Groove to the Rhythm at the National Museum of African American Music

Gospel. Soul. Jazz. Blues. Rock. R&B. Hip hop. Rap. There are so many rhythms you can groove to in Nashville. But there’s one museum I couldn’t help but tap my foot while taking in the amazing sounds. The National Museum of African American Music has it all. You can walk through the progression of music in the African American culture and even test your dancing skills in the studio. Even better, you can build your own playlist of each and every type of music featured at the museum.

If you’re in Music City, USA (a.k.a. Nashville), I recommend blocking out a couple hours to wander the rooms and listen to the grooves of African American music. Here’s a rundown on what you’ll find at this amazing treasure trove of music.

Directions and Tickets to the National Museum of African American Music

The museum is located on the northwest corner of Broadway and Rep. John Lewis Way. So it’s downtown Nashville where all the action is and easy to find. There are two entrances – one on Broadway and the other on Rep. John Lewis Way.

Tickets should be purchased online in advance of your visit. The National Museum of African American Music has a limited number of tickets in each time slot. One of the reasons for the limited number of tickets in each time slot is because your visit begins with a short video presentation in their orientation theater. It’s a decent sized theater, but there are a finite number of seats.

If you didn’t make online reservations in advance, you can still visit the museum. You’ll be subject to the availability they have for that day. If you didn’t reserve your tickets in advance, it’s still worth checking in at the front desk to see if you can snag a time slot while you’re in the area.

When you arrive at the museum and check in at the front, you’ll be given a little bracelet with a microchip in it. Make sure you get one before you head into the theater. I’ll explain a little more about that later on, so keep reading.

The Rhythm of Rivers Corridor

After watching the orientation video in the theater, which really sets the stage for the rest of the museum, you’ll enter the Rhythm of Rivers corridor. There are touchscreen tables that run the length of the room. Interact with them to learn more about the history of African American music. This section will expand on what you learned about during the theater presentation.

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Along the walls, you can watch a moving timeline of African American music and associate it with major events in history. This area of the National Museum of African American Music is full of historical information that will help build a better understanding of the events that shaped the music.

Along the corridor, there are various galleries that highlight different genres of music. I’ll delve deeper into those in the next section.

Galleries with an Interactive Story of Music

Stemming off of the Rivers of Rhythm Corridor are individual galleries that share the culture, evolution and icons in various genres of music. I love how each of the rooms are laid out and the things I was able to learn and interact with during my visit.

These galleries are where the real magic of the museum exists. It’s a place to be inspired by the passion these artists have for the sounds and grooves they created.

Each of the galleries have several touchscreens and headphones. I found myself stopping in each gallery to navigate through a circle of musicians to listen to their sounds. Whether it was gospel, jazz, blues or another genre, you can’t help but be carried away by the music. And as you navigate through the different artists, you can link to new ones you may be less familiar with. The wheels of musicians on the touchscreens show influencers of each of the other artists. It’s easy to get lost listening to selections from several of the artists in a given genre.

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A few of the galleries let you do more than just listen to music… you get to create. I created a fun, toe-tappin’ piece that had lots of rhythm. It was sick! A few touchscreens away, one woman was groovin’ to the music she was listening to and even singing along. In a crowded museum, they do have the headphones for a reason – but sometimes you just get carried away and can’t help but dance or sing.

Each of the galleries is filled with artifacts from famous musicians. For example, one of Louis Armstrong’s trumpets is on display, along with some vinyl records, outfits and more.

Build Your Playlist During Your Visit

Do you remember the bracelet I mentioned earlier on? Well, here’s how you can use it during your visit to the museum to build your own playlist.

As previously mentioned, there are touchscreens throughout the National Museum of African American Music. As you listen to the various artists, you can scan your RFID-enabled wristband to save the music to a playlist. You can add a little Louis Armstrong, Prince, Mahalia Jackson, and many, many more.

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After your visit, you’ll be emailed a link to your playlist. You can then add them to your Spotify account and voila! You’ve got a playlist that will inspire you to recall the amazing history and grooves of the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

The Details

Address: 510 Broadway Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

How long to spend: Plan on at least 90 minutes so you can enjoy all the elements of the museum.

Cost: $24.95 for adults (age 18-64); $13.50 for youth (7-17); $18.75 for seniors (65+), students, military and educators; Children under 7 are free.

Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Tuesdays).

Website: https://www.nmaam.org/

Phone: (615) 301-8724

DISCLOSURE: I received one complimentary admission ticket to the National Museum of African American Music for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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