Has your child always wanted to play the violin? Does she have a good sense of rhythm, and you think percussion might be for her? Does he like it big and brassy, like a trombone or trumpet, or delicate as in a flute or piccolo? Maybe a woodwind such as clarinet or oboe is calling to her?
Music in the Mountains is offering young people a chance to try instruments free of charge at its Instrument Discovery Day on Saturday at Jones Hall at Fort Lewis College. The deadline to sign up is Monday.
The day, split into three sessions, offers a chance to try a multitude of instruments, including voice, guitar, piano as well as orchestral and band instruments such as violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba and percussion. Free mini-lessons will be available on each instrument, so attendees can actually try the instruments.
Katzin Music, which founded the event, continues as the primary sponsor.
Playing a musical instrument isn’t just a fun activity. Numerous studies have found that studying music can significantly improve students’ performance in other school subjects. And a study for the Journal of Neuroscience did a study that “suggests the importance of music education for children today and for healthy aging decades from now.”
abutler@durangoherald.com This story has been updated to reflect Katzin Music’s sponsorship.
If you go
There are three sessions available for Instrument Discovery Day, from 8:30 to 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2:30 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Jones Hall at Fort Lewis College. Young people ages K-12 are welcome. Reserve your space at www.musicinthemountains.com or by calling 385-6820. The offices are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but leaving a message is acceptable.
