Pittsburgh has a really creative and diverse electronic and emerging music scene. It occurred to us that this might be an audience that has traditionally not visited the Music Department and that maybe by providing them with electronic musical instruments and gear, as well as educational classes and programs that meet their interests, we might be able to build meaningful relationships with a new audience of music creators.

In 2017 the Music Department was awarded an Innovation Grant to explore circulating electronic gadgets and gear to our library patrons. Our first step was to reach out to local musicians to help us build this new collection. The items we ultimately decided to purchase were based on votes cast by local creators and sound-makers. Additionally, an important partnership was established with local instrument manufacturer Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers, who donated a $3,500 modular synthesizer to the department.

In the past year the instrument collection has circulated over 660 times. The mobile musical instrument playground has popped up at outreach locations and festivals around the city. This past year the musical instrument playground has traveled to the Ace Hotel for our free monthly programming series, In the Workshop. In partnership with gfx (an inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly DJ collective) we offer classes from local and visiting musicians on all aspects of music production.