Extra Credit, Music Teachers? - by McP

Today our two students went to the "Kazakhstan Museum of Musical Instruments", in hope for some "extra credit" from their music teachers back home. Mostly, the museum featured various evolutions of the Kazakh national instrument, the dombra. The dombra is kind of guitar-like, only with fewer strings and the bottom part looks like half a gourd, with a rounded back.

Since this is kind of like a book report, here is the official government line:

"The 'State Museum of Popular Musical Instruments' was created in 1980. It is one of the cultural sights of Almaty. Kazakh musical instruments have been collected in the Museum from all regions of Kazakhstan.

The collection includes personal dombras of poets, zhyrau and composers, such as: Abai, Zhambyl, Makhambet. Amre, Dina and other figures of the musical arts. The Museum is located in a traditional Russian wooden building dating 1907."


What the kids liked about it most is there were some ancient cave-type drawings, or etchings, on some giant rocks that had been placed in the museum. I am not certain what it had to do with music, but it certainly was interesting! - McP



(Photo: Photographer Mac snaps a photo of his sister for their music teachers back at school.)