Update: Make Music Day to Move Forward On June 21

Elizabeth Dale

Make Music Day, the free global celebration of music occurs annually on June 21. Open to participants of all ages and abilities, the festival is unlike any other as musicians pour into the streets, parks, plazas and porches to share the gift of music with their communities. With the uncertainty surrounding our world regarding social gatherings due to the outbreak of COVID-19, be assured, Make Music Day is still happening.

UPDATE: Make Music Day is continuously evolving to practice safe social distancing measures in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic while still bringing the joys of music-making to communities around the world. New and exciting programming options are available this year to ensure we all celebrate the opportunity to make music, regardless of age and skill set. Be sure to check with your local city organizers for the latest regarding in-person Make Music Day events at www.makemusicday.org.

World’s Smallest Marching Band: A staple of past Make Music Day celebrations has always been “Sousapalooza”, an event gathering hundreds of brass, wind, and percussion musicians who celebrate by sight-reading the music of John Philip Sousa. In wake of the safe practice of social distancing guidelines, participants are invited to explore the other end of the spectrum with The World’s Smallest Marching Band. Individuals will parade through their communities on June 21, playing for audiences safely listening from their homes and offices. Contact jonah@makemusicday.org to get involved.

Worlds Smallest Marching Band

Track Meet: Composers, producers, and songwriters from around the world are participating in Track Meet, a collaborative race against the clock for Make Music Day 2020. Over the span of six hours, teams of four musicians will craft brand new original tracks in a creative relay. Utilizing SoundTrap, each musician gets 90 minutes to add their unique contributions before the next teammate takes over the project. At the end of the meet, the team’s track will be hosted online for everyone to hear. Registration for the Track Meet closes June 7. More information can be found at http://www.makemusicday.org/national-projects/track-meet/

Bedroom Studios: In years past, Make Music Day host cities have been witness to open-air studios where world-class DJs and producers invite passers-by to contribute to a spontaneous music production session. This year, this project has new life in the form of Bedroom Studios. Live-streamed collaborative tracks will be curated with audio clips sent in by viewers. For more information on the project, visit http://www.makemusicday.org/national-projects/bedroom-studios/

25x12 Live Online Lessons: If being at home has inspired a new passion to dust off a long forgotten instrument, Make Music Day is providing a unique opportunity to join music teachers from around the world for free lesson programming. With 12 hours of free, online group lessons for 25 different instruments, ranging from beginner to advanced. A full schedule is set to be published in June and more information can be found at http://www.makemusicday.org/national-projects/25x12-live-online-lessons/.

Window Serenades: Musicians around the country are scheduled to share live music with some of their most isolated neighbors. With nursing homes and other facilities for vulnerable populations being some of the most severely impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions, Make Music Day has organized solo musicians to serenade residents from outside their windows. These socially distant performances even allow an opportunity for requests from residents, just tape a piece of colored paper to the window with your song request. More information can be found at http://www.makemusicday.org/national-projects/window-serenades/.

The original article can be found in its entirety below.

Make Music Day to Move Forward On June 21

Why You Should Participate in Make Music Day, According to NAMM Member Sweetwater Music

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Nothing beats a bit of good news these days, and the team at the Make Music Alliance is committed to continue to lift the spirits of populations around the world by encouraging and facilitating music make opportunities, even from the safety of your own home. The ultimate goal is to happily fill the streets with the joys of music on June 21, but if the practice of social distancing is in effect, Make Music Day is preparing a series of online initiatives that will take place regardless of the ever evolving situation. Digital programs include:

  • Live From Home Challenge: Record a musical performance at home on June 21, and tag three friends to challenge them to respond with their own performances.
  • Online Music Lessons: Teachers around the world will be offering free, online lessons for a variety of instruments on June 21.
  • Street Studios: Be part of a completely improvised music creation session. Record any sound or musical material on June 21 and upload it to one of the “Street Studio” producers, then watch the producer’s livestream as they incorporate it into a musical track created on the spot. Using only the submitted materials.
  • Bands Undercover: Individuals or bands sign up to cover each other’s original music, and live stream their performances to each other in a unique musical exchange on June 21.
  • Young Composers Contest: Composers between the ages of 13-21 are invited to submit short, original compositions for choir by June 1. A panel of renowned composers will give their feedback on all entries, and will select one winning piece to release on June 21 to the world in a professional performance.
  • Global Livestream: A day-long video stream on June 21 will show the rich diversity of live Make Music Day events around the world.

As life continues to evolve, programing for 2020’s Make Music Day will like continue to change to offer as many opportunities as the situation allows. Please continue to check back here periodically for updates or visit http://www.makemusicday.org/.