A few weeks ago, while playing the big guitar, one of the guitar strings broke and together the children and Chris fixed the string in the classroom- (see album).  Well, this past week, another string broke on the guitar. The children quickly suggested that we fix the guitar with a new string. Only we encountered one problem – we were in need of a new string. A discussion among the children and teachers began about how we could get a new string, how we needed to buy a new one, and where could we go to buy guitar strings.

Chris discussed with the children about a store downtown that sells guitar strings and many other instruments. He told them that he would check with Joe, the owner of the store, to see if we could come into the store as a group to get our guitar fixed. After a couple of days, Chris reminded the children of the broken guitar string and that he also had spoken to Joe about our class coming for a visit. Everything was all set, Joe was happy and excited to have 9 toddlers come in and would have drums and instruments for us to explore.

So off we went to Downtown Sounds this past Friday, with 7 children (2 were out sick), 3 teachers, and our guitar. On the way we saw some interesting things that the children pointed out as we passed in the strollers. We heard their excited voices describing what they saw…”That’s Big!”, “Bye-bye bus”, and “Big Truck!”

“That’s big rock. That so heavy. My mommy pick it up.”

“Doggie!! Hi Doggie!!”

“My Christmas Tree!! My dad, he go to the basement and find the Christmas Tree!”

On arriving to the music store, the children did a wonderful job of listening and staying safe on the sidewalk as their teachers helped everyone out of the strollers and into the store. Once inside Downtown Sounds, Joe and Dave greeted us with friendly smiles and allowed the children to look all around and explore some of the instruments.

We first looked around at many, many guitars and string instruments which were leaning against stands on the floor and hanging in rows from the ceiling above us. In a smaller glassed walled room to the right of the store the children discovered the electric keyboards. They were eager to touch the keys to hear the sound they could make with their little fingers. Joe then invited the children to check out the many hand drums that were on the other side of the store. He only asked the children to be careful around the cymbals, and please do not touch as they were neatly stacked from floor to ceiling.

To show the children how to play the instruments and hear what they sound like, the owner Joe encouraged everyone to touch, tap, turn and strum. Joe and Chris played the “cajon” (Spanish word for box), which is a box that you sit on and drum with your hands. A few of the children took turns to pat on a drum, shake the percussion eggs, and turn the bead instrument. After exploring almost all of the various types of instruments in the store, it was time to see about fixing the broken string on our guitar. Dave the repair man worked on replacing the string while Joe entertained us playing a string instrument. He said it was similar to a dulcimer, which is normally played laid flat on a table or lap, but it was a cross between a travel guitar and a dulcimer.

“A Dulcimer is very easy to play: the way the frets are arranged you always play good notes. The sound is very pleasing,  the instrument is well made and easy to carry around, and it’s quite affordable.  This makes the instrument inspiring for anyone to play, even a non musician who wants to learn to play.”

-Joe of Downtown Sounds

With our guitar string all fixed, it was time to pay for the repair and head back to Fort Hill for our lunch. Chris passed out a few dollars to the children so that they could pay Dave. After some high fives and waves of goodbye and thank you we left and were invited to come again. When we returned to school, we stopped in the play yard to investigate our new guitar string before going in for our lunch, The children told Wendy all about the trip our trip downtown when she came in for the afternoon.

Our trip to Downtown Sounds was so successful and fun, too. The children made many comments about what Nick has and plays with them in the music studio each day. It was decided for the next trip to the music store, we would ask Nick to come along with us as part of our music studio time.

Share with us some of the places or stores you frequent with your children in your communities. Perhaps if they are in walking distance, we can plan a trip together!