Free! Open House Introduction to Instrumental Music, San Francisco

SAMP’s “Introduction to Instrumental Music” open houses have been open to all San Francisco Bay Area kids and their families, free of charge since 2015.

These events are part ethnomusicology workshop, part informal house concert, and part eclectic music shop, connecting kids and families to musical traditions from around the world, great local musicians, and their communities.

HOW DO THE OPEN HOUSES WORK?

The Introduction to Instrumental Music open houses have a free-flowing format in which families are welcomed, free of charge, to pick up, play, and experiment on any instrument for as long as they are inclined.

They can choose from over 50 instruments, such as the African mbira (thumb piano), the Andean siku (panpipe), Chinese hand drums, a zydeco tie, and a collection of traditional string, wind, and percussion instruments from around the world.

Depending on their temperament and inclinations, some children may stay on one instrument their whole visit, while others prefer to try multiple instruments very quickly. The beautiful part of the open houses is that there’s no right or wrong way to do anything!