Guitar Petting Zoo gives youngsters hands-on experience
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Brannon Lyons provides instruction to Ava Schlueter during the Guitar Petting Zoo.
Chase Lavy displays good form on the guitar.
Ella Svitek picks out her guitar of choice.
Jocelyn Erskine claps while learning about rhythm.
Joey He receives instruction from Connor Kostek.
Liam Bull is getting in tune.
Sofia Poliziani receives instruction from Brannon Lyons.
Little hands are best suited for playing smaller instruments.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Lucca Poliziani gives a guitar a close look.
“A lot of parents with good intentions go into music stores and they come out with a giant guitar for a 6-year-old,” Brannon Lyons said. “Many times with my own teaching, I’ve had little girls come in with giant pink guitars. And I had to be the bad guy and say, ‘Well, maybe in a few years. Not right now.'”
He then provided a general guideline:
“The top of the guitar should come to the belly button. That’s how you know you have a right-sized guitar.”
As educational director for the Pittsburgh Classical Guitar Society, Lyons conducted an April 7 program at Mt. Lebanon Public Library dubbed the Guitar Petting Zoo, as youngsters had the opportunity to touch the instruments and learn some basics.
“This group is the lucky first recipient of the guitar society stepping out into the community and doing this,” Lyons said. “We figured we would start right here in Mt. Lebanon, and it looks like we have a very good turnout.”
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Mary Ma receives instruction.
The playroom of the children’s library was at capacity for the session, for which he was accompanied by Liam Bull, a guitar instructor at Lyons Guitar and Strings Lesson Studio in Mt. Lebanon, and Connor Kostek, a student.
“Classical guitar is a very good way for young children to begin learning how to play the guitar,” Lyons explained. “The reason they’re ideal for a young student is that the strings on our guitars are not made out of steel. They do not hurt a child’s finger the way a steel string would.”
The nylon strings of the classical guitar also allow for playing with a pick, as is commonly used for electric and steel-string acoustic guitars.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Alexander Dick enjoys checking out a guitar.
The children in attendance learned about such concepts as rhythm and melody, how to hold a guitar properly and where to place their fingers. They took turns giving various instruments a try, and Lyons gave them pointers on what to do when they finish playing:
“You have to learn how to take a bow with the guitar. You’re going to stand up, put both your feet together, and you’re going to grab the guitar right where the neck meets the body,” he said. “Bend down. Look at your shoes. Go ‘one-two-three.’ Come back up. Make sure you smile.”
And enjoy the applause.
For more information about the Pittsburgh Classical Guitar Society, visit www.pittsburghclassicalguitar.org.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
From left are Brannon Lyons, Liam Bull and Connor Kostek.