Absolutely spectacular walk through the history of Canadian music. This is a must see if you're visiting Calgary. For lovers of music this is like heaven. 5 stars! read more

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Studio Bell is the Home of the National Music Centre and is a cultural institution for all of Canada. This 160,000 ft, $168 million project opened on Canada Day 2016 around the historic King Edward Hotel, Calgary's legendary home of the blues. Admission is $24.50, reduced for children & seniors, we purchased a headset and the Canadian Hall of Fame as well.. Inside is the NMC Gift Shop & Café. There are 5 floors of exhibitions that tell the story of music in Canada, celebrate music icons at 4 Canadian Halls of Fame, rock out at interactive instrument installations & contain North America's most eclectic musical instrument collection. There are recording studios, family events, the CKUA radio station and venue rentals. There was so much to see I didn't realize Joni Mitchell, Paul Anka, Bryan Adams , Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain, The Weeknd, Neil Young ...were Canadian. The building itself is beautiful. Our headset also told us about the design and architecture here. read more

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I'd heard some mixed reviews about Studio Bell so I went into my first visit a bit skeptical and I'm happy to report, I was pleasantly surprised! This is a great addition to Calgary's downtown and a must visit for out of town guests (and locals) interested in music and museums. Admission is pay what you can which is awesome. I love that they want to make the collection accessible to all. The recommended admission amount is $20 for adults. If you can afford to pay that, it is absolutely worth the price. The biggest surprise for me was how hands-on the exhibits are. Every room had something you could touch, play with, or listen to. A lot of that is geared toward younger visitors but I still got some enjoyment out of it as an adult. In addition to more historical features, the permanent exhibits have a strong emphasis on local and Canadian artists. There are also enough temporary exhibits that I'm sure you can visit a couple times a year and it will still feel fresh. read more

A hidden gem in downtown Calgary. If you have any interest in Canadian music history this museum will not disappoint.... read more

Calgary University and Alberta Health had an event here. They picked this venue to do a talk on DNA and DNA community testing. The talk was very inspiring. Bell Studio is located downtown near the Calgary Library. It is easy to get to by C-Train. Just a few minute walk from City Hall Station. They have really excellent sound and audio equipment. Inside was super nice. It is a beautiful architecture. The talk was at the Memorial Stage and the only fall back was the available seats. The seats are all theater style. The building has multiple floors and I am sure they have other events here during other times. Great addition to the East Village Community. I believe the building was built in the last couple of years. read more

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If you are a local or a tourist, you need to go visit this museum ASAP. I mean most of the music artists in Hollywood today are Canadian and this museum dedicated to them has been long due!!!! Loved all their collections. The best part about the museum is that you can play any instrument. The sections are built in every floor very thoughtfully. We spent about good 2 hours here inside the museum. read more

Studio Bell - an acoustic guitar on display - Music Venues Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

What a fun and unique place! Lots of interactive exhibits. A celebration of Canadian artists. Architecture is incredible. Also the coffee shop is exceptional! read more

Recently opened and distinctly modern amidst Calgary's more aged architecture, the National Music Centre at Studio Bell pays tribute to Canada's contributions to music throughout the decades, a wider variety of artists than many might think including everything from classical to modern DJs. Currently showcasing Tom Cochrane, though the collection of novelties includes everything from Rush's Hockey Night In Canada Drum Kit and Shania Twain's sparkly stage attire, exhibits range from educational to interactive as music from Neil Young or The Tragically Hip fills the air. Priced competitively to similar Museums, though obviously not as well-stocked as Cleveland's Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame or Seattle's EMP, be sure to set aside at least two-hours to peruse leisurely and be sure to pay attention to the thrilling angles, floorplan and acoustics along the way. read more

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Came here for their adult evening = Studio Bell after hours. It was great! They dim the lights and have live music/djs playing in different rooms. Great atmosphere for exploring the music museum (5 floors total). Many instruments to play with and make music. There are also stations where a video will instruct you on how to play a specific instrument (e.g piano, guitar, drums). Bonus is that at every station (educational or practice) there are 1-2 headphones to minimize noise pollution. There's even a sound booth that will record you singing "karaoke" to see how well your vocals are. Ahem, "do-rae-mi..." During these evenings, snacks and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are available for purchase (cash only). Lots of fun. Beautiful architecture. Highly recommended. Ps. Purchase tickets in advance as it will/can be sold out. Best part... No kids running around Hehe. read more

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The Cantos Music Foundation is a gem for music lovers and music history aficionados. Located close to downtown Calgary, it's something I can honestly say I never knew existed, if not for a First Thursday Art Walk where it was one of the stops on the tour. Cantos bills itself as "a national catalyst for discovery, innovation and renewal through music." They have one of the most impressive musical instrument collections in the country, plus a fantastic event space and musical educational program. They now own the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame collection that's on display at Stampede Park, and are currently working on converting the old King Eddy Hotel into the brand new National Music Centre. I've only ever done the public tour, which is offered every Sunday at 1:30 or 3 p.m. and every Thursday at 6 p.m.: http://www.cantos.ca/node/786 On the public tour, you get to see, learn about, and even play some of the instruments from their collection. If you're a piano or keyboard lover, this is the closest thing to heaven you'll ever experience. There are harpsichords from the 1800's on display, pianos from every era, a massive organ that has to be heard to be believed, as well as a piano formally owned by Elton John. The best part is that most of the instruments are playable by the public! I keep meaning to go back one day, brush up on my piano, and play the theme to Phantom of the Opera and the Linus and Lucy theme from Charlie Brown on one (or more) of the keyboards. They also have concerts and special events here every once in a while, and while I've yet to sample some of that, it's on my bucket list. Cantos has a soft spot in my heart ever since I discovered it a few months ago, and I'm always looking for an excuse to go back and visit. The Foundation does so much work in the community, and the programs and events they offer at their facility are just as varied. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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This place is cool, just a quick 10 min walk from our Marriott Downtown hotel I decided to check it out on a beautiful Friday afternoon. The architecture itself is fascinating but I also learnt a lot about many Canadian artists! Thank you for a wonderful visit. read more

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My wife and I decided to try the $10 Date Night special during the 2018 Stampede, so we were able to take in the 5-floor National Music Centre tour and a 7PM Elton John piano demo for $21 total with tax, vs. regular $18/adult general admission. It's a cheap date, and you get to revel in music history and interactive, hands-on exhibits. Stair climbing during the tour also lets you get your daily step count up, if you're into that, but there's also the elevators if you're not. read more

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We were here for a group social in a professional context with several of my colleagues and mentors. Atmosphere was gorgeous and the sound level was excellent for the music - when we chatted and socialized it was easy to converse and hear the other person - very appropriate Food was great, catered. Overall enjoyed this venue. Would book agai read more

I have now been twice to the new max bell and music centre building and I just think it's magical. They really did a fantastic job of setting up the building and I love that they incorporated history with the kink Eddie being attached. all the displays are so fun and memorable for any kind of music lover. I was lucky to attend a date night evening where they had lots of different activity's happening in the building including taco bar, drinks, karaoke and a DJ with dance floor. It was amazing that they had so much music playing at the same time in the building and it didn't cross over to the next section. read more

Love this venue and all the special events they have on. We have a annual membership which is great because we can come and fully immerse ourselves in an activity for a while and not worry about rushing to see everything. There is a lot to see but its not too much. Walks a great line. Adult nights seem to be a hit and are included with our annual subscription which we didn't know when we got it. Great added bonus. When you go, make sure to see the theatre organ played. It is unreal. Depending how many times we go this year, think we will get an annual membership again next year. read more

This place is a treasure! What a fabulous addition to the East Village. Expect to spend a few hours here. There's tonnes to read about favourite music superstars, hands on instruments to give a try, and simply a beautiful building to enjoy. Note to families: floor 4 is the best place to take the kids. Otherwise, they might start to drag their feet. Overall, I wouldn't take my kids again until they are a bit older and able to truly appreciate the greatness which is Canadian music. read more

Keyboards, pianos, harpsichords... oh my! Have you been on a tour of Cantos yet? If you haven't, this is something you've got to see. It was a stop on last Thursday's artWalk with Art. Over 200 instruments are in this location and most are keyboard-based. From the earliest pianos to more recent keyboards and synthesizers, the music lover in me was captivated, and the engineer in a couple of other tour-goers seemed to be enthralled as well. The tour itself was well orchestrated, our tour guide incredibly knowledgeable about each of the instruments she showed us, and equally as talented in her demonstrations of some of them! For the life of me I cannot remember the names of the instruments (guess I'll just have to go back), but my favourite ones were the one-man band/organ and the instrument that played solely based on radio frequencies. The organ bit took up almost an entire room and used to be housed in theatres from days of yore when music was played live during a motion picture. The organ player could control a multitude of instruments from strings to percussion from one place. A more detailed description of it wouldn't even begin to do it justice. But experiencing it first-hand sure would! The radio frequency thing was extraordinary! You can control the volume with one hand and the tone and pitch with the other as the waves react with your own natural frequencies (forgive me for not having a more technical explanation). Again, can't really do that one justice. Did I mention Elton John's first piano is also in the collection? At any rate, the tour has convinced me to explore more of Cantos. It was 100% brilliant. Time for a concert :). read more

Studio Bell is now open (atleast the East side - the King Edward side was not open yet). The National Music Centre is a first of it's kind for Canada and they have done an amazing job and built the most amazing building to live in. Walking around the museum is like walking inside an sculpture. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing that the building gets a lot of attention - because the exhibits are all wonderful but I was pretty taken with the architecture. Somehow they built this amazing thing around the King Edward as a way of preserving the historical significance. Something that's difficult for someone of my generation because the King Edward doesn't equate to legendary music because it was well on its way to being condemned by the time it got my notice. This part wasn't reopened so I'm interested to see the rest of the studio and figure out what Calgary lost before I came of age. On to the collection - I'd seen the Cantos collection before it closed to the public (and got significant flood damage) and I recognized a few things here and have confirmed this is the new home. There are some very funky instruments that are either one of a kind or of a bygone era. The new complex houses the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Hall of Fame. There is performance space and recording space. This is space for restorations and places where you can play and experiment like one might at a science centre. There is a Rosso cafe and I hear more retail and food might come in the other side. Overall it's a VERY diverse complex and a beautiful space all to celebrate and explore music (something that is often ignored and really shouldn't be). Very cool to see this place added to the east village and expand the cultural exposure available to us and our children. read more

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This place is so neat! My only time viewing the museum space was part of a guided tour with Jim Magas and Nate Young during 2012 Sled Island. I can't even get over the collection they have, from the orchestra organ that runs along an entire wall, to the synth that Pink Floyd used to record Dark Side of the Moon. If it has keys, they have it! The best part is that this museum is hands on! Plink and plonk away on any set of keys, unless there is a sign telling you not to because it is the only one in the world. I can respect that. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, I will definitely be coming back to spend a longer time wandering the space. read more

This is an amazing place to visit and learn about music! So many things to see and learn about. Very modern building with five floors of exhibitions with really cool things to see. What I like the most of this place is that it is interactive. You can play the guitar, drums, or piano with headphones so you don't disturb the other visitors. You will see a video with the explanation of the instrument and how to play it, there is beginner, intermediate and advance mode. There is also another section with three big pianos available for you to play them. If you go visit this place (which you should) don't forget to take the guided tour, it really adds a lot of meaning and helps to have a better knowledge about the collections they have and why they have them. Tours are offered from Wednesday to Sunday at 11am, 12:30 pm and 2pm. Go for the 2pm tour and stay for the demonstration of the Kimball Theatre Organ, it is a unique experience; the live demos are Wednesday to Sunday at 3pm. In the fifth floor there is something called solar drones. There are 16 resonating wooden vessels built from pianos that were unfortunately destroyed during the 2013 flooding. Now they are turned into pieces that produce sounds powered by the sun; the sunnier it is, the louder you will hear them. I can't say enough good things about this place, just go and experience it by yourself! Also, there is street parking available nearby. read more

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Go for the music, revel in the architecture! We thoroughly enjoyed this museum and the space they have developed. It's Stampede weekend, so perhaps that was the reason there weren't a lot of patrons. Still, we loved seeing people read the display information and kids trying out the hands-on exhibits. If we lived here, we would definitely buy a membership. There's so much to see and enjoy - too much for one visit! Seriously, guys. Make space for a gift shop. Trite, right? But there was so much cool stuff in the museum . . . read more

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This is a beautiful space. A great addition to the Calgary downtown skyline. The architecture is wonderful and the acoustics were perfect. I attended a Christmas party in the main atrium last week and was blown away by the space. I can't wait to come back to walk through the museum. Definitely a must see for architecture alone. read more

Studio Bell - Music Venues Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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What a treasure for our country and for music. This museum is well worth a visit and plan to spend some time. It's visually and aurally stimulating with many hands on displays. Definitely will be coming back with friends and family in tow. read more

Studio Bell - Music Venues Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Absolutely loved Studio Bell. It's a must see. Allow your self at 2/3 hours to go through as there are 4 floors and every floor has something different. Loved the interactive portions as then its not just a dry museum. Absolutely loved the sound booth (just needs to have the words for the songs follow along better to the songs). And can even play instruments and there is a play centre for the younger kids. Decent parking on the Street by the old Simmons building. There is a coffee place inside on the main floor. The London Fog with soy was good, but a bit weak (watered down.....maybe the type of tea they use?). read more

NMC is a great learning experience, the historical collection is well preserved in an age where most stuff goes to the dump. We recently attended a session on Garnet guitar amplifiers hosted by Mike Watson, musician extraordinaire. Thanks to the Cantos and their staff and volunteers for putting on such educational features. A good time was had and a few video recordings made to capture that authentic Winnipeg sound. Thanks again the Mike and Brian Mills for making us feel right at home. Ps, thanks to others who were there and expressed appreciation for the Garnets and the staff. garnetboy read more

Cantos Music Foundation is actually kind of the coolest ever. While I haven't been on one of its tours yet, I recently got to experience Cantos for a show on a Tuesday night. I went to go and see the gorgeous band, The Once, from Newfoundland, which I believe was put on by Calgary Folk Festival. I was running late, and was really rushing to get to this show on time as I didn't want to miss a thing. I stalked this band all throughout the Canmore Folk Fest this summer and couldn't wait to watch them again! When I arrived at Cantos, I was taken aback by the relaxed and intimate setting of everything. I checked with with the ladies as a ticket was waiting for me. There were about four or five rows of chairs set up facing the stage, enough for all the ticket holders- that was it. It was perfect. The show started on time, and The Once was the only band playing. They had this incredible, humble command over the room, and everything became very still and beautiful. They played half their set, took an intermission, and played the remainder of their set. It ran incredibly smoothly, and the sound was amazing for this kind of folksy band. The setting was so intimate, that after the show, Geraldine, Phil, and Andrew simply stepped off the stage and were immersed in the crowd. Upon purchasing their newest album, my friend and I were able to chat with them for a good while following the show and it was really nice and friendly. I couldn't see this happening so neatly at any other venue in Calgary. Therefore, Cantos is now one of my favourites, next to Knox. Anyone wanna check out a tour of Cantos with me sometime soon?! :) PS. Here's a video of The Once singing an accapella Leonard Cohen cover. Swoooon! Don't like them toooo much though, or else next time I see them it might have to be a larger setting than at Cantos. Bummer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bfkzKHeoBY read more

What a place. Music history and so much to study. Right up my alley. Give it a go next time you are in Calgary.