Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre — Attraction in Calgary

I recently had the opportunity to visit Studio Bell, the home of the National Music Centre in Calgary, and it was an experience I won't soon forget. Here are my thoughts:

Ambiance and Design Architectural Marvel: The building itself is a stunning blend of modern design and historical elements. The use of glass and brick creates an inviting atmosphere. Spacious Layout: The open spaces allow for easy navigation, and each exhibit flows seamlessly into the next.

Exhibits and Experiences Diverse Collection: The range of exhibits showcases the rich history of Canadian music, from Indigenous sounds to contemporary genres. I was particularly fascinated by the display of vintage instruments. Interactive Stations: The hands-on exhibits were a highlight for me. Playing various instruments and engaging with music technology truly enhanced my visit. Live Performances: I was lucky enough to catch a live performance in the Bell Studio. The acoustics were incredible, making the experience even more memorable.

Educational Opportunities Workshops and Events: I appreciated the variety of workshops offered, catering to all skill levels. It’s a great way to learn more about music and its impact on culture. Knowledgeable Staff: The staff members were friendly and well-informed, eager to share their passion for music and answer any questions I had.

Conclusion Overall, my visit to Studio Bell was an enriching experience. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in music or looking to explore Calgary's cultural scene. I left feeling inspired and eager to dive deeper into the world of music. I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance! It's worth the trip for the view and architecture alone! One of the best attractions in the...

The Architecture is off the scale - where could you ever hope to find something better than this place. But now the tough part - the reason fir the architecture - music and Canadian accomplishment on display are watered down antiques - and sone photos I myself could use a bit more than a pipe organ and big series of plaque mount photos - and a few earphone interactive sites.. Maybe I’m unrealistic but dam it I want more for 6 floors about music - great architecture yes and yet $15 each person upon entry plus absolute nutty parking requirements just across the alley.

Many of the displays I’d seen on previous visits weren’t there. Sharing certain input devices like microphones, keyboards and wearing public headphones given what we just went through - the pandemic - didn’t do it for me this time. Nope ! I could have used a more outward or obvious public display and a celebration of musical accomplishment.

Where’s that new fangled music synth keyboard - you know - that's just come out or that new outward bending guitar. It was all over to quickly a lot of empty space - way to quiet - much ado about nothing. Felt like I had geared up for a roast beef dinner and was served dry puff wheat ! My companions - felt let down as well. Great for a first time 12 year old visiting from Whitehorse but I won’t be interested in going back until someone gets some zing in to this place ! Ever heard of Floyd Sneed ? I have ! Ever heard of Taras Kovaliv outward bending guitars ? I have ! Ever heard of Peppertree ? I have ! Maybe I failed you guys because I don’t take my vitamins - I don’t need to toss $45 away in a failed effort to impress my visiting guests again. Good luck - you folks need to do more work...

The elephant in the room is the steep price tag, especially for families or larger groups. At $18 per adult, $14 for youth, and $11 for children, the price can quickly escalate, and you are bound to get more for your dollar at somewhere like the zoo or the science center, especially for young kids. For me, this was a place to come after exhausting all other attractions as a resident of Calgary.

As exhibits go there are some physical exhibits, higher amounts the higher the floor, however a lot of the museum is text on a wall. This isn't going to entertain kids for long. For older, aka over 20, adults this museum is good for evoking nostalgic feelings when seeing a guitar or piano, or maybe a costume worn by a well known musician or band. For children there are some interactive exhibits in the museum, but I found these to be a bit sparse.

The live demonstration of the organ was very engaging for all ages, and was by far the most interesting part of the experience for me.

Overall, this is a good museum to go to for the musically inclined, or someone who has visited almost every Calgary and area attraction already. The 3/5 reflects the museum's lack of physical exhibits, where most of the displays are just text that involves history that could be looked up on Wikipedia. Also, upon getting to the top, expecting the massive skybridge to be something interesting or to hold another exhibit, finding a small and empty stage was disappointing to...