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Make Music
Nashville

About

Make Music Nashville is an all-day, free non-profit festival taking place in neighborhoods in Nashville, Tennessee on June 21st every year. Participation is encouraged from all ages, genres and abilities, from indie rock to bluegrass to a cappella, from music students to professional artists and everything in between.

Make Music Nashville’s primary goals are to provide an equal platform for musicians of all skill levels, interests and walks of life and to inspire the next generation of musicians through innovative outreach programming.

This celebration is not limited to residents of Nashville, but invites music enthusiasts from everywhere to come participate by performing, attending or volunteering. Join us to ring in the summer solstice as part of an international event with its heart and soul in our local community!

Participate

Make Music Nashville is so grateful to everyone who made music with us on June 21, 2023! We had a great time celebrating #MakeMusicDay for the 10th time in Nashville and are already looking forward to next year! 

We’re going to rest and recharge, but will return later this fall! Watch this space, our socials or sign up for our newsletter (Click Here!) to stay informed.

Support

Help support Make Music Nashville!

The work of a small army of volunteers (and one part-time Executive Director) makes it possible to pull this off on such a limited budget, but unavoidable costs remain, including: instrument and equipment rentals, software development for the matchmaking system, promotional materials such as signage and t-shirts necessary for the organization, and many smaller items such as insurance and event permitting.

Help cover these costs and be part of bringing the musical merriment to the summer solstice and beyond!

Donate via PayPal

Or checks can be sent to:

Make Music Nashville
PO Box 120481
Nashville, TN 37212

Make Music Nashville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; all contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Become a sponsor!

We value our partnership with our sponsors and will strive to serve as good stewards of the generous gifts by delivering valuable benefits and a positive partnership experience. With a donation, you are helping to make music accessible to everyone in our community.

If you would like to be a sponsor of Make Music Nashville, send us an email.

Become a volunteer!

Make Music Day is free for the city of Nashville, so we rely heavily on volunteers to keep things running smoothly. That means we need your help on June 21st! If you’re available on this day and would like to help, please let us know. Here are just some of the things that you might be doing throughout the day:

-Tell passersby about Make Music Nashville and answer any questions audience and participators may have.
-Take photos of your stationed event.
-Help keep our performers happy.
-Help with setup and breakdown between artists.
-Help run sound.

Sign Up Here

Support the arts!

What better way to tell the world you support the arts than with a TN Arts Commission Arts plate. Just take your old plate to your county clerk and swap it—they will prorate your tag fees, so you don’t have to wait until your tag renewal is due. Learn more today!

Sponsors

Make Music Nashville is grateful to our financial and in-kind sponsors!

Press

Hohner and Country Music Hall of Fame Join Forces with Make Music Nashville for Make Music Day

Musical Merchandise Review by Christian Wissmuller • Supplier Scene • June 12, 2023

Hohner and the Country Music Hall of Fame proudly announce their partnership with Make Music Nashville for this year’s Make Music Day celebration in Nashville, Tennessee. Make Music Day is an annual event held on the summer solstice that aims to promote and inspire musical instrument playing across the country. Hohner has been actively involved in supporting harmonica lessons at these events since their inception, providing instruments to numerous locations nationwide, including the upcoming Nashville event at Plaza Mariachi.

Hohner is proud to support the Harmonica Workshop with Carlos DeFord Bailey. For all who have dreamed of learning how to play harmonica, join for a group harmonica lesson to pay homage to the legendary DeFord Bailey, an iconic figure in early country music and the genre’s first Black star.

Join Hohner, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Make Music Nashville on June 21st at Plaza Mariachi in Nashville, Tennessee, for an unforgettable Make Music Day celebration. [read more]

Discover, develop your inner musician with Make Music Nashville event hosted at Nashville Public Library

WTVF by Darby McCarthy, 9/11/22

A free Make Music event will kick off at the Main Branch Library downtown on Monday, September 19 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The event is part of a partnership between Make Music Nashville and Studio NPL at the Nashville Public Library, hosted by musical educator Emma Supica. It is open to the public.

Participants will learn how to sample sounds and create beats, among other skills. The event will train on analog and digital instruments — some of which may be taken home.

The events are designed for a 12 to 15-year-old age range, but all ages are welcome.

Musical experience is also welcome, but not required. [read more]

Make Music Nashville part of international draw to city

iHeart Radio by Sarah Tate (2022)

Nashville may be known across the country as the home of country music and one of the most popular places to visit, but Music City recently was chosen by an international magazine [National Geographic] as the best destination in the world to visit in June.

Tennessee’s very own capital city found itself in the top spot, largely in part because of the various music festivals and live performances Nashville is getting ready to host, including Bonnaroo and CMA Fest as well as Make Music Nashville festival and the Musicians Corner concert series taking over Centennial Park during May and June. [read more]

Free concerts, lessons available as part of Make Music Nashville

WSMV-TV by Rebecca Cardenas (2019)

More than 150 artists will spread out across the city as part of Make Music Nashville.

The event will take place at more than 38 venues, including restaurants, breweries, the Zoo and the airport.

This year, the event is expanding down to Murfreesboro and Franklin as well.

As part of the festivities, you can enjoy performances for free or you can even be a part of them. [read more]

Make Music Nashville Hosts 100+ Free Concerts Today

Williamson Source by Donna Vissman, 6/21/18

Make Music Nashville is today, Thursday, June 21. This year, Make Music Nashville hosts over 100 free performances at 38 venues and parks throughout the cities of Nashville, Franklin, and Murfreesboro. Mayor Briley recently proclaimed June 21st Make Music Day in recognition of the organization and its flagship festival.

Make Music Nashville will donate more than 1,300 instruments and more than 1,000 music lessons throughout the day, all free to the public. Featured artists set to participate in this year’s festival include Chris Scruggs, Fats Kaplin, Aaron Hoke Doenges’s Wade [For River and People], and many more. Below are the two locations in Franklin and two other highlighted shows. See the complete schedule here. [read more]

Critics Pick: Make Music Nashville

Nashville Scene by Amanda Haggard, 6/21/18

On any given day in Nashville, there are plenty of musical events going on. But how many days can you take your pick from more than 100 shows and workshops and not have to pay a dime to attend any of them? Make Music Nashville, a daylong nonprofit festival, will provide just such an opportunity at 30 venues all over town. (Mayor David Briley proclaimed June 21 as Make Music Day in advance of the events.) You can choose from performances by singer-songwriter Abigail Flowers or hip-hop artist Kadmon Love, take lessons in harmonica, check out the BNA Spoon Jam (which will explore the history and musical technique of the spoons, a folk instrument developed by people with limited resources) or a drum circle. Organizers also plan to donate 1,000 instruments to various community groups that day. Visit makemusicday.org/nashville for a full list of events. [read more]

Mayor Briley Proclaims June 21 Make Music Day in Nashville

Music Row Magazine by Lorie Hollabaugh, 6/15/18

Mayor David Briley has proclaimed June 21 Make Music Day in Nashville, and the city’s largest DIY music festival, and its flagship event have been recognized by Metro Nashville Government in a proclamation released this week. Featured artists set to participate in this year’s festival include Chris Scruggs, Fats Kaplin, Aaron Hoke Doenges’s Wade [For River and People], and many more.

This year’s Make Music Nashville schedule features over 130 artists performing in 35 venues across Middle Tennessee. The organization will also donate more than 1,200 instruments and more than 1,500 music lessons to festival patrons, all free and open to the public. [read more]

Make Music Nashville 2018 – Events Throughout the City

Nashville Arts Magazine by Tyler Reina, 5/1/18

On June 21st, Nashville will once again be joining cities around the world in an annual celebration of music known as Make Music Day: a public, all-inclusive day of free music lessons, jam sessions, concerts, and everything in between.

Make Music Nashville (MMN) is a day for Nashvillians at any level of musical know-how, from absolute beginner to bona fide expert, to participate in the joys of music making. Events are held in different locations throughout the city and are completely free. Instruments will be provided. [read more]

Belmont students turn The Heritage seniors’ life stories into songs

Franklin Home Page by Landon Woodroof, 6/22/17

The place is Central London, near the beginning of World War II.

A six-year old girl living with her family is sent to live in the countryside to escape Germany’s sustained bombing attacks on the city. The girl, afraid and unable to understand why she was sent away, develops severe speech problems that keep her silent much of the time. She goes back to London where her best friend is killed in a bombing raid. Several years later she meets an American soldier. The two marry, move to the United States and have six kids together.

Belmont University students heard this story and many more Wednesday morning at the Heritage at Brentwood, a local senior living community. These students are a part of a commercial songwriting class. They had come to The Heritage as part of Make Music Day, an annual international celebration of all things musical. [read more]

Previous Coverage

WTVF-TV (Jesse Knutson, 6/21/17): Nashville Celebrates Make Music Day

WSMV-TV (Terry Bulger, 6/19/17): Nonprofit wants more music in Nashville

WTVF-TV (Erin Ziegler, 6/2/17): Community Invited to Play Piano in Park

Nashville Arts (Peter Chawaga, 6/1/17): Make Music Nashville Invites Public to Play

WTFV-TV (Tuwanda Coleman, 3/13/17): The Plus Side of Nashville: Make Music Nashville

Music City Roots (Craig Havighurst, 6/20/17): Make Music Day

The Tennessean (Mary Hance, 6/16/17): 11 free Nashville-area festivals offer summer fun

WCYB-TV (Kevin Castle, 6/15/17): Nashville’s Parthenon going orange for Make Music Day

WMOT (Mike Osborne, 6/14/17): Set your inner musician free during Make Music Nashville

Green Hills News (David Smith, 6/14/17): Street pianos add to the scene in parts of Nashville

WTVF-TV (Jesse Knutson, 6/21/16): The Music City Celebrates Make Music Day

WSMV-TV (Hayley Mason, 6/21/16): Make Music Nashville aims to inspire next generation of musicians

365 Days of Music City (Patrick Lamb, 6/16/16): #49: Make Music Nashville

Belmont University (Staff, 6/15/16): Alumni Strike Positive Chord with ‘Make Music Nashville’ Festival

Nashville Arts (Rebecca Pierce, 6/1/16): Third Annual Make Music Nashville Festival – Various Locations | June 21

Nashville Arts (Rebecca Pierce, 3/01/16): Call to Musicians – Make Music Nashville returns for 2016

Nashville Arts (Rebecca Pierce, 6/01/15): 2nd Annual Make Music Nashville Festival – June 21

Nashville Scene (John Pitcher, 5/20/15): Make Music Nashville Presents John Luther Adams’ Inuksuit at Cumberland Park

The Tennessean (Nate Rau, 6/19/14): Music celebration brings free concerts to Nashville venues

Gallery

Contact

Do you have any questions, comments or jokes? We’d love to hear them!

Feel free to contact us at:

nashville@makemusicday.org

Make Music Nashville
PO Box 120481
Nashville, TN 37212