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The Museum, located in NAMM International Headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., explores the enduring relationship between people, instruments and the music we make in its five galleries depicting more than a century of American music products history. Now, after two months of on-site renovations led by Academy Studios of San Francisco, Calif., Museum visitors are introduced to state-of-the-art interactive musical experiences.

"Breakthrough" musical instruments were added to showcase innovations that significantly impacted music making in a given era. Modern equivalents of the breakthrough instruments are available for guests to play during their visit. The Museum's fifth gallery experienced the most enhancements and now includes nearly 1,100 square feet of cutting-edge interactive displays, giving visitors a chance to make their own music by picking up instruments and playing with others.

"The Museum is alive now, not just with the history of the music industry and the instruments, but now it is alive with people playing music," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM, and Museum of Making Music advisory board member. "People will leave this Museum having played music, and its going to cement it in their brains how important music is."

A special exhibition area was also created to house the Museum's temporary exhibitions, which allow the Museum to share unique stories throughout the year and give guests new and exciting experiences each time they visit.

The renovation also included renaming the Museum's retail store after a generous donation by Ruth Charles, who owned the original Charles Music Store in Glendale, Calif., with her late husband Dick Charles. Instrument donors and sponsors of the renovation project also include: Alternate Mode, Beamz Interactive, Inc., ddrum, Deering Banjos, Drum Workshop, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Flea Market Music, Inc., Korg, Kurzweil Music Systems, Levy's Leathers, Making Music Magazine, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc., The Music Link, Pickworld Guitar Picks, Rees Harps, Inc., Remo Inc., Rickenbacker International Corporation, Roland Corporation U.S., Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, Taylor Guitars, Yamaha Corporation of America.

The Museum of Making Music is located at NAMM International Headquarters at 5790 Armada Drive in Carlsbad, Calif. NAMM members receive free admission to the Museum. General admission to the museum is $8; $5 for students, seniors and active military. Children ages five and under receive free admission. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and is closed Mondays. For more information, please call 760/438-5996 or visit www.MuseumofMakingMusic.org.