National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

On June 21st, 2007, New York City will be the latest American city to play host to a version of France's long-running Fête de la Musique festival. Dubbed "Make Music New York" the New York event will join over 300 other cities around the world by ringing in the first day of spring with hundreds of free musical events in all five boroughs.

According to a press release, "For one day, public space throughout the five boroughs—sidewalks, parks, community gardens, and more—will become impromptu musical stages, dance floors, and social meeting points. Thousands of amateur musicians, in every genre, will be able to play on the sidewalks for the biggest crowds of their lives. Professional musicians will be able to attract new audiences, who will come out from under their headphones to hear unfamiliar groups risk-free. And everyone will be invited to sing along and enjoy the first day of summer."

The festival is an edition of the international Fête de la Musique, which was launched in France in 1982 with the support of the French Ministry for Culture. By 2000 the festival had been adopted in over a hundred countries, growing out of its European origins to be embraced in such far-flung locales as Morocco, Cambodia, Cameroon, Nicaragua, and Japan. San Francisco became the first American city to host an edition of the festival with Spirit of Music in 2000.

Festival founder Christian Dupavillon explains the phenomenon: "It's the day—it's now a firm fixture —when musicians, whether they're amateurs or professionals, can play wherever they want at any time, day or night. They might choose a station concourse, a school playground, the inside of a cathedral or church, a café, the steps of a town hall, historic building or prefecture, a passage-way, a prison and so on. Amateurs, often nervous when they have to sing or play an instrument in public, have the chance to play freely without feeling self-conscious."

Aaron Friedman, the organizer responsible for bringing the festival to New York, adds "What excites me the most about Make Music New York is that it's very participatory and open to everyone in every community. Everyone is welcome- especially amatuers. We want to encourage people to make music in a spirit of joy and community. We want people to make music for their neighbors and with their neighbors, to come away from the experience with a renewed sense of the possibility and promise of the city."

For more information, including registration and sign-ups, consult the Make Music New York website.