Virtual events planned

By Angie Landsverk

Waupaca Area Arts and Culture Network members were in the midst of planning for the first Make Music Day Waupaca when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“This pandemic has really forced us to be more creative,” said Marci Reynolds. “It’s amazing.”

Make Music Day is a free worldwide celebration of music.

It started in France in 1982 and is held each year on June 21.

The event encourages people of all ages to gather in public spaces and share music.

National and international organizers say this year’s celebration now has to be virtual.

“This is our first time doing it,” Reynolds said of Make Music Day.

She is president of the Waupaca Community Arts Board and among those involved in the arts and culture network.

The group formed last year to streamline efforts, combine resources and cross promote events.

When those involved in planning the local event learned it was moving to a virtual one, they still wanted to proceed, she said.

The network is organizing it with support from the city of Waupaca.

Reynolds said the city paid the registration fee to be part of the event.

People may visit makemusicday.org/waupaca and www.facebook.com/makemusicdaywaupaca for information about local activities.

Those interested in helping with the plans may message Reynolds through the Facebook page or email her at [email protected]

Homemade instruments

One part of the event is already underway.

“It’s how to make an instrument from trash at home,” Reynolds said.

Bash the Trash involves watching a weekly video and then making an instrument.

A video is released each Sunday through Father’s Day.

The first one was on Mother’s Day.

See the videos on the local Facebook page.

Reynolds said the national Make Music Day group is producing the videos.

“Anybody can do it,” she said. “It’ll be really fun for people.”

Participants may take pictures or video of themselves playing the instruments and post them on Make Music Day Waupaca’s Facebook page.

Another part of the event is My Song is Your Song.

Musicians of all levels are invited to submit their original songs.

Visit www.makemusicday.org/national-projects/mysongisyoursong for information and to also submit songs.

The deadline is Thursday, May 21.

Reynolds said when all the videos come in, they match up people to do a video of someone else’s song.
“It’s a global song swap,” she said.

The local celebration also includes a Virtual Open Mic.

People may submit up to three videos for it.

Reynolds said examples could include a family singing a song, someone playing a flute or children singing a song.

Visit the local website and Facebook page for details and submit videos by June 5.

The videos are being played from 5-6 p.m. Sunday, June 21, on the Facebook pages of area businesses and organizations.

“We will try to match the music with the venue,” Reynolds said.

Other parts of the June 21 event include a Pandemic Playlist for Spotify, virtual harmonica class and Campfire Sing-A-Long.

Reynolds said they are receiving 100 Hohner harmonicas for distribution, and John Laedtke is leading its online class on June 21.

Campfire Sing-A-Long involves three different groups playing 20 minutes of music on Facebook Live that evening.

With song lyrics available ahead of time, people may join in from around their own campfires.

“It will be the last event of the day,” Reynolds said.