'Music from the rooftops': ABRSM video shows how lockdown has changed music-making
Monday, June 21, 2021
The video is released to coincide with Make Music Day, on 21 June
The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music has released a video showing how musicians around the world took to rooftops and bedrooms to play on through a year of lockdown.
The 70-second film, which is ABRSM’s contribution to Make Music Day 2021, features a performance of the soul classic, Stand By Me, arranged and performed by the Reel of Fortune Ceilidh Band from Scotland.
It is accompanied by film of lockdown performances by ABRSM customers, partners and staff in dozens of countries around the world, and can be viewed here from today.
ABRSM chief executive Chris Cobb said: 'Over the last year we have seen the incredible power of music and the resilience of the people who make it.
'Our Make Music Day video is about celebrating that and encouraging others to share their experiences of the highs and lows of music making during the year. Above all, it is about inspiring everyone to keep playing on.'
With events taking place nationwide, Make Music Day is the UK’s largest free single-day music festival, encouraging musicians, producers, promoters and music fans to collaborate and organise events in their communities. Musicians are also invited to take part in one of many national and international projects, organised by MMD UK and its partners at home and abroad.
Barbara Eifler, chair of Make Music Day UK, said: 'Make Music Day is that one day in the year when we can all celebrate music and recognise the incredible variety of musicians, old, young, professional, leisure-time, fantastic champion players, complete beginners – and all the different kinds of music that they love and perform.
'Music is a language that connects us all, across communities, across nations, across the world. I cannot wait to see what creative events will take place this year and to see the joy in people’s faces as they listen or play or sing. It’s been a hard year, everywhere on the globe, let’s come together on 21 June through music and start healing.'