Musical Instruments Museum Edinburgh (Edinburgh University)

Situated at Edinburgh University in the U.K., Musical Instruments Museum Edinburgh is one of the well-known museums known for keeping a collection ancient music instruments. Its collections are housed at St Cecilia Hall. Such collections include ancient keyboard and plucked strings that are part of Edinburgh University’s Collection of Historic Musical Instruments (MIMEd). The sister collection is on display at the Reid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments. As part of the museum’s Redevelopment Project, the two collections were brought together as one, creating a single visitor destination at the Reid Concert Hall. There are plans by MIMEd to re-open St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments in September 2016.

All main types or music sound-making devices are represented in the collection. There are approximately 5000 objects in the permanent collection. Such includes typical models of music instruments spanning over 500 years. MIMEd’s African music instruments collection includes the goblet drum from Egypt, kalimba from South Africa and the bowl lute from West Africa.

The instruments are supplemented by an archive of original materials, working papers and a sound archive. The collections were primarily established for music instrument research and academic instruction, but through hands-on research for publication, and making technical drawings, building replica instruments, demonstrations, recording are encouraged and facilitated by MIMEd staff.

The Reid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments is open to members of the public twice weekly on Saturdays from 10h00am until 13h00pm and Wednesdays at 15h00pm until 17h00pm.