NEW YORK – On June 21, Make Music Day, a global celebration of music held annually on the summer solstice, will introduce a nationwide marching band initiative for the first time. This year’s event, led by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), MakeMusic Inc., and the NAMM Foundation, will see school and community bands across all 50 states perform Earthgroove by Randall Standridge in free public concerts.
Earthgroove, inspired by Maurice White of Earth, Wind, and Fire, embodies a message of love, community, and peace. The composition is designed to be inclusive, offering optional parts for various school musicians. Bands can access the music at no cost through a PDF download or the MakeMusic Cloud platform.
More than 3,000 marching bands are expected to participate, continuing the momentum of the 2020 national collaboration, Together As One. Registration for bands is now open, with sheet music available for musicians to start practicing.
Randall Standridge shared his enthusiasm for contributing to Make Music Day, aiming to honor Maurice White’s legacy through Earthgroove. James Weaver of the NFHS expressed excitement for this initiative that promotes musical diversity and creativity. Tom Gierke of MakeMusic, Inc., highlighted the provision of free access to the piece on MakeMusic Cloud, enhancing the preparation experience with practice tools and accompaniment.
The 43rd annual Make Music Day will feature over 5,000 live music-making events across the United States, with further details on national and international initiatives to be announced in April.