House of Music - Vienna

Introduction
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I've spent quite a bit of time in Vienna. I've studied there and worked there and holidayed there for months at a time. This means there is not a lot in the city among the main tourist sites that I haven’t done. This museum only opened in 2001, and since I was based in the city at the time, I visited soon after with 2 musical experts in tow. Spread over 3 floors the museum focuses on every aspect ...
...how scientific developments in recent years have helped keep a modern edge on things. There is a lift but it’s small and usually in much demand, so if you can, take the few stairs between the floors.


Thumbs Up for Hands On
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One of the best (and busiest) parts of this museum was the interactive hands on bit just as you went in. It’s a musical version of the Science ... more

Introduction
°°°°°°°°°°°°

I've spent quite a bit of time in Vienna. I've studied there and worked there and holidayed there for months at a time. This means there is not a lot in the city among the main tourist sites that I haven’t done. This museum only opened in 2001, and since I was based in the city at the time, I visited soon after with 2 musical experts in tow. Spread over 3 floors the museum focuses on every aspect of music, from the work of Mozart et al to how scientific developments in recent years have helped keep a modern edge on things. There is a lift but it’s small and usually in much demand, so if you can, take the few stairs between the floors.

Thumbs Up for Hands On
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One of the best (and busiest) parts of this museum was the interactive hands on bit just as you went in. It’s a musical version of the Science Museum’s Launch Pad where you can sing into microphones and watch the sound waves on a monitor (Lou and I did a medley of Take on Me, Nellie the Elephant and, erm, All Things Bright and Beautiful). I also found out I can hear marginally more pitches than a grasshopper which is always nice to know. Finally there was a display all about never ending scales - “trick your hearing!” the recorded American woman exclaimed. (Everything in the museum is available in German and English, and some parts in other languages as well).

Sit Down with Britney
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There are no chairs in the above area, so it’s a welcome relief when you round a few corners and come across a darkened alcove which boast comfy, comfy chairs and an interesting mix of Robbie Williams and Britney Spears, and some more classical pieces from Carmen and so on. No screens to look at or toys to play with, just a room full of chairs to put your feet up in for a while.

In Space No One Can Hear You Scream
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..... but lots of space related noises can still be recorded and played for your benefit, from the Apollo 11 take off and recovery, to a monkey in a space shuttle, all are here at the sound gallery. “Let your ears take a walk” as the sign says, and walk they can, though the Tokyo underground, along New York’s Broadway and much more. A great way to explore places you might not get to in real life. You can even create your own CD, but be warned, the nice people in charge will make you BUY it later if you want your own copy.

History Lesson
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On the next floor up, the interactiveness takes a back seat and is replaced instead by a more laid back, calmed down look at some of the greatest composers of all time – Mozart, Beethoven, Hayden and Mahler all have their biographies told (in your choice of German or English) through hand held tape players as you walk around and look at the exhibits. Lots of the items, including a letter Mozart wrote to his father, are just photocopies though, the originals being on display in Salzburg (thought that one over there looked familiar....oh, yeah, saw it the weekend before when we were out in the west).

Be a Conductor
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After the historical info, when your kids are getting restless, simply round the corner and find another game. Visitors can conduct the (albeit virtual) Philharmonic Orchestra of Vienna, but be warned – if you’re not quite up to standard the players might get stroppy. When we went, this wasn’t working, but we informed one of the members of staff and they soon sorted it out. There were enough staff around but they kept to the background a lot of the time – no doubt because this isn’t an art gallery or ornamental museum, and it’s not somewhere that warns you to keep your hands off the exhibits at all times – quite the opposite in fact. A Learning through Playing approach is encouraged and it’s a fun way to do things.

“Stop It, Jessica!”
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Up on the top floor there is a “mind forest” where you can play some more. You can steer musical notes along a roller coaster, play with a rhythm tree and record yourself talking and then go next door and stretch and shape your recording into all sorts of funny sounds – as if they were spoken by Martians or clockwork dolls or monkeys – by anyone but you in fact. We managed to find our phrases, but in doing so we also got to listen to others that had been recorded all day – one which kept occurring being a very American, very annoyed sounding “stop it Jessica!”

Mozart, Mozart and a bit more Mozart
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The Shop. Often the best part of a museum, but definitely not in this case. There was quite a lot on offer, but it all seemed to be Wolfgang themed – pens, CDs, T-Shirts, Figurines, Mugs and the quite disgusting but none the less popular marzipan filled Mozart Kugeln. There were also numerous toy musical instruments on offer which helped ensure this room was no less noisy than any other part of the museum as many a child decided you needed to try before you buy. Prices started at 1 Euro (66p) for a postcard (expensive for the Vienna in general ones – you can get them for 25 cents down on the streets below), up to several hundred pounds for the ornaments.

How Time Flies
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The museum is open 10am to 10pm every day. We went at about 1.30pm on a Sunday and stayed for nearly 4 hours, partly because there was so much to do, and partly because it took as while as it was so crowded with screaming (or singing) kids. We only left because it was time to haul ass to the nearest snack stand to relieve those hunger pains. The museum costs 4.00 EUR for kids aged 6 – 12 (younger than that they used to be free, but now there’s a 2.00 EUR charge for each 3-6 year old). Concessions are 6.50 EUR and Adults 8.50 EUR. Family tickets start at 21.50 EUR for 2 adults and up to 3 children. If you live in the city, season tickets are also available.

It’s walking distance from Karlsplatz and Stephansplatz U-bahns (underground stops), meaning it’s easily accessible with underground lines 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Address : Seilerstätte 30, A1010 Wien

Telephone : +43 1 516 48 51

www.hdm.at

Verdict
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Well worth a visit when you’re in the city, assuming you speak either English or German (and if you don’t, how come you managed reading this far?) as all the displays are explained in both of these languages. Go early or late to avoid the crowds, and if you’re likely to get peckish, take a snack as the restaurant looked pretty expensive. It's an interesting, unusual museum for the little 'uns, whether or not they have previously expressed an interest in all things musical, and who knows? It might unearth some natural talent you never knew existed in the little dears.
 

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