A Musical Menagerie

Photograph by John A. Lacko

There are no barnyard animals in the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra’s Instrument Petting Zoo. But there are plenty of things that make lively noises — violins, cellos, flutes, trombones, and snare drums, to name a few.

The traveling zoo, a collection of about 30 musical instruments, makes stops in schools, community centers, and other places where kids congregate in Kalamazoo and nearby towns in southwestern Michigan.

For many children, the petting zoo marks their first contact with a musical instrument — and with the idea that it is possible for them to make music, says Jane Rooks Ross, the orchestra’s director of education.

The zoo was started three years ago. The orchestra was concerned that not enough children were encouraged by parents or other adult role models to play musical instruments, Ms. Ross says.

“If children are not exposed to the idea of playing music on an instrument, it’s easy for them to think they couldn’t do it,” she says. “We wanted to prevent that mindset.”

All of the instruments are donated, and volunteers set up the exhibit and assist the children.

“Every once in a while you’ll see a young person who really connects with an instrument,” Ms. Ross says. “Something sparks, and all of a sudden their sound is surprisingly wonderful.”

Here, a young girl tries her hand at the violin as her father looks on.