Make Music Santa Fe Returns on June 21st, and AND THIS YEAR WE’RE TAKING OVER THE SANTA FE RAILYARD!

Make Music Santa Fe is returning on June 21st, joining the world in celebrating Make Music Day. Come join us by dancing, jamming, drumming, or just appreciating live music.

How Can You Watch and Participate?

Check out the full listings of performances, interactive lessons, and musical activities happening all across the city and at the Santa Fe Railyard from 1pm- 8pm. Any time someone signs up as a venue, or a books a show, it will be automatically added to the calendar.

View All Performance Listings

Free Activities at the Railyard Plaza:

Learn to play Harmonica!

Pick up your FREE Hohner harmonica, on June 21st, and join in a free lesson!

100 Free Harmonicas while supplies last!

Offered by Phil Arnold, Yamaha Artist and Clinician, music teacher at UNM Continuing Education. Phil will lead a free public group lesson in the basics of harmonica and learning tablature. By the end of the class you will know how to play a whole song on harmonica! We will have free harmonicas to learn with and take home, courtesy of Hohner Harmonicas and Make Music Day!

Check out Phil playing on the song “It’s Time”, recorded for Susan Clark’s new award-winning CD “Reflection”.

Ukulele Strum-Along!

Queen Bee Music Association is here to teach you how to play in just one day! Brian Nelson is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied a variety of instruments and musical styles. He has played music for more than 25 years and taught music for 15 years. From West African drum and dance to ukulele sing alongs to guitar lessons for all ages, Teacher B brings his passion for music and life into the classroom.

Learn to play West African Drum Music!

Akeem Ayanniyi will be teaching basic techniques of drumming, hands patterns, drum language and rhythms. Everyone is welcome to join in. Akeem is a master drummer from Nigeria and He has been teaching and performing in the U.S. for more than a decade!

Songwriting Workshop!

Given her first guitar at the age of 17, Teacher Lucy Barna has been singing her story through song ever since. An artist by nature, music was self-taught and her songs quickly became stories of her cross-country journeys and the deeper experiences of the human heart. Lucy’s passion lies in songwriting and in sharing herself through her lyrical storytelling. She enjoys inspiring and guiding others through the process of song-crafting, including lyric composition, arrangement and various instrumentation.

Circle Singing!

Circle Singing, originally inspired by Bobby McFerrin with roots in African traditional folk music, is an improvisational event led by one vocalist in the center. Everyone in the circle is encouraged to listen to one another and create music in an inclusive way that’s fun for all and helps with learning how to sing in a group of open minded individuals. With Circle Singing, everyone in the group becomes active and engaged in the new ideas that can lead to becoming a full song created by the group.

Joseph Ewatuya (also known as TEGA) is a musician, singer-songwriter, artist, & teacher at The Candyman Strings & Things locally in Santa Fe. Hailing from Dallas, TX, they started writing and performing their original music in 2017, sharing stories about life here & beyond. Joseph also uses their platform to raise awareness for Sickle Cell Anemia, which is a chronic condition that they live with. Singing has been their passion ever since the beginning, and they use their voice as a tool and a weapon to process any and everything through music.

Crash Romeo Karaoke!

Karaoke is a beloved past time here in the City Different, so of course we have to have everybody’s favorite DJ! Crash Romeo will be bumpin’ up the jams. All you have to do is get up and sing along to your favorite songs!

Busy McCarroll has developed a unique program that includes fun vocal exercises, voice strengthening tools, harmony techniques and songwriting. The songs are written as a group collaboration, based on ideas and stories led by Busy with her experience as a long time songwriter. – Busy has written over 300 songs, starting when she was 10 years old. Her first song was about the death of her dog, Blackie.

The Thunderstorm Club songwriting process goes like this….first a song subject is voted on, then a music genre, then the ideas start to flow. Busy writes down the ideas, she and her students structure those ideas into a song with a beginning, middle and end. The students support and encourage one another while sharing and trading verses, bridges and choruses. The Thunderstorm Club has had over 120 students and have written over 70 songs. Students have ranged in ages from 6-16. They’re recorded 8 songs and have been nominated for a New Mexico Music Award. Some of the wide open topics covered in songs they’ve written so far are; The Earth, Friends, Family, a Jazzy potato (yes, Potato), Holidays, losing a Loved one, the Sun, a Goathead, a Time-Machine, the Pandemic, Christmas etc.. They also wrote a song about making Music, titled ‘Make Music’, which they’ll be performing today! 

Amado Abeyta is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is one of the lead singers, and songwriter (with his brother Buddy) and for Sol Fire and Lumbre Del Sol. Amado is the son of Santa Fe music legend Chris Abeyta and considers his father to be one of his greatest musical influences. Amado started his musical journey as a drummer at the age of 5 and moved to congas and timbales when he joined his fathers band (Lumbre Del Sol) in 1994. At the age of 18, he learned guitar and began writing music at 22. In 2002, Amado and his brother Buddy formed the popular band Sol Fire. Amado has performed original music locally and nationally and has shared the stage with many touring acts, performing for international dignitaries and celebrities, and has been honored to play for three U.S. Presidents. Along with performing live, Amado has composed jingles for commercials, hosts a daily popular radio show on KSWV, and is a co-owner of sports broadcasting company, Sports Primo. And most recently he and his (soon-to-be) wife, Alana Banner, welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Everly Rose, into the world. Get ready for another Abeyta musician Santa Fe!

We invite you to celebrate Music with Busy and The Thunderstorm Singing/Songwriting Club and sing along! 

Please Note:

Performances associated with Make Music Santa Fe must be free to attend and participate.

Venues and specifics on Make Music Santa Fe 2023 events will also be contingent upon COVID-19 restrictions.