Make Music Day in North City brings a musical community together

Nathan Jensen played a medley of songs

Shoreline's first annual Make Music Day celebration went very well with an enthusiastic turnout of local musicians and music lovers. 

The weather cooperated nicely and the sun lingered high in the sky on the longest day of the year to illuminate the celebration and warm the gathered in musical community, outdoors in the parking lot of Shoreline Music School at 1240 NE 175th Street.

The musical performers included Alan, Forest and Jason of Shoreline’s Acoustic Folk Band Banjo Creek. Shoreline’s multi-talented Nathan Jensen played a medley of songs on accordion.

Leland Huff played his penny whistle, and Nick Ryder his ukulele while he sang a wonderful rendition of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Over The Rainbow and What A Wonderful World.

Elizabeth Chayer and Andy Chayer
led the crowd in sing a longs

Elizabeth Chayer, Co-Founder and director of Shoreline Music School and American Dance Institute Shoreline and her son, Andy, played guitar and mandolin respectively and led the crowd in a number of classic sing alongs including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and John Denver.

The open mic portion featured Shoreline's Marilu Saunders on the Soprano Recorder, Stan Rawlins, visiting from Yuma, AZ, on the Harmonica and Marja and husband Warren Murray sang their original song entitled Lopez Island. Warren then played his acoustic and dobro guitars, harmonica, and sang a blues medley that timed traveled this listener back to 1920's Blues America.

Alex Maloy, a popular guitar teacher at Shoreline Music School, fascinated the audience with a multi faceted demonstration of the bass guitar. 

Nick Ryder and his ukelele

Special thanks goes out to long time Shoreline business owners Alex and Theresa Molnar for opening up their building's parking lot for the event, and the staff of Shoreline Music School for their help including organizer and Director of Education Erin Howard and dance instructor and administrative assistant Dakota Krist who led the children in movement activities while their parents enjoyed the music.

Held annually on June 21, Make Music Day is part of the international Fête de la Musique, taking place in 800 cities across 120 countries. 

The daylong, musical free-for-all celebrates music in all its forms, encouraging people to band together and play in free public concerts. This year, more than 65 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music Day celebrations, encompassing thousands of concerts nationwide.

Shoreline Music School opened its doors in Shoreline’s North City neighborhood on May 1, 2018. “We offer serious music instruction for Shoreline area students in a school culture that is fun, friendly, and devoted to community. Shoreline Music School has 10 excellent music teachers on staff and offers private lessons in 16 different instruments plus classes in sight reading and music theory.

Make Music Day is presented by the NAMM Foundation, and coordinated by the Make Music Alliance.