The museum features unusual, obscure and rare instruments such as a Spanish bugle, a Contrabass serpent, a Bullroarer, Pocket violins, Snake charmers, Didjeridu and Hurdy-gurdies. The John Donaldson Collection of Musical Instruments displays Wind, String and Percussion instruments in crowded Victorian cases and includes an interactive Sound Laboratory beside the Reid Concert Hall. The Raymond Russell Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments contains richly decorated exhibits dating from 1586 to 1840 and is situated near the oldest auditorium in Scotland, St Cecilia's Hall at Niddry Street, Cowgate.