Read, Talk, Play & Muscles

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Summer Reading took a musical turn at the Siuslaw Public Library. A marimba band from the Tri-Cities in Washington state performed with a beat on Friday, July 19, 2024. The band, part of the Tri-Cities Steel Band Association, was traveling to Coos Bay to perform at the Oregon Coast Musical Festival.

Gayle Vinchesi, the library’s children’s librarian, said the event makes total sense for a reading program. It lets kids see other kids perform. And it touches on the five cornerstones of the summer reading program; getting kids to sing, read, talk, play and use their muscles (though maybe not singing this day she conceded.)

Walt Hampton, a long-time teacher and music scholar created and leads the band. People love the music, and it’s more accessible for the children, he said.

Roshis Karkee, 14, one of dozens of students who play in the band, said he loved the community and the music. Fellow musician John Eddy, also 14, said he loves the band because, “I like to frickin’ go crazy.”

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correction: the children’s librarian was misidentified in an earlier version. She is Gayle Vinchesi.