Critical Impact | Make Music Day

Brian Balmages’ salute to music education, performed by hundreds of bands across the country.

The NFHS, Alfred Music, the NAMM Foundation, MakeMusic Inc., and the Make Music Alliance are teaming up to offer school and community bands free early access to Critical Impact — a powerful new piece by composer Brian Balmages. This Grade 2 piece (2:30 long) is flexibly written for Concert Band, Full Orchestra, or a mix of band and strings. The music will be provided to each participating band at no cost, with sheet music and MakeMusic Cloud access provided when you sign up.

We invite your band to join!

Play Critical Impact live on June 21 for Make Music Day, or send us a video of your performance to be featured.

Teachers and students can also submit a short video about how music education has made a difference in their lives, and your school could win a portion of $15,000 in new music from Alfred Music!

All bands are welcome. Sign up below to get your music and take part!

Download graphics for Critical Impact

Billy Mills Middle School (Lawrence, KS)

Chatham Charter School (Siler City, NC)

Chenango Forks High School (Binghamton, NY)

Dansville High School ( Dansville, MI)

Fort Herriman Middle School (Herriman, UT)

Frankfort High School (Frankfort IN)

Glenwood Middle School (Chatham, IL)

Grover Cleveland Middle School (Caldwell, NJ)

Hall-Dale High School (Farmingdale, ME)

Harold L Richard High School (Oak Lawn, IL)

Humboldt High School (Humboldt, KS)

Lexington High School (Lexington, TX)

Middlebrook School (Wilton, CT)

O’Fallon Township High School (O’Fallon, IL)

Our Lady of Lourdes Middle School (Decatur, IL)

Ovey Comeaux High School (Lafayette LA)

Pekin Community High School (Pekin, IL)

Perkiomen Valley Middle School East (Collegeville, PA)

Point Loma High School (San Diego, CA)

Port Chester High School (Port Chester, NY)

Portales Municipal Schools (Portales, NM)

Poteau High School (Poteau, OK)

Rugby High School and West Henderson HS (Hendersonville, NC)

Sachem North High School (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY)

Shawnee Mission West High School (Overland Park, KS)

Summit High School (Breckenridge, CO)

Uintah High School (Vernal, UT)

Ustach Middle School (Modesto, CA)

Victoria Park Collegiate Institute (Toronto, ON)

Wahlert Catholic High School (Dubuque, IA)

Whitko Jr/Sr High School (South Whitley, IN)

Widefield High School (Colorado Springs, CO)