AMICA

The International Association of Player-Piano, Roll-Playing and Automatic Instrument Enthusiasts

AMICA, (pronounced "Am-ih-cah") the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association is an educational non-profit organization with worldwide appreciation of historic automatic musical instruments.
AMICA provides a lively forum for the sharing of the many aspects of our hobby

What's an Automatic Musical Instrument … a player-piano?
Yes, that's a start - but there's much more ...

Our members' interests vary widely, from collecting instruments and rolls and related items, from fascination with the mechanisms, to interest in the history and the technicians and the artists, to just plain listening to the music of these amazing instruments.
A collection isn't necessary to belong!

AMICA was founded in San Francisco in 1963. Its goal has always been to introduce people from all walks of life to the beauty and value of automatic musical instruments. AMICA has prevented the destruction of many fine rare instruments that have been restored to their former glory. Not only that, but AMICA has placed many instruments in places where the general public can see, hear and enjoy these glorious instruments from the past.

Here are some of the things "AMICAns" do:

	WE SHARE INFORMATION: The AMICA Bulletin is published regularly and offers articles, technical and historic information, biographical sketches, international and chapter news, as well as advertisements of interest to all collectors of automatic musical instruments.
	WE MEET COLLECTORS: The Membership Directory lists fellow members and their collecting interests (available to members only). Local Chapters form a network around the world. These chapters meet regularly to socialize and share common interests in automated mechanical musical instruments.
	WE HOST CONVENTIONS: Annual Conventions are sponsored by local chapters to highlight their local regions and instrument collections. This meeting gives members the chance to enjoy collections, meet and see interesting people, places and things, and they allow AMICAns to make friends with collectors from the world over. Conventions are run by enthusiastic chapter members who share an interest in all aspects of automatic musical instrument collecting. Informative workshops are presented as well as marts where members can buy and sell rolls and other items related to automatic musical instruments.

Happy Holidays from AMICA!
A selection of holiday music shared by
Glenn Thomas, as performed on his WurliTzer 165 Organ.
Arrangements are by Andy Park

Jingle Bells

Here Comes Santa Claus

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer

The Christmas Polka

New members can join AMICA for a year, for half of the regular rate and receive:

Access to the music archives in the AMICA members only area
Invitation to attend the international convention and local chapter meetings allowing you to hear and see amazing instruments in private collections
Meet others interested in automatically playing musical instruments
Receive a .pdf of the beautiful full color bulletin, the official publication of AMICA
Know about Mechanical Music events you may be interested in
Numerous other benefits

Join On-Line Using Paypal
Having a PayPal account is not necessary! When you're re-directed to PayPal, press the "Pay with Debit or Credit Card" link to pay directly and safely by Debit/Credit-Card.

AMICA/MBSI Joint Convention:
Chicago, Illinois, August 20-24, 2025

2025 AMICA/MBSI Joint Convention Announcement

Roll Scanning Archive
The Technology and Craft of Roll Scanning

AMICA, as part of its commitment to preserve historical information about automatic musical instruments, has recognized that digital roll scanning and conversion to MIDI files is an important aspect of this specialty field, and so is curating a new archive featuring the Technology and Craft of Roll Scanning. It is introducing this new archive in a BIG way, by reconstituting Terry Smythe’s old website, Player Piano Rebirth, and is publicly hosting it on the AMICA website making it accessible to all. His old website is a tremendous resource for information on roll scanning. Take a look at AMICA's new Roll Scanning Archive!!

Join AMICA Membership Benefits: AMICA members receive the AMICA Bulletin, our journal of mechanical music, and a printed Membership Directory. Members also have the opportunity to meet others who share their interests through Annual Conventions, and membership in Local Chapters where they can attend meetings and meet mechanical music enthusiasts in their own region.
*Preview our Current Bulletin* *on our* Publications *page*	AMICA PUBLICATIONS FOR SALE
		Encyclopedia of American Coin-Operated Pianos and Orchestrions and Related Instruments. By Arthur A. Reblitz & Q. David Bowers An AMICA-International Publication
		Encyclopedia of America Organettes 1870s-1910s A History, Catalog Raisonné, and Appreciation. By Q. David Bowers An AMICA-International Publication
Focus on AMICA Chapters As published in the AMICA Bulletin Nov-Dec 2024 Besides AMICA membership generally, there are local chapters throughout the United States that you can also join. Chapters meet a few times or more per year. Meetings take place in member's homes, local venues of interest, and virtually. There's a small additional chapter membership fee per household to help fund meetings. If you have a passion for automated musical instruments, whether you own any or not, and are interested in joining a local chapter, you're encouraged to contact the Chapter Officers in your area to find out when/where their next meeting will be: you can usually attend as a guest first too, to see what it's like! You will meet other friendly people who share a common interest in automatic musical instruments! Before joining a local Chapter, you must first be a member of AMICA International. Visit our Membership page for more information on joining!