Instrument Petting Zoos

Bow a violin, pluck a cello, buzz a trumpet, and play other instruments you see and hear in the orchestra. It’s hands-on fun for the whole classroom.

Look for a FREE Instrument Petting Zoo in your community.

Interested in having an Instrument Petting Zoo at your school or event?

Instrument petting zoos provide hands-on fun with instruments! Children have the chance to get up close and personal with the orchestral instruments they see professionally played on stage. Instrument Petting Zoos inhabit Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Family Concerts, daycare centers, classrooms, festivals and farmers markets around Washtenaw, Livingston, Oakland, and Wayne Counties. This program is made possible through the generous donation of string instruments by Shar Music.

$100 for the first hour, $50 per hour for each hour after the first.                                                                       
In the instance a zoo is more than 30 miles away, an additional flat fee of $25 will be assessed.
Financial assistance is available for Title I schools. 

Instrument petting zoos include:

• 30 minutes per class (if class size is 25 students or less)
• an age-appropriate presentation about the instruments
• Includes 3 stations that students are rotated through:
  • 4 string instruments (cello/violin)
  • 4 brass instruments (trombone/trumpet)
  • coloring/worksheet station

Optional: An additional station of woodwinds (flute/clarinet) can be added as a rotation by request. This requires a minimum of 45 minutes per class (if class size is 25 students or less).

To schedule a visit to your school or community event, please first fill out the online form.