Why should China's ancient musical instruments be kept in museums?

Why should China's ancient musical instruments be kept in museums?

1952, the first modern musical instrument museum in China, the Music Exhibition Room of China Conservatory of Music, was established, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in China folk music. Since then, with the efforts of the government, professional musicians and music culture lovers, China Music Museum and Musical Instrument Museum have been established and flourished. At present, a number of comprehensive, thematic and minority musical instrument museums have been established, which are for the public, for academics, for professional discussion and for individuals. The first step for musical instruments to enter the museum is how to classify them systematically. As an institution with both academic discussion and social music education functions, the museum's musical instrument display classification is different from the discussion level of musical instruments. Its classification of musical instruments should not only be logical and normative, but also take into account the flexibility and feasibility in actual operation, and pay attention to the feedback and recognition of visitors to the exhibition effect. By combing the history, categories and musical instrument classification concepts of Chinese Musical Instrument Museums, and combining with the investigation data of several representative musical instrument museums in China, this paper reveals the present situation, forms and characteristics of the display and classification of musical instruments in museums, and expresses some superficial views on the display and classification of musical instruments in museums and related deficiencies in practice.