‘Musical petting zoo’ makes its stop at Grandview Library
The Grandview Library took on an unusually musical tone Thursday afternoon as kids played the flute, banged on drums and strummed guitars.
Since the beginning of the year, dozens of instruments have been making the circuit of various Glendale libraries on a mission to have kids pick them up and play.
So far, library officials have spent close to $6,000 on acquiring the instruments thanks to a grant that three Grandview librarians sought through an internal program that aimed to fund innovative programs.
PHOTOS: Music hits the Grandview Library
Arpine Eloyan, along with Kristine Markosyan and Lessa Pelayo-Lozada, teamed up to bring music into the library.
Eloyan hopes one day the instruments will be available for residents to check out regularly, along with books, CDs and other materials.
“Why not musical instruments as well?” she asked.
For now, they’re traveling around Glendale in what’s known as a “musical petting zoo” to allow children to gain familiarity with guitars, drums, bongos, xylophones, mini-harps, maracas, tambourines, flutes, trumpets, recorders and even a gong.
“A lot of kids have been playing computer games for so long,” she said, noting she’s witnessed many kids hear an instrument’s sound for the first time at the library.
Toll Middle School eighth-grade student Matthew Moyer, a library volunteer, agreed.
“It’s mostly kids that have never picked up an instrument in their life,” he said.
Musicians have also made the rounds to many Glendale libraries to instruct kids in informal workshops.
Next week, musician Craig Newton will visit the Casa Verdugo Library at 6:30 p.m. on May 14 when the instruments make a stop ahead of their visit to the Brand Library on June 7.
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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.
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