There won’t be any farm animals grazing around the lobby of the Lake Arrowhead Resort listening to music on April 21.
Don’t expect to hear tigers roaring, either.
But there will be plenty of chances to explore the fun-filled world of music one instrument at a time.
The Blue Jay Jazz Foundation invites kids and their parents to a musical adventure like no other at the Lake Arrowhead Resort on Sunday, April 21 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
At the popular ‘Petting Zoo,’ children won’t need much prodding to touch, blow, pluck, bow or strike a variety of instruments.
The instruments are part of a music education experience made possible by Music and Arts, a retail chain that also offers instrument rentals, music lessons and instrument repair at their locations nationwide.
“Petting Zoos are a good way to expose kids to different instruments,” said retail district manager Karissa Johnson.
“Zookeepers” Johnson and assistant Kirk Pasley will lay the instruments out on two or three long tables and people can come by, pick them up and try them out.
Johnson said Petting Zoo participants can get introduced to instruments they may have never seen before or experienced. She said they will explain to the kids background information about the various instruments. All ages are welcome to attend.
“It’s very kid-friendly,” said Chris Levister, Blue Jay Jazz Foundation president. “That’s what the whole Petting Zoo idea is, where they can actually get to touch the instruments. It’s going to be noisy.”
The event is sponsored by Wheeler Steffen Sotheby’s International Realty.
There will be no roving animals at the Petting Zoo, but owner Paul Steffen said it’s a good way to get music education in the schools.
“You can show them pictures in class or pass around an instrument, but when you give it to them to play it makes it real,” Steffen, said. “It is truly a lifelong learning experience.”
Among the instruments children could hold and play are brass, woodwind, percussion and orchestral string instruments.
Following the Petting Zoo, the Rim of the World High School Jazz Band will perform in concert under the direction of Kari Stebbing.
“This will be our third year putting on the event,” said Stebbing, the high school’s music director. “The Blue Jay Jazz Foundation is funding this event so we can play for the community and show them why we are a good cause to donate to – through the Foundation.”
Stebbing described the Petting Zoo as “a super cool event the Foundation began last year in which we provide instruments for young kids to try out and experiment with.
“It’s a great way to get kids interested in music and was something that was very special last year.”
A $10 contribution is requested from adults for the event, tagged as “Bump Up the Band.” Students are admitted free. All proceeds will benefit the Rim of the World Unified School District bands.
More information is available at www.bluejayjazz.org.
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