Seattle - Experience Music Project

As I mentioned in my previous post, we're just back from Seattle. While there we got to the Experience Music Project and the Science Fiction Museum. The EMP was both nostalgic and interactive simultaneously, with tons of artifacts from Seattle-area artists and bands arranged chonologically. There was also, of course, a memorial to Michael Jackson outside and a small case containing his sequined jacket and glove from when he first performed the "moonwalk." And, a really big room with Michael's music playing where people could just dance around and watch the back wall light up. What a great space.

But the coolest part, especially for kids, were the soundproof rooms where you could take ten minutes and jam. There were keyboards, drums, guitars, and computerized lessons on how to play them. There was even a room for vocals, although we didn't get into that one. But I did manage the bass line from "Smoke on the Water." Thank you, I knew you would be amazed.

Anyway, these exhibits really showed people of all ages the basic structures of music on lots of different instruments. And the way they did it, with exhibits and with soundproof rooms, meant people with little or no exposure to making music could goof around in a way that made them comfortable. 

We have a spinnet piano in our house, and I'm observing as my daughter makes progressively more structured sounds with it. She doesn't take any formal lessons, but you can really hear her thinking as she noodles around. I wish all kids had something like that. I think you could accomplish a lot by just providing some boxes or upside-down buckets and a paper towel roll to use as drums and drumsticks.

I really recommend those exhibits and rooms for anyone of any age. If you're near there, go. It's right near the Space Needle.