On 21 June, the global community comes together to celebrate Make Music Day (also known as Fête de la Musique or World Music Day). Originating in France in 1982, this unique event has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, united by a simple, powerful philosophy: to make music accessible to everyone, everywhere.
As music teachers, you are already champions of this cause every single day. However, mid-June brings its own distinct rhythm to the school calendar. While the departure of exam cohorts can leave secondary departments feeling unusually quiet, it signals a shift in focus toward lower years, end-of-term primary productions, and transition days.
The good news is that Make Music Day is all about participation. Here are a few straightforward, low-prep ways to mark the day in primary or secondary schools without adding to your workload.
1. Take the Music Outside (primary & secondary)
The original spirit of Make Music Day is rooted in public spaces. If the British summer weather allows, take your lesson outdoors.
- Primary: take a class outside for a sound walk. Have students sit quietly for two minutes to listen to the ‘natural composition’ of the school environment – what sounds do they notice? Can they recreate those back in the classroom in a ‘sonic postcard’? If you have portable recording devices, e.g. iPads, could you record sounds and import them into a DAW to create a digital piece? See our Composing a Journey Student Workbook for a longer project idea.
- Secondary: Set up informal student performances around the school site during lunchtime. A casual, pop-up busking session creates a wonderful festival atmosphere and removes the pressure of a formal stage.
2. Playalong Assembly (primary)
Instead of a traditional performance where the few play to the many, involve everyone!
Choose an upbeat, universally known track with an infectious rhythm. Options could include classic feel-good anthems like “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves or Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” (both are official Make Music Day UK playlist). Spend some time ahead of the assembly teaching the school a basic body percussion pattern (video below). Then when the song plays during assembly, the entire hall becomes an ensemble!
3. ‘My Musical Identity’ Starter (secondary)
Ask students to bring in one song that represents their heritage or a favourite memory – or just a piece that they enjoy listening to. Perhaps they could send you a YouTube or Spotify link to add to a class playlist. Spend the first part of the lesson playing snippets of these tracks and letting students explain their choices.
4. School-wide Sonic Time Capsule (primary & secondary)
Capture a snapshot of your school’s musical life on 21 June! Use a phone or other portable recording device to record snippets of music-making around the building: a primary class singing a warm-up, a student practicing their instrument, or the jazz band rehearsing. Stitch these together (using a DAW) into a short audio track to share in the school e-newsletter or on social media, celebrating the unique soundtrack of your community.
Keep it simple; Keep it joyful
However you choose to mark Make Music Day this year, remember that the most impactful moments are often the simplest. It’s a fantastic opportunity to advocate for our subject, remind senior leadership of the vibrant creative life within the school, and – most importantly – give your students a moment of musical connection.
How does your school plan to celebrate Make Music Day this year? If you try any of these ideas, we would love to hear how they went!
