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The Grammy Museum’s Sonic Playground: Where accessibility meets creativity

BBG News

The Grammy Museum’s second floor just got a little louder.

At Sonic Playground, you’ll find the latest permanent attraction, designed to reveal the intricacies of music creation for individuals of all ages. With a variety of 17 interactive stations, including soundproof recording studios, a stage brimming with instruments, and even a beginner DJ booth, visitors are given the opportunity to explore their hidden musical talents.

According to Jasen Emmons, the museum’s top curator and vice president of curatorial affairs, we strive to create an atmosphere where visitors can enter with a sense of wonder and feel free to delve deeper. It’s not a place that makes people feel intimidated or self-conscious about their lack of knowledge, nor is it a setting where they might worry about embarrassing themselves. Instead, our goal is to inspire a spirit of playfulness among our guests.

Embracing creativity and a thirst for knowledge, the downtown L.A. museum stands out in the cutthroat field by offering a fresh, affordable viewpoint. The exhibition was entirely sponsored by the museum’s Music Education Campaign, a project dedicated to reducing music education expenses and nurturing future musical talents. Since its launch, this fundraising drive has made the museum free for individuals under 17 years old and expanded its scholarship opportunities.

As a moviegoer, I must say that Sonic Playground is undeniably the star attraction of this campaign. It offers an unparalleled experience for all attendees by providing easy-to-understand music lessons led by experts and giving us direct access to cutting-edge technology. Simply put, it’s a musical journey not to be missed!

Yearly, the museum typically hosts around 25,000 student visits, and Michael Sticka, the President and CEO, aims to see this figure more than double in the future. Upon his arrival at the institution seven years ago, one of his initial actions was establishing a community outreach department. He consistently attributes each of the museum’s achievements to this ongoing commitment.

In my opinion, a crucial element of any cultural institution is fostering a sense of community. That’s why it’s important for us to offer free admission to the Grammy Museum for young people and create a unique, hands-on musical experience in L.A., as this aligns with our mission. Essentially, we aim to offer opportunities and expose our local community to music.

As a newcomer to this museum, having transitioned from the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle in 2022, I understand the apprehension some folks feel when it comes to making music. With that in mind, my aim is to create experiences that essentially let people be themselves – simply human and expressive, without any undue pressure or constraints.

At the Recording Academy’s communal workspace, known as Sonic Playground, it feels like a dynamic recording studio. Students congregate near the mini stage, observing as their peers test out the keytar, tinker with assorted drum rhythms, and pass around shared headphones. Meanwhile, toddlers, accompanied by their parents, roam through the illuminated woodland — an interactive array of LED poles — choosing which melodies they wish to add to the resonating symphony.

Prior to its debut on Friday, students from Steam Legacy High School went on an excursion to try out the freshly unveiled performance. Crystal Ochoa, the school’s social worker specializing in psychiatry, was thrilled to observe how involved the students were, particularly since their institution doesn’t have a music program.

In the compact recording studios, Ochoa observed, “You can see their faces brighten.” He admitted he wasn’t sure if they had ever handled an instrument before. He emphasized the significance of introducing them to various genres of music and its creation process. This experience, he suggested, illustrates the numerous stages involved in a single task. He believes this lesson could be applied to many aspects of life.

Within the enclosures, intimate clusters of friends rotate activities, sometimes strumming guitars, improvising raps over a hip-hop rhythm, or honing their vocal techniques. Meanwhile, other guests watch closely, absorbing instructions on operating a drum machine or crafting samples through a series of tutorials.

Jennesys Ortiz, Alexa Vidana, and Janessa Segura, who are students at Legacy High, weren’t certain about what awaited them at the museum; initially, they believed it was just a collection of trophies. Being ardent admirers of artists like Karol G and Tyler the Creator, they shared their enthusiasm for discovering the hidden workings behind the creation of their beloved songs.

Segura noted that music serves as an outlet for individuals to share their emotions, and some folks might not be drawn to specific types of tunes or refrain from singing. This, therefore, presents a unique opportunity for us all to discover new sounds we’ve never encountered before, he added, expressing his fascination with loop machines. Although he had witnessed such devices in films, he had never experienced them in real life until now.

At Sonic Playground, the majority of attendees are unlikely to leave without something in hand – many of the beats or tracks produced can be downloaded using a QR code. This was a significant focus for the youth advisory board, a small team of young musicians who played a crucial role in shaping the exhibit’s content. During the development phase, they regularly convened once a month to set objectives and offer suggestions to Emmons.

Emmons stated that it was essential to make the museum appealing and engaging for their specific age group. Simply providing free admission wasn’t enough; it needed to be beneficial to them. To avoid assuming what they might want, he felt it was crucial to hear from them directly, given that everyone involved is a musician.

Instead of merely revealing the secrets behind music, Sonic Playground aspires to uncover the inner workings and prospects of the music industry for a younger demographic. As attendees learn to mix tunes or create beats, they’ll also find helpful insights on pursuing a career in music through the SoundTrax Career Wall. This 50-foot wall chart breaks down various career paths, accompanied by interviews from professionals in these roles to provide additional context and inspiration for aspiring musicians.

According to Emmons, there’s something valuable for anyone, regardless if they aim to become a musician or not, to take away from this situation.

While not everyone may become a musician, understanding what a drum machine or sampling is, can foster a deeper appreciation for music, according to Emmons. A significant aspect involves teaching people to be more discerning listeners, not only to enjoy the music, but also to recognize its components and production methods.

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2025-02-12 14:31

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