I had a truly memorable Memorial Day weekend this past May of 2023. The goal was to visit my big sister Casandra who moved to Nashville almost a year ago. And of course to see her daughter MoNa, her son-in-law Kevia and their rambunctious 6 year old son, Harlem.
Memorial Day is not called the “unofficial start to Summer” for nothing. It seems as if everybody and their grandmother (smile) was driving that weekend on the road, flying in the air, or using some mode of public transportation during this much anticipated prelude to Summer.
What usually happens when we now adult Hollis children go to a new place or space to visit family, is we try and incorporate at least one African American cultural activity into the trip.
In this case it was easy, almost too easy: a trip to the National Museum of African American Music or NMAAM as it is referred to. NMAAM is conveniently located in downtown Nashville so we did not have to travel far as my sister Casandra lives only about 15 to 20 minutes outside the city limits.
Parking the car in a garage was pretty steep ($45) and you really have no choice if you drive as there is very little if any available street parking downtown.
The ticket prices to the museum (which we ordered online on the NMAAM website the night before) were $24.95 for Adults (me) and $18.75 for Senior Citizens (Casandra). Just so you are aware, the rest of the ticket prices are as follows: $18.75 for Students and Teachers with ID, Military and Senior Citizens; $13.50 for Museum Guests aged 7 to 17 and Free for Visitors 6 years of age and under.
While there, for just $5.00 more you will receive a NMAAM wristband which allows you to download multiple genres of music (up to 500 songs!) to create your own music playlist as you touch and explore your way throughout the museum. This music link is sent to your email address a week or so later for you to download to your Apple or Spotify account. Very cool!
Incidentally, NMAAM also offers visitors an annual membership with lots of special perks and education and programs for groups and special outings.
The NMAAM brochure tells you it takes 90 minutes to explore the museum (as it features timed admission) but it took me and Casandra 3 hours as there is so much to see and do! By the way, there is no extra charge if it takes you longer than the 90 minutes (smile).
The museum is broken up into 6 rooms which each feature a different genre of music and its history.
It is fascinating to discover just how intertwined the music is with the historical happenings of each era.
The Roots Theater focuses on African American history and its music.
Wade in the Water (one of my personal favs) showcases how gospel music and its rich history has more than influenced religious music. This gallery featured an interactive room where me and Casandra went in, donned the requisite church choir robes and stood in front of the Green Screen so we could sing along with the Gospel Choir. The ending was sweet as we were both magically inserted into the Gospel Choir (smile). We saved this download to our NMAAM wrist band so we could view it later on at home.
Crossroads chronicles the time in the Deep South (and after slavery) when work songs and field songs (i.e., the Blues) was prevalent.
A Love Supreme highlights the Jazz era in African American music and culture.
One Nation Under A Groove records the time following World War I with the emergence of Rhythm and Blues…
The Message clearly narrates Hip Hop and Rap music and how it influenced (and continues to influence) pop culture in and around the World…this room featured a interactive DJ booth where we were able to select from one of 3 different rappers and then rap along with them. Not surprisingly, the line to this interactive feature stayed long (smile).
Rivers of Rhythm featured the touch panels (found on the large glass tables) throughout the NMAAM theater which allow the user to touch their way into an artist’s songs and biographies. We downloaded lots of music to our NMAAM wristbands from these touch panels. Incidentally every half hour or so a concert played on the interactive walls (that day we jammed to the sounds of Prince, Tina Turner, and James Brown).
And just before you leave the museum, you will notice an art gallery featuring the works of very talented community artists.
There- also is a museum store called Amplify which sells beautiful NMAAM memorabilia at reasonable prices.
By the way, Casandra and I had the pleasure of bumping into Left Eye Lopez’s little sister Reigndrop who was at the museum that day creating a documentary about her late sister Left Eye Lopez. Here she is entertaining the lobby crowd in her own eclectic way.
Also while in the lobby we could not help but notice the tribute to the legendary Tina Turner – who recently passed – you can’t showcase black music without including Miss Tina…may she Rest in Peace…
All in all, we had the best time eva and I would highly recommend this museum to anyone visiting the city of Nashville (or Nash as it is called).
