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Music House Museum in Traverse City, Michigan
By Jim Canavan

It's fantastic!  Something for everyone, from huge dance hall organ
to music boxes to nickelodeons to a display of phonographs that puts
the Smithsonian to shame!

The tours play a variety of instruments, and although they are
directed more at the general public with no knowledge of mechanical
music, they are still very enjoyable.  If it's not very crowded and
you let the staff know of your interests, they will also accommodate
your requests as much as possible.  (One time we got a private demo
of one of the first jukeboxes from the 1920s which changed the steel
needle automatically for each play, all mechanically and via spring
power only.)

Displays are beautifully done, informative text too.  Nice gift
shop also, which includes some CDs of several of their instruments.
I visit every year when I vacation at Traverse City.  All this and a
Mills in the entrance lobby that they're happy to play upon request!

My sole complaint, if it can be called that: as a repeat visitor,
I wish they would play something else other than Part 2 of Gershwin's
Rhapsody in Blue on the incredible Duo-Art art model grand (formerly
owned by Fischer auto body family).  They vary the tunes played on
every other instrument they demo except the Duo-Art.  Each year I keep
meaning to bring one of my favorite D-A rolls in my suitcase, but
always forget...  Well, maybe this summer!

Jim Canavan
Alexandria, Virginia


(Message sent Mon 8 May 2006, 14:23:16 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  City, House, Michigan, Museum, Music, Traverse

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