The Museum of Making Music will take you through a century of American popular music. Starting with John Philip Souza and marching bands, exhibits take your through the songs of World War 1, to 1920s jazz to Benny Goodman's Swing in the 1940s to Elvis Prestly and the Beatles.

Here you can actually hear popular tunes from any era by just pressing a button. Also on display are the instruments that made the music as well its history and often the story of the manufacturer. As a lift long music lover this Writer still had much to learn in these exhibits. I never realized the first electronic guitar dated back to 1931. Or that the baby boom from 1950 to 1969 developed a huge growth in sales of musical instruments as parents motivated their children (or maybe it was vise versa) to actually produce music.

I remember player pianos in my earliest years but learned that it was the advent of radio that spelled their permanent demise. Besides displays of legendary music groups and instruments placards tell the story of how each era developed and then declined. The dramatic periods of 'riches to rags' in the music industry as public tastes changed and technology developed is an intriguing story in itself.

To be seen, are early pianos, the first phonographs, radios, guitars and at last the Moog synthesizer, developed in 1964, as well as the complex models that exist today. In all the museum houses some 450 vintage instruments. Each exhibit has a kiosh where on can hear music of that era. There is also an interactive area where visitors are allowed to play a variety of musical instruments.

The Museum of Making Music enjoys a lovely setting in Carlsbad, situated on a bluff overlooking the City and Pacific Ocean. It is only a few minutes drive off Interstate 5 at Palomar Airport Road east to Amada Drive. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students and military.

For more information call 760 438-5996 or on the web at www.museumofmakingmusic.org. The Museum also features a monthly calendar of special events and performances. For information or tickets to these special events call 760 438-5996, Ext 212.

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Last Update:12/1/06