Thursday afternoon, children gathered at the Poplarville Public Library for an engaging performance by the Pearl Strings Dulcimer Club. The event was part of the library’s summer reading program.

Librarian Denise Davis said the performance introduced children to the dulcimer. Not only did the event allow the children to hear the sounds the instrument makes, they got a chance to learn about the techniques to play it.

During the program, the group of 20 children sang folk songs with members of the Dulcimer group.

Sara Hoppe, a member of the Dulcimer group, also shared some information about the instrument with the children.

Hoppe said the inventors of the instrument were originally trying to make a violin, but its distinct shape led to the stringed instrument earning a unique name.

She said the instrument was used to perform folk songs with family members, Hoppe said.

Davis said that children who learn about music are enticed to learn about other subjects, and are often influenced to want to learn to play an instrument.

To further encourage learning through music as part of the Pearl River County Library System’s ongoing summer reading program staff are organizing a music scavenger hunt, where children will be tasked with identifying five instruments based on pictures and a clue about a book the instrument can be found in, Davis said.

Once the clue is provided, children will be tasked with locating books featuring that instrument, Davis said.