June 21 will see the return of the Make Music Day, "Uniting Thousands of Global Cities in Song." The NAMM Foundation sponsors the Annual Summer Solstice event, which is free and family-friendly. All skill levels are welcome.
"Launched in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day has become a global phenomenon, celebrated by millions of people in more than 2,000 cities worldwide," reads a statement. "Today, the Make Music Alliance announced that over 150 cities and counties across the United States will coordinate more than 5,000 live, free music-making events for this year’s celebration on Saturday, June 21. Held on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year), the world's largest annual music event celebrates the inquisitive spirit and natural music maker in everyone, regardless of age or skill level. In 2024, Make Music Day included 5,304 free public concerts in the U.S., at over 1,500 locations. This year, 31 new communities join the party, reimagining their cities and towns as stages where every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion — fills streets, parks, plazas, porches, rooftops, gardens, and other public spaces to celebrate, create, and share their music."
The organizers say that this free event is completely different to a traditional music festival.
"Some activities provide 'instrumentation' for the participants, ranging from flower pots and mallets, to harmonicas, kazoos, drumsticks, and buckets," they say. "Others encourage players to bring their own instruments or simply their willing voices."
Make Music Day is presented by The NAMM Foundation. "We are delighted that our Make Music Day partnership continues to celebrate the joy of making music worldwide," said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. "Seeing the incredible collaborative efforts from our global NAMM member companies, as well as local partnerships, reach hundreds of thousands of music makers and deliver a unified message…that creating music is a precious element of daily living, linking communities around the world."
Visit makemusicday.org for all the info.
