Make Music Day announces full lineup of more than 2,250 free, outdoor musical events taking place in 23 U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Nashville, San Diego, Seattle, Madison and Philadelphia. The world’s largest annual music event will fill June 21, the first day of summer, with every imaginable sound. Make Music Day is free to the public and everyone is invited to play along.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Students of Kaufman Music Center perform during “Concerto for Building” in SoHo as part of Make Music Day 2015 on June 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kris Connor/ Getty Images for Make Music Day) *** Local Caption ***
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Local musicians play during Guitar Mass Appeal in Union Square as part of Make Music Day 2015 on June 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kris Connor/ Getty Images for Make Music Day) *** Local Caption ***
Make Music started in France in 1982 as Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, and has grown to over 700 cities across 120 countries. The all-day musical celebration will feature countless music making opportunities and performances in every imaginable musical style, ranging from classical to folk, hip hop to opera, and Latin jazz to punk rock.
Over 100 Mass Appeals taking place in 31 U.S. communities will bring together musicians – of all levels and ages – to make music in large, single-instrument groups. These Mass Appeal gatherings are a unique opportunity for players to meet up with others and jam. Instruments with mass appeal include cellos, guitars, harmonicas, accordions, banjos, mariachi, percussion, trombones, saxophones, mariachis, French horns, flutes, synthesizers, ukuleles, Klezmer violins and more.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Laolo & the Afromysterics perform at BYKlyn Cycling during Make Music Day 2015 In Brooklyn on June 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for NAMM)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Rue Brown performs at Kulushkat Falafel during Make Music Day 2015 In Brooklyn on June 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for NAMM)
Those who’ve always wanted to play music can start on Make Music Day thanks to free guitar, harmonica, ukulele, drum and other instrument lessons being offered nationwide. Events in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Cleveland, San Diego, Fort Wayne and more, will open up the power of playing music to all.
SAN DIEGO, CA – JUNE 21: A general view of the atmosphere at Make Music Day 2015 In San Diego on June 21, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for NAMM)
Those feeling the beat can tap into drum lessons in Los Angeles, Cleveland and Willimantic, CT. Students will have the opportunity to learn drumming basics and then play as a group. In New York City, guitar teachers will set up near Madison Square Park, equipped with a guitar for themselves and guitars for anyone interested in learning to play. Whether a person’s chops are fresh off a free lesson or refined over decades, everyone is invited to the annual gathering of 400 guitar players in New York’s Union Square.
Additional 2015 national Make Music Day highlights include:
· Clavinova Piano Bar: In celebration of the 100th birthday of Frank Sinatra, roving Sinatra karaoke piano bars will make designated stops in New York, Chicago and Seattle.
· Exquisite Corpses: In partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center and NPR Music, New York City’s burial grounds will come to life with improvised musical conversations.
· Sousapalooza: New York City, Chicago and Nashville will bring together hundreds of brass and wind musicians for the first time to play the music of John Philip Sousa.
· Les Paul’s 100th Birthday Celebration: Boston will host concerts celebrating the 100th anniversary of the famed songwriter and inventor.
· Pop Up Musicals: A roving musical theater group performs excerpts from NYC-based musicals.
· Porch Stomp: Celebration of bluegrass, old-time, traditional folk and roots music, on the historic porches of Governors Island in NYC.
· Street Studios: Pop up recording studios will appear on sidewalks throughout New York City to engage the public in the spontaneous, collaborative production of original music.
· Make Music Instrument Works: In Portland, OR, Aaron Nigel Smith and Home Depot will host a fun day of making musical instruments using everyday household items.
· Sample of Mass Appeals Across the Country:
o Strats for Kats: In Fullerton, CA, Phyllis Fender, Lit, Big Bubba Blues Band, and others will jam to Louis, Louis and Smoke on the Water.
o 60’s Rock Stage: Madison, WI is inviting musicians of all skill levels to come play six of the all-time greats: Woolly Bully, Louie Louie, Johnny B Goode, Good Lovin’, Wipe Out and Twist and Shout.
o Mariachis: San Diego musicians, music lovers and anyone who wants to make music will gather and play this fun musical style.
All Make Music Day events are free and open to the public. A full list of participating cities and events can be found at www.makemusicday.org.
About Make Music Day
Held annually on June 21st, Make Music Day is part of the international Fête de la Musique, taking place in 700 cities across 120 countries. The daylong, musical free-for-all celebrates music in all its forms, encouraging people to band together and play in free public concerts. This year, 23 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music celebrations, encompassing thousands of music making opportunities nationwide, coordinated by the nonprofit Make Music Alliance. For more information, please visit www.makemusicday.org.
Image credit to image.net.
