I had a very memorable Memorial Day weekend this previous Could of 2023. The aim was to go to my massive sister Casandra who moved to Nashville nearly a yr in the past. And naturally to see her daughter MoNa, her son-in-law Kevia and their rambunctious 6 yr outdated son, Harlem.
Memorial Day will not be referred to as the “unofficial begin to Summer time” for nothing. It appears as if everyone and their grandmother (smile) was driving that weekend on the street, flying within the air, or utilizing some mode of public transportation throughout this a lot anticipated prelude to Summer time.
What normally occurs once we now grownup Hollis kids go to a brand new place or area to go to household, is we attempt to incorporate not less than one African American cultural exercise into the journey.
On this case it was simple, nearly too simple: a visit to the Nationwide Museum of African American Music or NMAAM as it’s referred to. NMAAM is conveniently positioned in downtown Nashville so we didn’t must journey far as my sister Casandra lives solely about 15 to twenty minutes exterior town limits.
Parking the automobile in a storage was fairly steep ($45) and you actually don’t have any selection should you drive as there may be little or no if any accessible road parking downtown.
The ticket costs to the museum (which we ordered on-line on the NMAAM web site the night time earlier than) had been $24.95 for Adults (me) and $18.75 for Senior Residents (Casandra). Simply so you’re conscious, the remainder of the ticket costs are as follows: $18.75 for College students and Academics with ID, Army and Senior Residents; $13.50 for Museum Friends aged 7 to 17 and Free for Guests 6 years of age and underneath.
Whereas there, for simply $5.00 extra you’ll obtain a NMAAM wristband which lets you obtain a number of genres of music (as much as 500 songs!) to create your personal music playlist as you contact and discover your manner all through the museum. This music hyperlink is shipped to your electronic mail tackle per week or so later so that you can obtain to your Apple or Spotify account. Very cool!
By the way, NMAAM additionally affords guests an annual membership with a lot of particular perks and schooling and applications for teams and particular outings.
The NMAAM brochure tells you it takes 90 minutes to discover the museum (because it options timed admission) nevertheless it took me and Casandra 3 hours as there may be a lot to see and do! By the way in which, there isn’t any additional cost if it takes you longer than the 90 minutes (smile).
The museum is damaged up into 6 rooms which every characteristic a distinct style of music and its historical past.
It’s fascinating to find simply how intertwined the music is with the historic happenings of every period.
The Roots Theater focuses on African American historical past and its music.
Wade within the Water (one among my private favs) showcases how gospel music and its wealthy historical past has greater than influenced non secular music. This gallery featured an interactive room the place me and Casandra went in, donned the requisite church choir robes and stood in entrance of the Inexperienced Display so we might sing together with the Gospel Choir. The ending was candy as we had been each magically inserted into the Gospel Choir (smile). We saved this obtain to our NMAAM wrist band so we might view it afterward at house.
Crossroads chronicles the time within the Deep South (and after slavery) when work songs and subject songs (i.e., the Blues) was prevalent.
A Love Supreme highlights the Jazz period in African American music and tradition.
One Nation Underneath A Groove data the time following World Struggle I with the emergence of Rhythm and Blues…
The Message clearly narrates Hip Hop and Rap music and the way it influenced (and continues to affect) popular culture in and across the World…this room featured a interactive DJ sales space the place we had been in a position to choose from one among 3 completely different rappers after which rap together with them. Not surprisingly, the road to this interactive characteristic stayed lengthy (smile).
Rivers of Rhythm featured the contact panels (discovered on the big glass tables) all through the NMAAM theater which permit the consumer to the touch their manner into an artist’s songs and biographies. We downloaded a lot of music to our NMAAM wristbands from these contact panels. By the way each half hour or so a live performance performed on the interactive partitions (that day we jammed to the sounds of Prince, Tina Turner, and James Brown).
And simply earlier than you allow the museum, you’ll discover an artwork gallery that includes the works of very proficient group artists.
There- is also a museum retailer referred to as Amplify which sells lovely NMAAM memorabilia at affordable costs.
By the way in which, Casandra and I had the pleasure of bumping into Left Eye Lopez’s little sister Reigndrop who was on the museum that day making a documentary about her late sister Left Eye Lopez. Right here she is entertaining the foyer crowd in her personal eclectic manner.
Additionally whereas within the foyer we couldn’t assist however discover the tribute to the legendary Tina Turner – who just lately handed – you’ll be able to’t showcase black music with out together with Miss Tina…could she Relaxation in Peace…
All in all, we had the perfect time eva and I might extremely advocate this museum to anybody visiting town of Nashville (or Nash as it’s referred to as).
