Make Music Philly Festival switches to virtual format due to COVID-19
Make Music Philly happens every year on the first day of summer. But this year, due to social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual city-wide free concert series will take place mostly digitally, with a few socially-distanced in-person events happening on June 20th.
According to the Make Music Philly website, “Participation is encouraged from all ages, genres and abilities, from indie rock to bluegrass to a cappella, from music students to professional artists and everything in between.”
The site also notes the festival’s goals of providing an “equal platform for musicians of all skill levels, interests and walks of life and to inspire the next generation of musicians through innovative outreach programming.”
Because of the new virtual format for this year’s festival, all performances will be streamed on various Facebook pages and other online platforms. The festival’s website also says that there will also be several other musical events happening that day including “Live from Home,” where musical performances can be streamed from your living room or backyard. A Festival Facebook post notes that a list of these acts will be live on the Make Music Philly website later this month.
Another event to take place is “Bedroom Studios in Philly,” where one can contribute to a collaborative recording studio track by sending in your own samples.
The Festival’s Teach Music Online Week will take place from June 15-21. During this time, music schools and musicians are encouraged to offer free online music lessons.
Other virtual festival events to occur are #MySongIsYourSong, a global song swap where local artists will learn and cover songs by other local artists and hear their own pieces covered as well. 25×12, another festivity, is a daylong initiative to “provide everyone access to 12 hours of free music lessons for 25 major musical instruments.” The event will be accomplished through live streaming services as the festival plans to have lessons from beginner to advanced available for all instruments, ranging from “guitar and percussion to theremin and electronics.”
Lastly, a Virtual Sing-along/Karaoke will allow attendees to create or participate in virtual Sing-along sessions. The festival advertises this event to be “the perfect opportunity for anyone,” especially shy singers because while you can sing along, you are able to mute your microphone so “only you can hear yourself.”
It is noted that the Festival is not limited to Philly residents, especially in a virtual format this year. Make Music Philly is possibly more accessible now than ever.