What do teeny-tiny pianos and the Cat in the Hat Songbook have in common? They are part of this year’s Toy Piano Festival!
The popular fest, now in its 17th year, will feature two performances this fall, the first at Geisel Library in the Seuss Room on September 5 at noon, and a special collaboration with the San Diego Public Library on Sunday, September 10 at 2:30 pm in the Neil Morgan Auditorium.
Join festival director Scott Paulson and his toy piano colleagues Sue Palmer, Andrea Wingen, Kenneth Herman, Ryoko Amadee Goguen, Samara Rice, Christian Hertzog and Alex Segal for a performance that will amuse listeners of all ages.
Since 2000, the UC San Diego Library has hosted the Toy Piano Festival every September, to pay homage to the September 5 birthday of John Cage, the first composer to write a serious work for toy pianos. In May of 2001, the Library of Congress issued a subject heading and call number for toy piano scores, at the request of Paulson, the Toy Piano Collection, and the events at Geisel Library.
The call number is: M 175 T69.
The toy piano collection at Geisel Library consists of commissioned scores, literature and recordings, and actual toy pianos, ranging from simple four-note novelty keyboards to three-octave baby grands. A selection of toy piano scores and instruments will be on stage at the San Diego Public Library event. Both performances are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Scott Paulson at spaulson@ucsd.edu or (858) 822-5758.
Parking Information
All visitors to the UC San Diego campus are required to display a valid parking pass. The closest parking to the Geisel Library is the Hopkins parking structure. More information about parking on campus.
Driving Directions from North of UC San Diego
- Take I-5 southbound past the 5/805 split.
- Take Genesee Avenue exit westbound (right off freeway).
- Take Genesee Avenue to North Torrey Pines Road.
- Turn left on North Torrey Pines.
- Turn left on to North Point Drive.
- Follow North Point Dr. through the stop signs; as it curves right it will become Hopkins Drive.
- Continue on Hopkins Drive until you reach Voigt Drive.
- The Hopkins parking structure is at the corner of Voigt Drive with entrances on both Hopkins and Voigt Drive.
Driving Directions from South of UC San Diego
- Take I-5 northbound.
- Take La Jolla Village Drive westbound (left off freeway).
- La Jolla Village Drive turns into North Torrey Pines Road. Stay on it to North Point Drive.
- Turn right on North Point Drive.
- Follow North Point Dr. through the stop signs; as it curves right it will become Hopkins Drive.
- Continue on Hopkins Drive until you reach Voigt Drive.
- The Hopkins parking structure is at the corner of Voigt Drive with entrances on both Hopkins and Voigt Drive.
Contact: