Starting Back

Visitors undergo temperature checks outside before entering The Metorpolitan Museum

By Jayson Kerr Dobney

The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to disturb everyone and everything. In addition to the millions of people who have suffered through illness and even the loss of loved ones, millions of others have suffered economic consequences and life disruptions. Performing artists and arts institutions have been especially hard hit by the realities of closed venues and empty museums. After a spring and summer of total lockdown, it does not look like performance venues and international travel will resume for many more months.

Yet, at the same time, there are some signs of home for those who love music and musical instruments. There are indications that music-making in homes is on the rise and musical instrument sales are up for both pianos and guitars, powered by both new musicians and those returning to music making during the pandemic.

Museums, including many musical instrument collections are starting to reopen, albeit with new safety precautions and drastic changes to their programming and outreach. Academic conferences are discovering new ways to meet and present online, saving time and travel expenses, while lowering the environmental impact of such events. While nothing will ever replace the experience of live music and the need to gather together on occasions, some of the innovations born during this period will transform the way the cultural world in beneficial ways.

Changes to this world will present both challenges and opportunities to AMIS going forward. In the months ahead this blog will focus attention on the ways in which institutions and individuals are adapting to these new realities. Make sure to look for a series that highlight the reopening of musical instrument collections and the ways they are adapting to meet the challenges of the moment. The blog will also feature reports from members who are attending some of the myriad societies and festivals that are migrating online. Look for these new features alongside more traditional musical-instrument focused content and announcements.

Musical Instrument Collections Open as of September, 2020

Europe

Antwerp, Belgium: Museum Vleeshuis

Copenhagen, Denmark: Musikmuseet

Cremona, Italy: Museo del Violino

Edinburgh, Scotland: St. Cecilia’s Hall

The Hague, The Netherlands: Gemeentemuseum

La Couture Boussey, Mairie, France: Musée des Instruments à Vent

Leipzig, Germany: Musikinstrumenten-Museum der Universität Leipzig

London, United Kingdom: Horniman Museum

London, United Kingdom: Victoria & Albert Museum

Markneukirchen, Germany: Museum of Musical Instruments