Make Music Day affirms the importance of music and its role in building and bridging communities through making music together. It is a celebration of the musician that’s in all of us, and in that spirit, musicians of all ages and levels will gather to play together. This year’s festivities will be truly global, taking place in more than 800 cities across 110 countries.
Make Music Day is an opportunity for music stores and community organizers to work together, hosting newsworthy events such as Mass Appeals (massive projects for a single type of instrument), musical instrument petting zoos, open mics, or anything they can imagine. It’s also an opportunity for amateur musicians to collaborate and take the stage and for professional musicians to meet new people in their communities. Music has the power to build and bridge communities, as well as to heal, connect, and inspire. So tap your feet, grab your instrument, and gather your community to make 2015 Make Music Day the biggest celebration of music ever.
SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SYRACUSE THIS MAKE MUSIC DAY
“Make Music Day encourages a different perspective on music making,” says Make Music Alliance Executive Director Aaron Friedman who spearheaded efforts to bring Make Music Day to the US in 2007. “Our country is teeming with musicians of all different genres and levels. Bringing them together to celebrate music is a powerful way to enrich our communities and motivate others to make music a part of their daily lives.”
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Each city organizes their events independently, often as a collaboration between community groups, music stores, government agencies, and civic leaders. Each event incorporates local flavors and cultures into the music making. In 2014, 3,187 free concerts were organized for Make Music Day. The movement has now spread to dozens of states and cities across the country, including:
Arizona: Yuma
California: Downey, Fullerton, Los Angeles,
San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz
Colorado: Aurora and Denver
Florida: Fort Lauderdale
Illinois: Chicago, Moline, and Normal
Indiana: Fort Wayne
Iowa: Cedar Falls
Maine: Portland
Massachusetts: Boston and Cambridge
Michigan: Grand Haven and Lansing
Nevada: Incline Village
New Hampshire: Plymouth
New Jersey: Hoboken and Montclair
New Mexico: Santa Fe
New York: New York City, and Syracuse
Oregon: Beaverton, Eugene, Portland, and Salem
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
South Carolina: Columbia and Greenville
South Dakota: Rapid City
Tennessee: Nashville
Texas: Austin, Brownsville and Dallas
Washington: Bellingham, Issaquah, and Seattle
Washington, DC
Wisconsin: Madison and Milwaukee
Canada: Ottawa, Vancouver
It’s easy to do! Here are some ideas to help you get started.
■ Find out if your city already has a Make Music Day celebration by going to makemusicday.org. If it does, follow the links to your city to get involved by performing, hosting a concert, or volunteering to help organize.
■ If your city has no Make Music Day celebration yet, you can plan to launch one. Get in touch with the nonprofit Make Music Alliance. The Alliance exists to serve Make Music Day organizers around the world to help them promote participation, provide tools to help manage community events, foster collaboration, and create an atmosphere of mentorship and support.
■ From drum circles to guitar strum-alongs, this is a grassroots effort. Don’t be afraid to start small and launch your own event!
■ Remember, all concerts are free and open to the public. The focus is on involving as many musicians as possible—all levels and ages.
■ Concerts can take place anywhere: porches, garages, storefronts, gardens, and parks.
■ If you run a music store or school, consider holding an outdoor “instrument petting zoo” for children.
■ Start spreading the word about Make Music Day to local musicians.
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