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Make Music Day

May 3, 2024

Champions: Karen Bella, Exploring Musical Expression

In this interview, we talk with Karen Bella, a multifaceted singer, songwriter, and musician deeply rooted in the vibrant music scene of New York City. Karen shares her journey, from discovering Make Music Day to honing her craft. Join us as we explore Karen’s experiences, influences, and her unwavering dedication to music. 

How did you find out about Make Music Day?

I became part of it because of Cowgirl Seahorse. I performed there, and the girl behind the bar invited me to be part of this event that happens on the summer solstice, telling me I could perform in Brooklyn for an hour. I liked the idea and got into it. For the past couple of years, I’ve participated. I think the first time I did it was in 2021, then I believe I participated in the two following years. It’s nice because you get to be a part of a community of musicians. Even if you don’t see each other in the street, you know you’re all doing the same thing at the same time, celebrating a solstice, whether it’s winter or summer; for me, it was the summer solstice.

How did you start making music?

I started making music when I was a little girl. I’ve always been drawn to it; it was something that always made me feel good. Especially being a little girl, I had a lot of difficulty making friends. I remember being alone on the playground and just sitting with myself, singing to myself, and finding so much joy in it, making me feel happy. I went to my mom and told her that I could sing and that I wanted to do something with it. Both of my parents supported me in it. It hasn’t been a smooth journey. I went through years where I didn’t want to be a singer because I didn’t think I was worthy or good enough. I was afraid of being in front of people. It took me many years to come out of my shell. I think it wasn’t until my late teens that I started taking it more seriously and recording more. I got into it because it was the only source of happiness that I had that wasn’t from anything external but from something that was inside of me already. When you have a calling, when there’s something that’s meant to be in your life, you can’t run away from it; it’s always gonna find its way back. For me, that was music. When there are hard times in life, I can go back to music, and it makes me feel happy and passionate again, and I know I always have that to fall into. It also became a way for me to really express myself on what I was thinking and feeling. The only way for me to express myself and tell my story is through songs and lyrics.

What artists inspired you to start making music?

I love Barbra Streisand, John Mayer, Elton John, and Taylor Swift. Taylor is such an amazing songwriter and a huge inspiration to a lot of young people and aspiring musicians. I also really love the greats like Prince, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Queen. I love jazz music, instrumental music, and funk music, among other genres. I love a wide variety of artists, but I think it was Barbra Streisand who made me realize I wanted to do music for the rest of my life. My mom introduced me to her through Funny Girl. I know a lot of people may not know about who she is, but I think everybody should because she was such a revolutionary woman; she was one of the first women creators, writers, and singers to really gain respect.

What genres do you enjoy playing yourself?

When it comes to describing it, think of acoustic coffeehouse music. But my genre is mixed with a bunch of different things. I’d describe it as if John Mayer and Joni Mitchell had a baby, and Alanis Morissette raised the child as a nanny, with a little bit of R&B. I’m influenced by so many things, and I think that people have so many different sides to themselves, and because I’ve listened to such an extreme variety of music — everything from opera to hip hop, to folk music, and everything in between — my music’s got a little bit of everything.

How is the process of songwriting for you?

It’s like a fax machine, sometimes it’s on and sometimes it’s off. I used to get ideas for songs a lot more before, but it’s been less. I think it’s because I’ve been so busy gigging and performing; I’m just so tired to be an open channel. Lately, I’ve been trying to collaborate with others and to have them send me ideas, and then take them and make them my own, maybe changing some chords or lyrics around. I’m learning that songwriting is not just getting the idea as an inspiration, you also have to sit and work on it.

In your presentations, do you usually just play your original music? Or do you also play covers?

It’s a mixture. I’ll do gigs where I’m only doing covers and then I’ll do gigs where it’s only originals, and then I’ll do gigs where it’s covers and original music.

Could you tell me more about what you like doing in your presentations?

I’ve been playing for a looper for maybe three to four years. In my performances, I create a full production right on the spot. I have a bass pedal which changes the guitar to sound like a bass. And then I take the wood of the guitar and I play it as if it was like a conga or a kick drum, creating a percussive sound. I also play the chords and little elements. I also have other pedals that could give a delay or change the sound of the guitar, making it sound like different instruments. So, I create a live production right on the spot, and people seem to love it.

I believe you’re currently a full-time musician. Is that right? 

I’m a full-time musician. I’ve been making music since I was a kid, but I’ve been making a living through music since 2018. It’s been scary; there have been difficult times, but it teaches you how to hustle and get work; there is always a way. I’m really blessed. I hope that I can do what I love to do for the rest of my life.

How would you describe what music means to you?

Music saved me. It’s my essence. I don’t know who I am without singing or playing instruments. It defines me. There are other aspects of me, but also through the music I’ve made amazing friendships and a beautiful music family. Music is the answer to my soul, my heart, and my mind.

What would you say your goal in music is?

My goal is to make music forever. I’ve learned to stop putting an emphasis on exact plans and goals; you can only control so much. My goal is to make a living doing anything related to music for the rest of my life and to be happy doing it.

May 1, 2024

Champions: Paul Fey, the Organ Maestro, Composer, and YouTube Sensation

In this interview, we talk with Paul Fey, an organist from Leipzig, Germany, to discuss his musical journey, centered around the beauty of church music. Paul shares insights into his background, experiences, and views on music, offering a glimpse into his world as a full-time musician, composer, and YouTuber. He is one of the organists at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, where he works with the choirs. Last year, he released his first CD, “Around the Organ World,” which features 11 tracks recorded on ten amazing pipe organs from all over the world.

How did you find out about Make Music Day?

I was planning a concert trip to the United States last year, looking for opportunities, and this church in New York, Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, came up with the idea to play a concert on Make Music Day. That’s how I got into it and learned about it.

How was your experience at the Make Music Day event?

I wasn’t sure what to expect as it was my first time playing a concert there. But I really enjoyed the experience. I had a nice time playing at the concert, and I hope the listeners had a nice time too.

Was it your first time hearing about Make Music Day?

Yes, it was the first time. I had heard about Fête de la Musique in France, but I wasn’t aware it was connected to Make Music Day.

How did you start making music?

I started as a child in kindergarten; my parents set me up for music lessons. They asked my brother and me if we wanted to try an instrument when we got to primary school. I began playing the classical guitar, and my brother played the keyboard. After two months, he was done with it; he didn’t go to his practices at all, he wasn’t happy with it. So I took over and started practicing both, playing the guitar and the piano at that time. Eventually, the piano transformed into the organ; I got asked at church if I wanted to give it a try, and the organ thing started. Now, I only play the organ; it’s the most fun. Pianos are always kind of the same, but an organ is completely different, and it’s pretty cool to experience and discover what it can do.

What genres do you enjoy playing?

I personally enjoy all genres. I think I’m most known for the classical range of music, especially the small preludes that people seem to love from JS Bach. Everything works on the organ if you want it to. I’m into the classical organ style, and of course, my own music.

Do you also post your original compositions?

I do. I’ve set a goal to write one every week, publishing it on Sunday in a video. The last two weeks have been busy, so I didn’t get to write anything. I used to write something every week—a challenge I set for myself to have a deadline to work into, a good thing for me at least.

Do you play other instruments or sing?

I’ve studied church music, including organ music, piano playing, choir conducting, singing, and orchestra conducting, among others. I did that for a while, but I didn’t really enjoy it. I’m the organ guy.

At what point did you say, “I want to do music as a living, as a full-time thing”?

I grew into it, I’d say. Let me tell you the story. I finished school, and I wasn’t sure what to do, like every teenager. My parents suggested I try office administration training, a three-year program to become an office worker here in Germany. I did that with a large television company. It was really boring for me. When I was doing that, I got asked at church if I wanted to give the organ a try, and that’s how I got into organ music. I grew to love the instrument, and that’s what I wanted to do afterward. After finishing the training, I decided to do a course at university that’d give me a bachelor’s degree in church music, and that’s what I did. At that time, especially with the COVID situation, I started a YouTube channel. That’s the channel I’m working on today. I kind of grew into making and posting videos on YouTube. My channel grew and eventually became my full-time job. It all happened quite fast. I post my stuff on YouTube, and people seem to enjoy it, so I consider myself very lucky. I’ve been doing this for three years now. Although I have a degree in office administration, I wouldn’t go back to it.

How would you describe what music means to you?

I think about music as a way to communicate feelings you usually wouldn’t be able to convey with words, at least not in a way you can do it with music. In church, you can really influence how people feel with your music. There’s a great power with all kinds of music in influencing people with feelings and emotions. That’s like a superpower people don’t seem to understand, especially non-musicians, I guess. That’s what I want to do with my music. I want to make people happy and have fun myself doing it.

What would you say your goal in music is?

I don’t really have a goal, to be honest. I think as long as I’m enjoying what I’m doing, I’m doing the right thing. My goal is to be happy with what I’m doing, and I’m happy with my music and playing.

April 24, 2024

Champions: Isabella Velasquez, A Rising Star in the Making

In this interview, we talk with Isabella Velasquez, an inspiring talented young singer who fell in love with music at a young age. From singing along to Disney princess movies to dreaming of performing on big stages, Isabella shares her journey, aspirations, and passion for music in this interview. Additionally, Isabella recently showcased her talent as one of the semi-finalists on the TV show La Voz Kids Colombia, adding to her remarkable musical journey.

How did you find out about Make Music Day?

I’d seen it on social media, on Instagram. Also, some friends had recommended it to me. It looked really cool and fun, so I decided to try it out.

How was your experience at Make Music Day?

I think I’ve participated three times in the last few years. The experience was really fun, I had a really good time. I remember the first time was an open yard concert in a venue near the Brickell train station, the second time was at a venue in Miami Beach, near the Normandy Fountain, and the third time the event was at Lincoln Road in South Beach. They were all great experiences.

How did you start making music?

It all began when I was just three years old. My dad noticed my love for singing; I’d often sing along with the characters in Disney princess movies. So, when I turned four, he enrolled me in vocal lessons. I also did some theater at that age. From there, I really took off with my voice career; I started singing more and landing gigs. I even received a scholarship from the Little Dreams Foundation. This opportunity allowed me to attend classes with other talented kids and perform at various venues and malls. When I was six, I had my first-ever performance at the Miami Beach Youth Festival.

Which particular performance made you realize, “I want to pursue this as a career”?

I was really nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. Honestly, I thought people wouldn’t be listening, or that there wouldn’t be anyone there. But, as soon as I stepped on stage, everyone was so supportive, and there were people there. I felt excited and happy; all the nervousness and jitters went away. Stepping off stage, I realized how much happier and filled with adrenaline I felt. That’s when I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.

Do you also play instruments or do you just sing for now?

I started playing the piano when I was seven or six as well, and I started playing the acoustic guitar during the Pandemic.

And what genres do you enjoy playing? I believe you play a lot of pop music, right?

Yeah, I mainly sign pop. When I perform, I accompany myself on the piano and guitar. The choice of instrument depends on the song I’m singing. I sing a wide variety of songs, but it’s mostly pop, including American and Latin pop.

I believe you have some original music out. How was the journey of creating your own music?

I’ll tell you how it started. In 2020, I participated in the TV show “Pequeños Gigantes”. I made it to the finals as a nine-year-old, but the show canceled the final due to COVID. Since I had really engaged with music during those months of the show, when the pandemic came, I started composing music at home. I also did live streams. My dad helped me during the process of composing and creating lyrics and melodies. During that time, I got the idea of creating a song that had a happy and motivating feel to it, to face this difficult time that everyone was experiencing. My dad and I wrote this song together called “Never Give Up,” which in Spanish is called “No dudes más”. We partnered with a great producer and released my first song. From there, I kept making more and more songs.

Is your plan in life to be a full-time musician? Or is there something else you’d like to study on the side?

My dream career would be to be a professional singer. That’s the big dream, that’s the goal. If that doesn’t work out, I think I’d like to be a pediatrician. 

How would you describe what music means to you?

Music is something that brings me a lot of joy and happiness. It’s a source of comfort for me. Whenever I’m feeling sad, stressed, or upset, I can always rely on music because it’s something that I’ve connected with since I was young. It’s been a constant presence in my life.

What would you say your goal in music is?

I think my goal in music would be to become an internationally recognized singer like Shakira, Ariana Grande, or Whitney Houston— one of the big names. I want to perform on all the major stages I’ve dreamed of since I was little, inspiring people worldwide, and having large tours in big stadiums.

April 11, 2024

The Return of Make Music Day!

This Make Music Day, musicians of all ages and skill levels will ring in the summer with a day of connection, collaboration, and mentorship, participating in thousands of free music-making events on June 21.

In the U.S., a record-setting 150+ communities are gearing up for Make Music Day, with new hot spots in New Jersey and Wisconsin (each with 4 new cities), Texas (with 9) and North Carolina (with 12). Cities like Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake, and Tallahassee are also launching, all joining over 2,000 Make Music cities around the world.

Find a celebration near you!

April 11, 2024

Summer Step-Off: Earthgroove

We are thrilled to announce Make Music Day’s first-ever nationwide marching band initiative!

In a collaboration led by the National Federation of State High School Associations, music technology company MakeMusic Inc, and the NAMM Foundation, school and community bands across all 50 states will premiere Earthgroove by renowned composer Randall Standridge on June 21.

In the spirit of Make Music Day, the piece is uniquely inclusive, with optional parts to accommodate any kind of school musician. The music will be provided to each participating band at no cost, available as a PDF download or in the MakeMusic Cloud platform.

We invite your band to join!

Whether young or old, marching or stationary, amateur or professional, all bands are invited to register here. Sheet music and access to MakeMusic Cloud will be emailed to you as soon as you sign up.

March 21, 2024

The NFHS: Supporting Performing Arts Activities In Schools Across the US for Sixty Years

The Make Music Alliance met with James Weaver, Director of Performing Arts and Sports for the National Federation of State High School Associations, to discuss his work and the newly commissioned composition that will be premiered on Make Music Day 2024, June 21st.

MMA: Thank you so much for meeting with us today! We would like to start by asking you to tell us a little about the work you do with the NFHS.

JW: My position at the NFHS is Director of Performing Arts and Sports, so I oversee the activities of music, speech, debate, theater, academic competition, cheer dance and boy’s lacrosse. Most of my time is spent in the music, speech, debate and theater realm, so that is what makes the Make Music Day project so exciting for us. The NFHS has been an organization since 1920, so we have been around for a long time. The performing arts were added onto the NFHS world in 1964, so we have been building up over the last sixty years or so, putting our footprint where it needs to be in the school and state activities associations space. 

MMA: Are you personally a musician, and did you come to this work through music?

JW: I am, yes. I was an orchestra director in northwestern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa when I first started my career out in the world, so I’ve got an education degree in music and all my other degrees are in educational administration. But I am very much a musician and an arts person at heart. 

MMA: Obviously you are super busy, but do you still maintain a personal music practice? 

JW: I wish I did! As far as my kids’ development goes, my son is in orchestra and playing cello so I’ll play the cello with him, and those kinds of things. Unfortunately, my schedule does not allow me to play in a setting for myself. I’ve been asked several times to play for our county symphony, but the rehearsal schedule and my travel schedule just don’t mesh very well. I would love to if I could. 

MMA: Do you see yourself getting back to a personal musical practice at some point?

JW: I think so; right now I’ve got two kids in high school and one about to go to middle school, so life is extremely busy, and hopefully when they are all done and work slows down a little bit, someday I can get back to it. That would be great. However, I still get in a lot of musical practice, as I do a lot of music adjudication at several different states, and then I do clinics for honor ensembles. I really enjoy that, and that is what’s keeping me grounded in the activity right now. 

MMA: This year, the NFHS collaborated on a commission of a piece by Randall Standridge for high school bands to premiere on Make Music Day; we would love to hear some more about this piece, and what your hopes and goals are for the premiere. 

JW: This is a really exciting project. We worked together with Make Music Inc and the NAMM Foundation to put together a free offering for all high school ensembles to be able to perform during Make Music Day, which is really exciting for me. I think it would be great if we can get kids playing in the summer and realizing how good it is to play music every day, so they don’t just walk out of the classroom and forget about playing for the summer—we don’t want that to happen. So, luckily through the connections of Make Music Day, we were able to secure an original composition for this year called “Earthgroove” by Randall Standridge. He is a phenomenal composer in the education space, so this allows for a flex arrangement for any ensemble type at any skill level to be able to participate in Make Music Day. And so, where the NFHS comes in is supporting the administrative aspect of this, with the schools; how do we communicate with the states, how do we communicate with the schools, and how do we really start getting this piece out there to be played in what I hope will be thousands of schools across the country. 

MMA: We are very excited to see how many schools participate, even though of course many schools are already closed for summer by June 21st. How do you see this working?

JW: The nice thing about this is the way the piece works; it’s not going to take a whole lot of effort to really get the kids back in. They can rehearse it during the school year, finish it up, and then the teachers can invite everyone; they could say for example we are going to come in, have a pizza party, play the piece and have a great time playing music together on Make Music Day. So I think there are some easy incentives that can be built in for kids to want to come back, and I also think, with my own kids for example, they like to say “let’s get together and play music on this day; that sounds great’, and we can just do that on Make Music Day. 

MMA: That really sounds like fun. I know it’s early at this point in the year, but I’m curious to know if you have any idea of how many might participate? 

JW: My hope is that we have no fewer than one thousand schools that participate, but my own personal goal is much higher than that. 

MMA: That would be amazing! What resources are available to participating schools for promotion and sharing of their event on Make Music Day? 

JW: We have a suite of packages that will be rolled out over the course of the next few months as we register everybody. Each group will get two things as they register their ensemble: They will get the music for free, which is a huge benefit of being a part of this program, and then on top of that from our office we will start rolling out social media posts and ideas, and templates on what they can do for the social media aspect and for local media. We don’t want to forget about local newspapers, because that gets a lot of positive traction going in communities, and is a great way to get those messages out there. All of that will be coming out in the next couple of months, and that will be shared with everybody who registers for the program. 

MMA: That’s a very valuable resource to provide for registrants. And this is for high school ensembles?

JW: Actually it will also work for middle school students; it’s a flex band arrangement, so you can really do whatever you need to do to make it work for your ensemble. 

MMA: Great! And the music will be available through the Make Music Inc cloud?

JW: That’s correct, it will be available from the Make Music cloud; when they register they will get an email from my office when the music is completely done, which should be any day now (as of March 4th), and we will also email it out to everyone who has registered. They can register on our Arts Advocacy website which is arts advocacy.nfhs.org, and from there they will get all the materials they are going to need between now and June 21st. 

MMA: How do you see this piece living on after its premiere on June 21st this year?

JW: So, the people who register for this first go round will have access to the music for three years, so they can play it in their fall concert if they want, or in the next spring concert for example. After that it will be published, and will be available for purchase moving forward. It is a very cool sounding piece that I think a lot of students will be excited to play, and with the Earthgroove idea behind it it’s going to be one of those evergreen pieces that will be available for a long time. 

Register here to join in the June 21st premiere of Earthgroove by Randall Standridge.

December 24, 2023

Make Music Winter – thank you!

Selected Press Coverage:

Santa, Snow White pitch perfect in holiday fete,” by Lance Masterson, Polk County Itemizer-Observer, December 27, 2023
Flatfoot Flatbush celebrates arrival of winter,” by Julia Joseph and Adolfo Carrion, News 12 Brooklyn, December 21, 2023
Make Music Winter,” The Isthmus, December 21, 2023
Harbor Happenings: Make Music Day celebrates start of winter,” by Charlee Glock-Jackson, Gig Harbor Now, December 19, 2023
Montclair Make Music Winter: A Day of Music and Community,” Montclair Local, December 19, 2023
Make Music Winter Event: Radiant Revelry,” Mommy Poppins, December 15, 2023
What’s Happening: Jane Austen, Framing the Female Gaze, Hip-Hop Exhibit, and parrandas,” by David Garate, Bronx Times, December 13, 2023
Things To Do: Flatfoot Flatbush,” by Christina Izzo, Time Out New York, December 12, 2023
Depot Green to light up for the holidays on Thursday,” by Cathy Spaulding, Muskogee Phoenix, November 28, 2023

December 14, 2023

Next week: Make Music Winter!

Make Music Winter is just around the corner, with 33 cities joining to create a musical winter solstice on Thursday, December 21!

Just-announced events include:

As always, Make Music Winter events are 100% free and open to all. Visit makemusicwinter.org for the full schedule, and then join a music-making event near you!

November 21, 2023

Make Music Winter: the complete 2023 schedule

We are thrilled to announce this year’s lineup of 40+ free, participatory parades and performances for Make Music Winter on Thursday, December 21.

Across the country, join a unique participatory event to celebrate the first day of Winter!

Of course, there is so much more, from ukulele jams to caroling parties. Not to mention cities like Montclair, NJ, New York, NY, Ossining, NY and Salem, OR that go all-out with winter revelry all over town.

Visit www.makemusicwinter.org to see it all!

November 3, 2023

Featured Nonprofit Partner: Music Performance Trust Fund

This past June 21, for the 9th year in a row, the Music Performance Trust Fund supported dozens of special initiatives for Make Music Day across the U.S. These events, ranging from songwriting workshops to West African drumming sessions, gave professional musicians the chance to mentor up-and-coming players while providing a high-quality concert to the public.

The MPTF contributed to an astonishing 51 Make Music programs in 2023, more than double the number in 2022! Our deepest thanks go to the MPTF for supporting so much music.