Music Made For The Great Outdoors Podcast

The Jewish Community Centre of Greater Buffalo (JCC) has created a Music Garden at Camp Centerland to their expand musical offerings. This 20-acre site is home to one of the largest summer day camps in Western New York and a top-200 summer camp in the United States, as named by Newsweek magazine in 2024. Serving children aged 5 – 15, Camp Centerland offers a host of activities, including swimming, archery, sports, crafts, and, of course, music.

Read the Case Study and listen below to Alex Eadie, the Senior Director of Advancement, explain why they chose Percussion Play's instruments and how they are being used at camp.

A local resident from Frankfort made a memorial donation, and as a result, Benzies Shore Library library was given the responsibility of developing a music-themed project. The library team decided to create a children’s music garden and put in a lot of effort to change the outdoor area of the library into a space that not only attracts bees, butterflies, and birds but also motivates people in the community to visit the library and explore what it has to offer. Read the Case Study and listen below to Library Director Stacy Pasche describe the difference it has made to the library and its patrons.

In Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, a new outdoor space called "Music for Youth" allows children to explore and learn music through accessible instruments in Hamilton Park. This initiative, born from college student Natalie Johnson's Girl Scout Gold Award project, aimed to enrich the community she grew up in. Read the Case Study and listen below as Natalie talks us through her inspiring project to bring a community together and ensure the joy of music is accessible to all.

An interactive Music Garden designed by high school student Eileen English in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, aims to reignite interest in music among young people. Located in Vollrath Park, this installation features outdoor musical instruments as part of a "Storywalk" narrative about a monkey named Coda learning to play music. The project showcases five stations, each with a unique instrument and a story page, inviting community members of all ages to explore music-making. Eileen, who is also involved in her school's drumline and the Sheboygan Youth Symphony, chose accessible and engaging instruments after researching local children's preferences. The Music Garden has become a beloved community spot, celebrated for its inclusivity and the spontaneous joy of communal music-making. Read the Case Study and listen below to Eileen explain how the project originated and how she has observed the music park being utilized since its opening.

Libraries are essential for communities and have evolved over the years. They are no longer just a place to find a good book. They now offer study spaces and provide equipment and tools for hire, making them a central point for many cities, towns, and villages worldwide.

In this episode, we will explore how libraries have embraced music. We will hear from academia, the American Library Association, and a library that is benefiting from its outdoor music area.

Libraries are increasingly incorporating music into their offerings, from hosting drum circles to creating outdoor spaces for Music Gardens, Storywalks, and Pollinator Gardens.

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The Madison Children's Museum has outdoor musical instruments located at both the very top of the museum in the 'Rooftop Ramble' and at the very bottom in the 'Wonderground' outdoor play space. These instruments are available to play any time during a visit to the museum. Tim Gruber, Volunteer Coordinator, explains that the museum also incorporates these instruments into 'Music Time with Tim,' where visitors can explore the world of music and rhythm. Read the Case Study and listen below:

Read the Case Study and listen below to Lorena Hegedus, Director of the Hubbard Public Library in Ohio, who tells us about their new musical sensory path and ‘StoryWalk®.

Read the Case Study and listen below to Development Officer Alisa Mize of The Museum of Music Making in California as she shares her experience of working with Percussion Play and the impact their new interactive Baby Floor Piano is having on their visitors.

How can making music in the great outdoors support our senior communities? This episode explores how one elder care community is benefiting from a music garden and delves into the impact music can have on cognition, mental health, and physical health. Doctors and researchers will explain their pioneering and latest research, and we will also learn why Denmark is a world leader in senior care, embracing music as a tool to create engaging and happy environments.

Click to download from Spotify or Listen and Watch Below: