Take A Tour Of The Museum Of Music Technology

Emerson, Lake & Palmer superfan, Andy Pincus, posing with
Keith Emerson's "World's Most Dangerous Synthesizer"
Do you want to marvel at Keith Emerson's very own Moog synthesizer? Do you also want to hear someone play it live? Are you interested in the history of ARP and Moog synthesizers? Do you want to learn about electronic wind instruments, keytars, guitar synthesizers and electronic drums? Do you want to test drive an electro-theremin yourself just like I did?

If your answer is yes to any of those questions you'll need to visit one of the coolest music museums you'll ever find, the hands-on Museum of Music Technology (MMT) in Harleysville, PA, a small but bustling suburb about forty-five minutes from Philadelphia and only about two minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

MMT is operated by EMEAPP, a 501(c) (3) a privately owned, non-profit organization. Here's their vision statement taken directly from their website. "EMEAPP (pronounced ehm-eee-app) is an acronym that stands for Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project. EMEAPP’s primary mission is to serve as the caretaker of one of the world’s most comprehensive private collections of modular, lead and poly synths, electro-mechanicals, amplifiers, guitars, basses, effects and recording gear."

MMT is a place where you can see the actual guitar Steve Howe used to record "Close to the Edge," a keyboard John Lennon played when he worked with Elephant's Memory, and a synthesizer used by Stevie Wonder with braille letters attached to it.

There are three floors, nineteen galleries and more than seventy exhibits devoted to the pioneers of electronic music including Alan R. Pearlman (ARP), Robert Moog, Wendy Carlos, other early innovators and the musicians who worked with their inventions.

You'll see and maybe even get to touch equipment that once belonged to The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The Who, Genesis, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Oldfield, Frank Zappa, Yes, The Allman Brothers Band, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Kraftwerk and John Lennon. MMT isn't just for classic rock fans. You'll find stuff belonging to Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Oscar Peterson, Al Di Meola, Hans Zimmer, Chick Corea, Laurie Anderson, Bobby Darin, Smashing Pumpkins, Bo Diddley, Harry Connick Jr. and more.

Tours are over two and a half hours long because there's over 33,000 square feet of stuff to see. You can't just walk in and expect to be shown around or take a self-guided stroll through the building. Reservations are required. To keep your visit as personal as possible groups are limited to just ten guests at a time. MMT also offers masterclasses and private sessions for people who want to dig deeper. You can buy tickets and reserve your time slot here.

I've recently become an active MMT volunteer as a tour guide assistant. It's a rewarding experience and a terrific way to learn the history of these revered and often extremely expensive pieces of equipment.

Stevie Wonder's braille adapted synthesizer
a stack of Marshall amps

Steve Howe's "Close to the Edge" guitar

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