I just got back from Berlin, an incredible city no matter what your interests might be.  Of course I visited the Museum of Musical Instruments and took a few pictures.  I was very impressed with the museum; very large open spaces with room to see the instruments from all angles in their glass cases or in the case of the keyboard instruments in the open.

There are instruments by Steiner, Tielke, Gélas, Stauffer and other very relevant historic makers.  The audio guide includes recordings from many of the instruments and from time to time concerts are offered on those instruments that can safely be played.

I have never been interested in making violins but if I make one someday it will be a kit or pochette.  For some reason I find these fascinating and would enjoy the challenge of making one that would sound nice.  The kit was used apparently by dance teachers to save cost, space and obviously wear and tear on a good violin they might have.  We can imagine also that these might be used by musicians also to practice if noise were an issue.  The word pochette and probably even kit come from the words for pocket where the violin was carried in the long pockets of the coats they wore back then.  The one that looks like a normal violin actually has a very small chamber which you can see from the back and a full top and half sides.  This kind of defeats the purpose  of a kit but maybe the intentions were different.

A few low-key 😉 exhibits appropriate for children and a decent meal for an excellent price in the cafeteria downstairs made this one of the highlights of our trip to Berlin.