Pedal Petting Zoo is a relaxed space to explore effects pedals, synthesizers, and other sound-shaping tools in a group setting. No prior musical experience is necessary, and we especially welcome beginners, singers, and anybody who is interested in exploring sound.
Pedal Petting Zoo might be perfect for you if you’ve ever felt…
uncomfortable or out of place in a guitar shop
overwhelmed by practicing an instrument or playing something ‘perfectly’
a desire to get to the bottom of those ‘weird’ sounds, loops, and beeps and bloops in your favorite music
In class, we’ll begin by exploring different gear setups in small groups. Each station will have a setup with things like a synth, pedalboard, or a microphone. After 5–10 minutes, each group will share a short snippet of sound they made (we call them ringtones!) before rotating to another station. In the group we’ll talk about what felt exciting, what was surprising, and help demystify anything that felt confusing.
As we move through new stations and try new things, we become more comfortable with diving in and starting from scratch, we learn more about our preferences for workflow, and we learn to support and help each other with different approaches to making sound. As the course continues, we’ll explore using our ‘ringtones’ as building blocks for songs and compositions.
You will leave this course with a better understanding of how effects pedals and synths work, and how they can help you find more freedom in exploring your musicality. You’ll also leave with new ideas for creating your own sounds, and more confidence and agency around asking questions and exploring music technology.
Pedal Petting Zoo is a relaxed space to explore effects pedals, synthesizers, and other sound-shaping tools in a group setting. No prior musical experience is necessary, and we especially welcome beginners, singers, and anybody who is interested in exploring sound.
Pedal Petting Zoo might be perfect for you if you’ve ever felt…
uncomfortable or out of place in a guitar shop
overwhelmed by practicing an instrument or playing something ‘perfectly’
a desire to get to the bottom of those ‘weird’ sounds, loops, and beeps and bloops in your favorite music
In class, we’ll begin by exploring different gear setups in small groups. Each station will have a setup with things like a synth, pedalboard, or a microphone. After 5–10 minutes, each group will share a short snippet of sound they made (we call them ringtones!) before rotating to another station. In the group we’ll talk about what felt exciting, what was surprising, and help demystify anything that felt confusing.
As we move through new stations and try new things, we become more comfortable with diving in and starting from scratch, we learn more about our preferences for workflow, and we learn to support and help each other with different approaches to making sound. As the course continues, we’ll explore using our ‘ringtones’ as building blocks for songs and compositions.
You will leave this course with a better understanding of how effects pedals and synths work, and how they can help you find more freedom in exploring your musicality. You’ll also leave with new ideas for creating your own sounds, and more confidence and agency around asking questions and exploring music technology.
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