Musicians endure the heat, share their talents on Make Music Day in Fair Lawn
Despite being one of the hottest days of the week, musicians came out to celebrate Make Music Day in Fair Lawn on Friday, a celebration that invited the entire community of all talent levels to share in the joy of music.
The event ran from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., showcasing talents all over town. In Berdan Grove Park at a half past noon, a group of students had a jam session with guitar, a drum bucket and two harmonicas. In the background, two children shyly sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" at the “car”aoke, a van ran by “Kelli-Oke” that drove around town to give people the opportunity to sing.
“Music is just a wonderful way to bring the community together,” said Mayor Gail Rottenstrich, who started her day celebrating at Berdan Grove Park. “Music is love, music promotes togetherness and we’re happy to have that happening all over town.”
Julian Matallana, an upcoming senior at Fair Lawn High School, was one of the students playing at the park. He's been playing drums since he was in third grade, he said, keeping his love of music with him throughout the years and now plays in the Fair Lawn High School’s rock band.
“I took the opportunity to come out and help this year and have a little fun,” said Matallana. “It’s enjoyable to play music even though it’s a hot day, we’re nice in the shade.”
What once started as a musical festival in France in 1982 has spread globally, where communities in more than 1,000 cities spend time making music every June 21. The global event invites people of all skill levels, ages and musical genres to turn local parks, downtowns and even their own backyards into performance spaces.
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Fair Lawn, which held the event for the second time this year, was one of the six New Jersey towns commemorating Make Music Day this year, with Englewood, Montclair, Paterson, Newark and Atlantic City also joining in the festivities.
Bringing Make Music Day to Fair Lawn was inspired by Sandra Guevara, a member of the Fair Lawn Arts Council, who was looking more than a year ago for a place for her 15-year-old son Matt Kwait to play guitar. Her search last year led her to Make Music Day, which she brought to the Arts Council, and the rest was history.
Kwait has played guitar since he was 8 years old, starting with drums and bass before settling on guitar as a main instrument. He started his day playing guitar at Berdan Grove Park, but would later play a solo set at the Dutch House Tavern.
“It feels good,” said Kwait about having a venue to play for the community. “I’ve always had a love of music since I was little, so that’s really what’s inspired me.”
Outside of Borough Hall around 1:30 p.m., a group of students aged 6 to 11 from the local Teremok Music Studio played classical piano pieces as the audience stayed cool in the shade watching from tables.
A little down the street in the downtown business district, Elizabeth-resident Jimmy Lee sang the country song “All my exes live in Texas” by George Strait in front of Taco Buzz on River Road.
Lee, who is starting a band called Jimmy Lee & The Jersey Country Boys, was happy to perform a mix of covers and his original songs in the Fair Lawn area, as it was another way to share his favorite music.
“It’s been great to get back to my roots on the street and share my love of authentic country music,” said Lee.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Musicians share talents on Make Music Day in Fair Lawn NJ
