Modeled after the Walla Walla Symphony’s annual Free Instrument Petting Zoo, the Traveling Instrument Petting Zoo (TIPZ) program takes the hands-on experience of trying orchestra instruments out of Cordiner Hall and into the community. Families and children attending community festivals, farmer’s markets, community centers, and other public gathering places will have the opportunity to try string instruments, as well as a variety of handheld percussion instruments. The goal of this program is to ignite a passion for music in the youth of our community and to build positive relationships.

Depending on the location, participants involved, and goals of a partnering community organization, this program can take many forms. In some cases, TIPZ can set up as a vendor at a community event, with participants wandering through at their leisure. In other forms, the participants are a group such as an afterschool program, club, or classroom, in which the instruments can be explored in a group setting along with a presentation and demonstration of music. TIPZ can be deployed as a one-time event for a special occasion or in an ongoing manner for a more in-depth look at the creation of music. The program’s flexibility allows partnerships to develop in the way that best suits the community served.

The Traveling Instrument Petting Zoo is supported in part by Wildhorse Foundation and Sunny Day Foundation.