. There is also an interactive map of the world where you can hear both original and current music from different parts of the world. There are several stations where you can listen to different styles of music by major musicians of the period. Sadly the selections are short, but I cannot knock them for that. The docent was kind enough to play a player/recorder piano.

Great place to take a family or a romantic couple. So much to enjoy in sound, pictures and instruments.

We really enjoyed this museum. Well worth the trip. It takes you from the turn of the Century to the present. You push buttons and music plays from the era you are looking at. I'd go early and during the middle of the week. They, also, have programs in the evening that are worth attending.

Delightful museum for adults and kids. Lots of hands-on instruments, one in each gallery and a whole roomful of them with headphones. Present special exhibit is on harp guitars!

We managed to see...and hear...most things in an hour-long visit, but would have enjoyed longer. The great grandson of Steinway (the piano-maker) founded this museum which, in five galleries, shows the most popular instruments in the US through the decades of the 20th century, and gives push-button samples of music as it developed through the century. And in each gallery is an instrument that visitors can play (with earphones, to avoid a cacophony if several people are playing at once). Great for kids, too, with a game to lead them through the galleries and gentle volunteers to help them. Great for all ages!

If your a music and musical instrument lover this is a great place to visit, helpful informed volunteers are on hand to answer your questions.

The family enjoyed it very much, especially the hands-on instruments that were available. If you like making music, this is a good diversion for a few hours in Carlsbad.

What a surprise this place was. Lots of great exhibits and history. The flow is easy, the stories and instruments are incredible. Our only regret was not enough time.

We visited with our two teens who love music. They had a ball looking at all the displays and playing music from the ages. Then they got to play different instruments and loved it. Great Museum.

wish I could of stayed longer. it was awesome I want to go again. my friends loved it too. good customer service

Hidden a way in what looks like modern office buildings this Museum offers hands on music fun for all the family. With exhibitions showing a wide variety musical instruments, musical clips to listen to & lots of interactive displays it is easy to pass a few hours here without even noticing. Learning about the history of music in the US from 1900 on wards has been done in a hands on fun way & if you ever had the desire to try playing instruments there are quite a few which you are actively encouraged to play.
Free parking & only minutes from the 5 FWY make it a great place to stop & take a break.

This museum consists of instruments that were sold by musical instrument retailers when mass production made this possible. It covers more than 100 years of instruments and there are plenty of hands-on exhibits. It is small but interesting. What is even more fun is the series of concerts that they offer. All types of music so check out the calendar on their website to find one that appeals to you. Seating only about 120 at the most, every seat is good and you'll have an intimate concert experience.

Both my boys 5.5 &7 years old enjoy the hands-on Exhibition. We went in October and Kids are FREE with an adult purchase. Even though its a small museum, it is well-maintained, informative and there's a live performance of guitar-harp when we were there on Sunday. Kids get a small token "egg shaker" after they did fun kid activities including a treasure hunt and coloring worksheets.

Small museum run by a musical instrument trade group. If you're interested in old instruments and the history of their sale this will be of interest. There are opportunities to play instruments throughout (with headphones). 30-45 minutes for those casually interested, 1-2 hours for serious musicians. Not recommended for small children (5 under).

Museum was well staffed with knowledgeable, kid-friendly people. My daughter enjoyed playing/exploring with the instruments in the final section. There just wasn't enough to hold her interest for a long time. There is a lot of reading material throughout the museum and some of the things I learned were very interesting, but it just wasn't the best fit for my daughter. It was rainy and cold (for San Diego) the day we visited and I thought we'd be there for at least 2-hours. There are many members that are retired and I would say this museum best suits that age group.

This is a great place for music lovers. They have many examples of musical instruments through the ages. I have even been to a concert there in the past.

This place is such a great way to spend sometime looking back on music's past and then checking out some of the latest music creations. If you love music this place is for you. We have a 18 year old that is very involved with music (jazz choir and violin) and she has had a great time exploring the 2 times we have been. Our 6 year old also had a great time exploring the various instruments, she especially loved the harp in the instrument room. The staff are always friendly and knowledgeable of course.

Lots of brass instruments (with a strange predilection of having silver-colored examples) and pianos. Definitely better if you can play piano or guitar or drums, as they have several playable ones. Instructions for the Theramin would be helpful, and I even know how to play one!

This museum is close to Legoland and we brought our kids here because they like music (and also because this attraction is included with our Go San Diego Card. As they were only 3 and 6, they were only interested in the hands-on displays - drum kits, guitars, etc. there must have been over a dozen instruments to try.

I'm afraid we didn't spend a lot of time learning about music history and such, but our kids loved playing all the instruments.

Industry-sponsored museum of instruments from last several centuries until now. Play yourself on some in designated space. Call for hours and if a tour guide docent may be available, mine was excellent.

This is a great place to visit. There are a lot of interactive exhibits and they are all hooked up to headphone so you don't have to listen to anyone banging away on instruments. I took my 8 year old son and he really enjoyed the experience. I loved seeing some of the famous pieces they have in the museum. Really worth the time!

They have some incredible instruments on display andyou can even use a lot of them. Electric drumset is way cool. It's also awesome for music recitals and concerts. Super small venue so you get a great show.

I took my nieces and nephews here and they loved it. I enjoyed learning about the history of NAMM and instruments and they enjoyed having a chance to play some of the instruments. They have a neat interactive wall with a map of the world, and if you tap on a country, it will show an instrument from that country being played.

We love music and the history of music. Good place to go with the family. Easy to access and reasonable cost. Especially good on a rainy day!

This is a small museum but it is packed with instruments, photos and music from the past. Our teen grandson loved playing the different instruments, one of which, the theremin, he had not heard of. The volunteer who ushered us in gave us a short talk filling us in on what we were about to experience. It was neat to see some instruments donated by musicians, some of them quite well known artists.

Brought our children and grandchildren. We had as much fun as they did. Our grandson LOVED the interactive drums with real sound in attached earphones. The different musical instruments were fun to see and some to try. We didn't want to leave.

From Sousa to Crosby Stills and Nash you can see and hear the instruments they used to make the Music. My son played five different guitars while visiting. Unique instruments, a actual accordion exhibit with instructions, music from around the world. An affordable gift shop. Free parking, discounts for veterans, seniors, students and included in Go Cards max admission $10. air conditioned, Politics FREE Zone. Minutes from Legoland.

My young adult daughter and I had a great time learning and being entertained by the information, instruments, recordings, varied cultural videos, and innovation studio. The photography of Graham Nash exhibit was just finishing, and that was a great addition.

Now I know I should have listened to my Mother and learned how to play the guitar. Those of you who do will enjoy playing all their instruments including their keyboards. The recordings of earlier music were enjoyable and it was a good experience.

This small museum is a jewel. The musical instruments displayed are in mint condition and are rarely seen in public. The music that is able to be accessed is very representative of the eras they were recorded. The curator's taste is impeccable, and the last part of the exhibit enables young children to sample various instruments and create music. It was a delightful experience.

Amazing displays and progression of musical instruments thru the century. Very interesting even for those who do not play a musical instrument.

This is a favorite for my grandchildren from MS with a gr8 surprise of free admission this summer with a military ID, (although I did make a donation to support it). It's tucked in an office complex off of Armada Dr. (Palomar exit off I-5), but not hard to find. The interactive history with buttons for the six year-old to push and hear music kept her interest and the 15 yr.-old musician could stay there all day! It has improved since our last visit, but is always fun.

We spent about 2 hrs. reading the history of over 100 years of American Music, looking at the vast array of unique and familiar musical instruments, listening to music from various eras and finally playing the variety of instruments (with headphones, thank you).

It was gr8 fun and the volunteers were very friendly and pointed out several instruments that we had missed as we walked thru. Anyone who loves music will enjoy this hidden gem.

Thought this would be bigger and show us how they made various instruments. They do, but by using videos. They were informative, but there aren't many stations so if crowded, it takes time. As others mentioned, without headphones, there's way too much sound all around to really appreciate what's being shown, explained and played. If you surge an hour here, that's probably more than enough.

Children of all ages will enjoy visiting this fascinating museum. The exhibits are dedicated to musical instruments and their progression through various eras in history. There is a see-through piano on display; you can play it. There are many other instruments that children and adults can sit down and play --- a musician's paradise! Even the non-musical will be intrigued by the many options here. Well worth a visit!

A true historical museum of the musical instrument business would be quite interesting. But this is more like reading the back of cereal boxes. Lots of 20th century musical instruments; some interesting sound samples -- but it would be more interesting to have a wider and deeper array so that you can learn something. For instance, how does the theremin work? What do the different slapback echoes sound like.

Lots of music fun to be had here while learning in the process too. I love the interactive areas where yo put on headphones and make as much noise (music) as you want and only you can hear it (with your headphones on).

My husband and I visited here in early January (we are a musical family, with my husband playing several brass and woodwind instruments for several decades). We found the displays very interesting and well done, presenting an informative timeline of musical styles and innovations in American culture. Along the way, there were opportunities to sample the music from various decades. The collection of instruments on display was impressive and the real strength of this museum.

We were wishing this museum was a bit larger and more in-depth (being both music and museum lovers). Some eras of American music were covered too briefly, we thought; for example the "Big Band" era and also the 1960's, which we recall as having an unprecedented explosion of musical styles, only a few of which were covered. In the final room, there were some sample instruments that visitors can play, and we found that the noise from that activity made it hard for us to study the nearby displays.

All in all, we enjoyed this museum, spending just under one hour there. It was easy to find, admission cost was reasonable, and free onsite parking was available.

The museum is quite small, which I appreciate not wanting to spend a long beautiful day inside.
My boys, 10 and 12, liked it. They take banjo, fiddle, and piano lessons.
Great little, affordable, educational stop!

Small but very well thought out space that has multiple interactive displays. Wonderful photographs on display as well. Plan on spending an hour or two- mostly dependent upon how much you and/or your group want play around.

If you are interested in music history, this little museum, in a beautiful location, is worth a visit. Musical instruments are on display from various eras. Several are available to try your hand at.

There are a lot of interesting exhibits. However the exhibits are close together. Many of them have buttons to push to listen to the music. If others have pushed nearby buttons it is just a cacophony of noise. This could be improved with more headsets or less volume on some of the exhibits.

This museum is hidden away in an industrial park and has little signage to direct you to it; but it's a fabulous museum, and well worth searching out. Along with the other exhibits are instruments that you're invited to play. Music history, beautiful instruments, and friendly staff.

Thought my daughter would enjoy this place and she did very much, so did I. there is all different kinds of hands on items and things to look at. I would say little kids may not appreciate this place but if you have a child that is interested in music this was wonderful and all the volunteers where super nice and knowledgable. they liked the fact that my daughter was the fisrt person they had got to met who actually played the Zildjian Cymbals. allow at least 2 hours.

Dave and Amy did a great job of the history and explanation of performing music for our 17-18 year old group. A must-do interactive experience for musicians of all types and ages. Well done!

A great place to learn all about music new and old. Plus the is a corner in every room where you could play an instrument yourself.

Looking for a place to escape the rain for a couple of hours, we ended up at the Museum of Making Music. Very interesting place with both hands on music options and informative displays on music through our history. Good for all ages.

We spent two hours here with our seven year old son on a Sunday morning and at least for the parents, it was more fun than Legoland!

We got to try out several instruments including a harpsicle, a mandolin, a huge gong, and a steel slide guitar. The exhibits are beautifully curated, and the docents are helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. There are some fun kid activities including a treasure hunt (with free kazoo at the end) and coloring worksheets.

The gift shop has some fun items--unusual instruments, books, CDs, clothing, and toys--all related to music.

We are very glad we didn't miss it--well worth the admission ($10 per adult and $7 for our youngster).

This museum is definitely worth a visit. My son and I were in town and this is one of the places we really wanted to see. We spent a lot of time here and appreciate the collection they have created.

This museum covers the development of musical instruments and different musical eras. Most of the displays are of musical instruments. At various stops on the self-guided tour there are instruments to play and recordings to hear. This museum may not be of interest to everyone, but anyone who has played an instrument in a band or orchestra will appreciate it. I had heard about this museum from friends, so I knew what to expect.

Took small grandkids. They have coloring and interactive activities little ones can enjoy even if they don’t understand the history part
Staff is pleasant. Use a Groupon or Living Social
Something to take up an hour or so on a cool or hot day

A very inexpensive way to spend a couple of hours. Designed both as a "don't touch" museum featuring heirloom instruments and a kid-friendly "please touch" experience, the Museum had the right idea when first opened. However, during my two visits there, spread two months apart, virtually all of the hands on interactive "make your own music" displays either did not work, were missing strings or drumsticks or were greasy and sticky. In short, the interactive displays need maintenance and a good dose of cleaning. For adults, it is worth the $5 or so price of a ticket you can often find on Groupon. For younger children, I suspect they might get a bit bored, for there are far more "don't touch" displays than there are interactive modules.

We had a lot of fun at the Museum of Making Music. There are lots of instruments on display and lots of instruments that you can play!!!! We loved playing the instruments! Very inexpensive and you only need about an hour to go through. Fun for children and adults.

This interactive museum allows you to see instruments, understand some of their histories, and has an interactive area as well . . . well worth a visit.

We heard about this place through a friend the day before we visited, but had never heard of it prior. It was an amazing experience and so worth the time to visit. If you like music, history or learning.. this place is for you!

Very interesting place we joined another couple for a small concert by a guitarist and had pizza and a beer and heard some great music really a fun time.
Kind of off the beaten path but very close to legoland

I would rate the museum 3.5 stars but was forced to round up. I do not mean to talk down about it, but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.

The museum is arranged nicely with an assortment of instruments, many with somewhat historical significance. Also, there are many interactive exhibits involving different musical instruments. However, since the museum is a product of the National Association of Music Merchants, of whose headquarters the museum is housed, the focus is primarily on the American musical instrument industry over the last 150 years or so. The museum really details the evolution of the industry, which is quite interesting if you have the opportunity to read all of the posted explanations, captions, and historical documentation. An interested adult could probably spend 2-3 hours here.

Unfortunately, my boys did not find the museum as captivating, even though they both play piano. Since the museum is small compared to many museums, we were through the entire museum in under an hour. If you are in the area, then it is a worthwhile visit. Yet since we drove 90 miles, including a gridlocked 5 freeway, we did not find it the best investment of time on a Saturday.

We visited during spring break as one of our sons is really into musical instruments. Great history of various instruments, and better yet that you can fiddle around with a vast array of them. The admission is reasonable and the staff was wonderful. Nice little gem in Carlsbad.

Wow, what an experience. This museum takes visitors back to the origin of instruments, the many different types and the changes that occurred up to the current times. If you appreciate the early piano's, quitar's and other instruments you will enjoy this visit.

We went here before heading to Lego Land. The kids loved it! The museum gift shop was awesome as was the lady who welcomed us and explained the history of the place. What a great musical experience and a great deal with Groupon!

I love music so visiting the Museum of Making Music was a natural thing to do on my recent visit to San Diego and I wasn't disappointed. They are located in Carlsbad CA just a short drive north of the city. The focus of this museum is on the music making methods from the second half of the 19th century to the present. Exhibits are chronological and feature examples of the instruments and recordings of the popular music and techniques from the era. Some of the relatively older instruments are in incredible pristine condition and were thoroughly impressive. The exhibits are broken up into Early 1900's, and 20 year periods after that up to 1970's and beyond. In many of the exhibits there is at least one instrument meant to be played (experimented with) making the exhibit quite inteactive. Near the end of the exhibits is an excellent echoes (origins) and evolution (today) exhibit by country from around the world that I found quite facinating. For example, the hurdy gurdy was shown being played, something that I hadn't seen before. There was also a number of instruments to be played in this area which seemed to be popular with the visitors on this particular day. Plan on 1 to 2 hours of entertainment at a very reasonable entry cost. Restrooms are available, staff is helpful and friendly clean and there is a nice gift shop.

I have been here several times, and always find something of interest. Drums, guitar, whatever takes your fancy. Try them out, and be a kid again! If you can visit when they have an evening concert, the galleries are free to enter, otherwise a moderate cost.

I only had an hour to visit, while my wife was visiting the nearby flowers. This place is a treat for any music lover, but especially for guitarists due to the chronological collection of some unique guitars. I'm not usually a gift store guy, but did buy a few things for me and my musical friends.

A special thanks to the staff. It's obvious they love working there!

Wonderful 'instrument' museum with interactive stations where you can actually play the instruments!

Neat place for kids to try different instruments and some really cool historical information. One hour is probably good.

Not a large museum. Spent about 1/2 hour on a docent led tour. There are 6 or so rooms, each representing a time in history with instruments from that period. The details presented by the docents was perhaps the most interesting part. Not a bad side trip but not a destination attraction.

we went for a concert they had one evening, with pizza and beer from Stone Brewing. I'm not a beer fan, but the concert was very good. The exhibits do change, so we plan to go back soon.

This is a fun thing to do for a couple of hours in Carlsbad. The museum is fun and they have a hands on section to play instruments as well. Look at the website and see if they have an upcoming concert you might enjoy. They are intimate concerts that are fun and well priced.

We had never heard of this until a waiter told us about it. Off we went! A small museum that covers a lot of decades of music by types and by instruments! We certainly enjoyed this one! At a lot of the areas, you can push a button of examples of music (about 10 in each location). This is a great tool for adults and children that love music or instruments. There is even a spot where you put on the headphones and play away on instruments to hear yourself play!

My children and I had a blast! we came in wandered around, had an opportunity to learn about different instruments and even play some of them too! We learned about the different era's and how music has progressed over the years.

It was great to see the history of music. I loved it, but they should have included more about Ike Turner since he had the first Rock and Roll song. That was absent. Other than that it is really cool.

I learn something new each time I visit! Until the end of the month, they have an exhibit on the harp guitar. Also on display is a piano that was in the theatre the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Electric vehicles can be charged with paid admission while visiting the museum. Friendly and knowledgeable staff!

Whether you are a musician, or just love music, this is a wonderful experience. Things to see, listen to, interact with -- a great way to find out more about a variety of musical genres and instruments. Children won't realize it's educational, but they will find out more about music, instruments and the joy of rhythm and melody than they ever could in any other environment. Watching the other visitors, it was clear to see that adults and children all found something to stimulate their imaginations and explore dreams of making music alive.

Great little museum on the history of music from the late 1800's to present..... fun, interactive place! well worth the time

We've visited here a few times with a variety of family. Adults, young kids, teens. There are enough hands on areas to make it interesting for the kids and teens and a lot of interesting information to make it worthwhile for adults.

We went to the Jack Tempchin concert celebrating the 45th anniversary of the release of the Peaceful Easy Feeling song, one that he wrote. The capacity of the concert hall is about 130, so it was cozy and intimate. The concert was outstanding, afterward Jack Tempchin greeted attendees and signed autographs until all were signed. We noted that there were many upcoming concerts for the Museum that would be very entertaining in this atmosphere. If we lived in San Diego we would attend shows at this venue as much as possible. You should just do this one.

The guide was very interesting and knowledgeable. Such an interesting display of a variety of genres of music and instruments.

This is an extraordinary place for people who love music, history, rock and roll! The exhibits span historical instruments and offer a hands on at each area. Also a rotating exhibit space and a wonderful concert venue, but check their program early....things sell out quickly. There is also a wonderful area at the end of the exhibit space with hands-on instruments with head phones for anyone to try to play. I discovered that I might be able to take up the harp! The gift shop features an eclectic selections of DVDs, children’s items, percussion things.
After a wild day at a theme park, this is an interesting interim the day after a sleep in and before you hit the pool or beach with the kids.

We learned about the Museum of Making Music from a sign we passed on our way to Legoland. Great find, the kids 9, 11 and 15 loved it. The two older who play instruments enjoyed learning about history and seeing the older instruments. And they all loved the hands on playing instruments.

I enjoyed going to this museum. There is a good collection of instruments. One can hear music by pressing various buttons for the song they want at some of the exhibits. They also have instruments one can play such as electric pianos and drums. I enjoyed doing this.

There was also a special exhibit on banjos and it was interesting seeing the various kinds.

Overall, it was a fun time at this somewhat small, but very interesting museum.

We were in the area for several days so purchased the San Diego City Pass; this museum is part of that program. Parking is right outside by the museum and is free.

Spent an engaging 2 hours in the museum with a good friend who plays and enjoys music as much as I do. Fun to see instruments from 100 years ago and to actually pick up and play some of the absolute classics. I have a Martin guitar that I bought new in 1968. What joy to sit down with a D-28 Martin from the 50s and hear those sweet sounds. Museum is very well laid out with lots of hands on opportunities. The Docent volunteers are scattered about and more than happy to share their Wealth of Knowledge. We shared the museum with a class of 3rd graders who seemed to be having just as much fun as we were. I'll be coming back again and bringing my grandkids along.

The staff in the gift shop/check in area are really nice. The lady gave us a brief overview of the museum and then we were free to wonder around and look at the weird, and not so weird musical instruments. There are plenty of interactive instruments to play with, including pianos, guitars, drums and a very cool electronic beat box kind of device. It took us about 40 minutes to wander around, look at instruments and play with them. If you are into playing musical instruments or interested in musical history then you should check this place out.

I wouldn't recommend this for young kids as there's nothing to keep them interested, but its fun for ages 8 and upwards.

This is a can't miss experience for music lovers. Even though it's average size it is backed with unique instruments and interesting displays. So much of it is hands on for children from 5 to 75!

Tracing the development of American musical instruments and styles through the 19th and 20th centuries, this fascinating, interactive museum offers a unique take on popular culture. Guests are able to choose what examples of the style and instruments described they would like to hear played in each gallery, as well as try out some instruments themselves. The actual instruments that belonged to many famous people are on display, too. The museum has wonderful docents who offer extra stories and information that enhance one's visit and understanding. School groups are welcomed, and were prominent the day of our visit. While it was great to see young people so fully engaged in the learning process, it inevitably made our visit a bit complicated at times.

I love music and I loved this museum. Lots of opportunities for hands on. Great docents a little hard to find but worth it.

This small but interesting museum is excellent for children, and great for adults. On the day we visited, there were 3 school groups there experiencing the hands-on learning.

A docent gives you an overview of the museum and answers your questions although the museum is self-guided. Our docent was quite knowledgeable and gave us a lot of history about the acquisition of the displays and knowledge beyond the signs.

If you read all the signs and do some hands-on experiences, allow about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to tour the facility. Flash photography of the exhibitsis allowed.

I saw about a dozen instruments that I knew nothing about. Who has heard of a Euphonium?

There is also a small gift shop. Closed on Mondays.

Honestly one of the top highlights of our 7 day Easter vacation. My teenagers, wife and I loved this place. Jerry was very knowledgeable and the whole interactive nature of the exhibits made it fun. Highly recommend. We drove over after going to the Safari Park and lunch at a winery (skipped LEGO Land!).