Make your own music!
Musical petting zoos are appearing in more and more kids’ areas at music festivals. No, elephants and jaguars haven’t learned how to sing a cappella while toddlers pat them, but children can pick up and play with all sorts of instruments, from the didgeridoo to the dulcimer. If your kids are getting bored of just listening to CDs or “borrowing” your iPod, try setting up your very own musical petting zoo, and who knows? They might be asking for djembe lessons for their next birthday.
But your backyard MPZ doesn’t have to feature the exotic collection found at faraway festivals. Has your teenage niece been taking piano lessons for years? She can be in charge of the keyboard station, teaching her younger cousins and their friends the C-scale or letting them “compose” their own songs. Your neighbour the flautist can play a few songs for the little ones, while everyone can take turns thumping out rhythms on that old drum you picked up at Goodwill.
