Bell Studio Review

Cool exhibits but many were broken. There was an interactive learn to play guitar but it was out of tune, and was not tunable. Also a dj mixing board that wasn't working either. I wanted to try mixing, but was out of luck. :-(
There was a pipe organ demonstration that blew my socks off. But not sure how often it happens as it was a live performance.

Amazing learning opportunity! Loved learning about Canadian music and being able to play around on the interactive exhibits!!

Our experience was on Canada Day (free admission) so it was INSANE. It would have been nice to be in a group of 10 or less people with hardly anyone else around. Hopefully we can try a calmer day soon. Definitely some cool demonstrations. I missed playing on a harpsichord though!

A little pricey to get into, but the museum itself looks really nice! It is a good date place, and has a lot of activities and space to just hang around, take pictures, and learn about Canada's history in the music industry and learn about music itself.

An interesting museum and displays.... The pipe organ demonstration was very well presented... Great for adults

Interesting site to share with children so that they become familiar with music instruments. The voice booths were bad it was pity.

Wonderful
Most impressed museum of years.

This was an amazing experience! I am so proud as a Calgarian to have this in our city. Staff were friendly and informed, the facility was clean and top of the line! Very impressive will absolutely be back and have been reccomending this to all my friends.

Great place to admire the history and beauty of music

Not sure what I was expecting but the actual visit surpassed all my expectations. Great mix of Canadiana and music history. Full range of genres and eras, something for everyone. Seeing all the costumes was really cool! Also enjoyed all the interactive displays.

If you think it's beautiful from the outside, wait till you go in! The interior mimics the inside of a guitar and the exhibits will keep you entertained the whole day. Join a guided tour--it's free! Then explore each floor on your own. Every musician and music fan will love this interactive museum.

Learned so much, plus lots of cool interesting stuff to keep you intrigued.

I enjoyed my time here, there are a number for interactive displays, but far fewer than you'd expect from a music museum. The displays include antique instruments which were interesting to learn about. But a surprisingly large portion is dedicated to celebrity history, memorabilia, and costumes. Some people may find that really interesting, but I've never been huge into following celebrities.

If you plan on going, check the schedule for events! The tickets can be pricey and I'd say only go if they are doing some sort of demonstration. We where lucky enough to drop by when they were showing off a theater organ, very cool.

I'd say its only worth the price if something is going on that day.

Great learning experience of our own music history!

I recommend StudioBell for everyone!

You will enjoy StudioBell s uniqueness and ingenuity to curate musical icons and treasures. It powerfully delivers messages of music s effect through landscapes, time, and people. If for but one moment, we forget the outside world and realize how minuscule our part is in a universal story that expands through time and history without much use of words but through the abstract feeling of notes and sounds.

I'm glad that there is a place to recognize and honour the contributions of Canadian musicians however the Bell exhibits are too static. Additionally, there is no quided or organized route through the 5 floors of displays. You just wander around the floors and reading the limited signage and small cryptic notes about some of the displays. I would have enjoyed reading more about some of the folks but it assumed that you are familiar with the artist and his/her works. The building is beautiful but the exhibits left me disappointed.

Excellent architecture. Daily passes are pricey, but annual passes are very affordable

Firstly, I will echo the comments of most everyone on here, the architecture is AWESOME. There are tons of cool wall/curves, and shapes. I don't even know how the designers can come up with stuff like this, it truly is great work. However, that is where fun ends. Yes, so that I am clear, the best part of the National music center is the Civil engineering/design of the building. The exhibits fall within 2 categories.. stuff you can do and stuff you can look at.

The stuff you can "do " seems to fall sort, as some items were broken, and many things where just far to shallow. There was , for example a room with some stuff to play, a small guitar, a xylophone, and a few other things. However, it was like 50$ worth of stuff form Walmart, and there was no context to this room it was just a room with stuff, for kids (and the kids didn't seem interested). In another room, they use motion tracking and hand moments (Microsoft kinect?) to make sounds, which sounds neat, until you get bored after 9 seconds, because all it goes is make a single sound, and all you can do with that sound is bend the pitch up and down a little bit ( what did the intern program this on his lunch break?). There are these touch screens everywhere to listen to things on headphones, but to be honest, many of the things on the screen didn't have sound with them, .. so what is the point in that?

The Other experience was "stuff to look at" this amounts to everyday things that some celebrity person did something with. For example , . a costume from the 1988 olymipcs. Some people who are in to celebrity culture might find this engaging, regrettably I don't.

The biggest problem in my mind is that the whole set up is completely antithetical to idea of music. Music is a language, and it is a social experience. It is something to be done with other people , and for other people, and yet everything in the building is designed to isolate people. There isn't one place were you can sit with 2-3 people people and play music. This in my mind is the biggest failing of the project, Music has always been something that bridges gaps between people, or all cultures, heritage, age, gender, ect... and yet a solo experience here is indistinguishable from going as a group.

If you want to have more fun, and a better music experience .. head to your local music store, play with synth there, a guitar, or 10, and you will have a much better time.

Fun, interactive exhibits, the least boring museum I have ever been to. The Kimball organ was pretty cool and the player was very talented. Fun experience, spent around three hours there.

Wonderful facility and staff. Lots to do. Gourmet coffee downstairs and a number of interactive rooms. Gorgeous architecture!

I found this Place really full of fun. I can play a bit instruments and its peculiarity it s that Is interactive and that a person can effectively play all the instruments known. The cost Is not so much but Is not what I could call cheap.

It is a good option under cover. In three hours you manage to cover everything. The building is very nice architecturally. In several rooms you can play the instruments.

Visited this place with my best friend not too long ago. Admission fee wasn't that bad but that was because we had an advantage with the student admission fee. I love the building's layout and archeticture. It's a good place to take Instagram pictures. There was a lot of interesting instruments. They have some interactive activities/sections/booths but I also found that they have a lot of empty rooms with just stickers/paintings/posters on the wall. We still enjoyed our time in there though. I think we spent 2 hours in there.

Great place to go with the family or on your own. The tour is well worth the time and it s amazing to learn about Canadian Music history. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. If you have a chance to hear the Kimball Theatre Organ play after the tour it s amazing!

This collection of music history is second to none. The restoration projections and original instruments they have with colourful local and international history is amazing. The live performances with historic instruments was interesting. If your a local or visiting Calgary you will find this is an Achitecture amazing building inside and out with excellent historic exhibits. You will not regret spending time here if you have any interesting is music or Achitecture.

It's a fascinating place for those who play and appreciate music. There's really something for all ages here, as there are interactive activities and unique instruments to try :)

For a non-musical person, this was awesome. Loved banging on the drums!

Worse experience ever. We went for the concert, lack of orgsnizstion, no air-condition venue when outside was 34C. Awful experience not recommended ever to visit this place, Shame, shame, shame.

Disappointing as a field trip for our Grade 3 daughter. I'm not sure how much the school payed for them to attend, but apparently it was "too short, and too rushed". Two hours to explore the facility and engage the children just isn't enough time. "We literally had to run around the 5th floor to see what was there!" was the comment my daughter gave when I asked her about her experience..

I have been there many times and have not been able to fully enjoy it.

Excellent exhibits show casing Canada's musical contribution to the world. The after hours night is also great fun!

Went for a Private Reception before it opened but we were allowed to tour a bit of the Museum, cannot wait to go back and see the finished product

Loved it! Keep in mind, there is a coffee shop in the same building but you can't bring any coffee to the exhibition area. I recommend to look for events and show times before coming, these are interested to see too.

Thank for allowing us to experience the National Music Museum for free during these tricky times.

I went with a friend of mine and we had a blast. When we entered the building, the person at the front desk informed us of a music show that was starting soon. They had a series of bands that were all fantastic, the walls of the bulding seem to have been built to allow everyone in the building to hear the music no matter where they are. There were many interactive instruments and activities. It was really fun, definitely something to check out on a free day.

If you like music or museums, this place is an absolute must!

Lots of great things to see and do! Best part was seeing Fred Penner live!

The building itself is worth the price of admission. It's part instrument museum, part Canadian music museum, along with music Hall of Fame. We loved seeing the "public" piano that is out for people to play. There were some very talented visitors the day we were there. There's something for people of all ages.

Some very cool stuff sad to see they arw doing a Reno on Canadian country.

Lovely museum, beautiful selection of instruments and artifacts, and lovely explanations. It was a lovely experience visiting here, I would wholeheartedly recommend it!

Very interesting music museum in downtown. This is the Hall of Fame of Canadian Music. $15 entry for seniors! Can spend a lot of time here and there are frequent live shows. This is worth a visit especially if you are a fan of Canadian Country Music. Nice coffee shop to left of entrance.

Very informational, and reason for adults and especially students. Great information about music in general, how some instruments work, and well-known Canadian musicians. Would recommend to go

fantastic place! amazing architecture of the building, a fully multimedia exhibition, great for both children and adults, everyone will have great fun. Its brings tears to my eye mentioning old, great hits... One drawback... not enough Alanis Morissette!

Interesting museum.and building. Lots of hands on exhibits good for kids too.

A stunning and architecturally interesting building for concerts or gatherings or any kind.

Really cool architecture with interesting and interactive exhibits. Definitely worth a look if you're already in the area!

Went to see Sue Foley. Fantastic room. Excellent set up and fantastic acoustics. Love this venue.

With just a short amount of time spent there, I can see this place is phenomenal on a national level. I came wait to go back!
Music museum, CKUA radio, recording space, beautiful performance space with incredible sound quality, and amazing architecture.

The Calgary Philharmonic concert is spectacular. The building is beautiful

Great place to go whether you're a musician or just someone who enjoys learning

Had a great experience at the Studio Bell!! Amazing architecture

Just aweosme, every time I have stopped in I always learn something new and find inspiration for my own personal music projects.

Finest quality of venue design and concept for a growing national treasure. Beautiful examples of antiquities and programs for all ages and interests.

Very cool place. If at all Into music. Go check it out

Highly recommend the behind the scenes tour! Fantastic museum!

Always worth the visit. The place has a good deal for students so make sure to bring your student ID card.

Fantastic architecture. Informative content. I will definitely visit again.

Excellent museum of Canadian music and musicians and a very good expo of musical instruments. If you visit Calgary I recommend visiting this museum.

I love visiting this place. Something new on every visit. Everything is very hands on and engaging. Great place for all ages, from kids to adults! Also, the NMC hosts a variety of concerts and other events, which are always fun. I highly recommend going at least once; though they do update things frequently, so each visit is unique! And of course - the architecture is absolutely amazing...

Like any museum there will be parts that really interest you and parts that you might wanna skip over. But one part you must see / witness is definitely the Kimball theatre organ demonstration I believe it's 3 pm daily with a second show at 12 on weekends. It's a really great experience and worth the entrance fee alone. Plus you can see amazing relics and outfits!

Interesting architecture, need more time to explore.

Great interactive exibits, absolutely amazing architecture. Patio space above King Eddy is great when it is open.

Lots of fun interactive exhibits. Great display and celebration of amazing Canadian music.
I just don't like how I don't know the names of the songs and artists playing in the background? Every room needs a display of the songs =)

Great history lesson on Canadian music culture. Really loved the demo of the Kimball Organ.

The architectural design and itself is stunningly beautiful

King Eddie is a restaurant now and also attached to Bell Studio; a interactive music museum of instruments, voice, artists, history to present.
This is an all day event. Our feet were too tired to go much further, and stumbled to the attached King Eddie.
Previously years a rough place; has now been rebuilt/ transformed to a small music restaurant venue.
Studio Bell should be given at least 3 hours to experience. Arrive for the interactive and tour delights.

Caught six acts at NMC during Sled Island. The acoustics in the performance space are not to be believed. On par with The Grand. Stunningly good. I liked my time there so much I got an annual membership. I especially love the interactive exhibits in the museum proper. And there is the fantastic Caffe Rosso on the main level!