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the voice of the abingtons abingtonsuburban.com | march 23, 2017
A local bank is again supporting the Scranton Half Marathon|PAGE 3
Miss Northeastern Pennsylvania Teen is an area resident |PAGE 4
Indian dance will be part of a U. of Scranton program |PAGE 5
ExPlorinG nEw SoundS
Kids get a chance to try out musical instruments By Teri Lyon
SPeCiAL To THe SUBUrBAn Seven-year-old Ray Mozdian of Chinchilla wanted to check out the “real” instruments that are on his keyboard at home. The Holgate sisters of Clarks Summit — Violet, 5, Ayla, 10, and Paige, 11 — went because they play instruments and “just love music.” These Clarks Summit-area children were among the music lovers of all ages who went to The Gathering Place on Saturday for an “instrument petting zoo.” With snow piles visible throughout downtown Clarks Summit as the last remnants of the blizzard of 2017, the visitors put on their snow boots and ventured to the former firehouse at 304 S. State St., now a fledgling community arts and education center. There, they were encouraged to touch, try and hear instruments such as the ukulele, cello, violin, upright bass, electric bass, harp and dulcimer. The Instrument Petting Zoo was the brainchild of Colleen Ruddy, a professional bassist who brought her upright bass to the zoo. Ruddy is an advocate for arts education who is lending her talents
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to The Gathering Place this semester. “It’s not every day that people get to try or see these instruments up close. I am thrilled that I am getting to share my love of music with the NEPA community and hopefully, by trying and hearing the The Holgate sisters of Clarks Summit get a dulcimer demonstration from Ed Cole. instruments, someone else will be inspired to begin to play,” Ruddy explained. From left are Violet, Ayla, Cole and Paige. She added that the petting zoo would “It actually is the easiest instrument Place was pleased to offer this event to appeal to “so many avid music lovers to play of all the instruments,” he said. the community and in our community In addition to running The Instruwas happy with the with a wide range of ment Petting Zoo, Ruddy will teach two positive response. interest.” classes for the The Gathering Place’s Com“The Gathering “This is their munity Classroom in April and May. One Place is happy to chance to try some will teach string instruments and another bring this unique of the instruments will develop a chamber music group. opportunity to the that they hear in “In addition to smiling a lot, students community, espetheir favorite music,” will be receiving quick answers to all cially in regard to she said. “There are their musical questions,” Ruddy said. “In the arts,” Waters many young children the ‘Introductory to String Instruments’ said. in the area, too, that class, each student will be started on the In addition to would enjoy explorright track with the correct instrument Ruddy, musicians ing the different set-up, accessible ways to tune and an who participated sounds, shapes and included Ed Ims, an overview of the fundamentals of playing sizes of each of the “old-school musician their instrument. Students will also get instruments.” to expand their musical palate by learning from the ’50s” who Dori Waters, about new artists and listening to differ brought a guitar president of The that can be plugged ent pieces of music.” Gathering Place Further information on Ruddy’s Paige and Ayla Holgate try instruments. into a special-effects board of directors, Community classroom classes may be mixer; and Ed Cole, said the Instrument who fell in love with found by visiting gatheringplacecs.org. Petting Zoo was the first of its kind in For more information on Ruddy, visit the dulcimer 15 years ago and has been Clarks Summit. She said The Gathering bassinheels.com. playing ever since.
10:49 | CORNELLCHR