ROCO Makes Some Noise with Instrument Petting Zoo – Houston Press

Ever wondered what it’s like to buzz into a trombone mouthpiece, draw a bow across cello strings, play an oboe or bang on a snare drum? ROCO flips the script on March 6 for a night that puts instruments in the audience’s hands for a change. Themed “Make Some Noise,” the gathering will take place at Padre’s Wine Bar.

“I’ve always wanted to reignite the pilot light for adults and unlock curiosity,” said Alecia Lawyer, ROCO’s founder and artistic director. “I think some of the barriers to classical music can be unfamiliarity and not understanding. The specialization [of classical music instruments] sometimes can seem really intimidating. Instead of it being intimidating, at Make Some Noise you’re just picking up an instrument and trying to find your voice.”

Lawyer describes “Make Some Noise” as a judgment-free event that invites adults to have fun, learn and rediscover the joys of music.

ROCO will set up four stations for each instrument group: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. Each station is led by a ROCO musician to help newbies produce sound and have fun experimenting with the instruments. Add in a glass or two of wine for some liquid courage, and the instrument petting zoo promises to be an enjoyable time that will unleash the inner rock star.

ROCO musicians will be on hand to assist. The musicians include George Chase (trumpet), Ben Grube (violin), Shino Hayashi (cello), Lawyer (oboe), Maiko Sasaki (clarinet) and Nathan Williams (clarinet). Four ROCO supporters assisting musicians will also lend a hand: Kenneth Griffin, Pat Holmes, Jane Johnson and Ken McClain.

Guests will receive a stamp from each station, and after collecting all four stamps, they get to hit a gong the organization will have on hand. “The gong is just a way to be silly and fun,” Lawyer said.

Even experienced musicians are invited to explore an instrument they do not specialize in.

“People who have extreme musical backgrounds have probably never tried to play the oboe or something similar, so the night will foster curiosity,” she said. “As a child, you may have put two blades of grass together and blow, and they make a buzz. Truly, there’s no magic to it when you first start. It’s almost caveman era of picking up a drum. Make Some Noise feeds curiosity to unleash your own voice.”

Lawyer does confirm that there will be some guardrails put in place regarding sanitation.

“We have ways of making the mouthpieces sanitized, and I will have reeds that guests can take,” Lawyer said.

Overall, she believes the night will be a casual evening that will meet people where they are at with their knowledge of classical music and instruments.

“Fun should not be a forbidden word in classical music. It never has been with ROCO,” she said.

ROCO’s “Make Some Noise” takes place at 6:30 p.m. on March 6 at Padre’s Wine Bar, 3522 White Oak. For more information, visit ROCO.org. $45.