Over the past sixteen years, one of the most enjoyable events I've come across in my hometown is Make Music New York. On the summer and winter solstices, there are musical performances held all over the city (several other cities also hold this) and many encourage audience participation or participation by non-professionals who sign up in advance.

I covered this for The Latest in 2018, and while I haven't attended every year, I have several times and always enjoyed it. One time I even received a pair of drumsticks and sat in a drum circle by the Brooklyn Bridge and beat out a rhythm on a plastic work bucket. I appreciate music in public spaces for anyone to share; Sing for Hope and its pianos placed around NYC is another example of this kind of welcoming musical experience. 

For this winter solstice Make Music, I looked through the website listings of events and noticed that a group called Tilted Axes was going to have a noontime event in midtown Manhattan. And they were asking for participants on guitar and other instruments! I do play guitar but didn't want to stroll around while playing one, so I emailed and asked if I could play tambourine, and was told sure, join up. So I did.

I showed up at the meeting site at 11 AM and joined the rehearsal. Ten minutes before noon, our group of guitarists, bass guitarists, a trumpeter, drummer, and bells players (and a few people on camera to document our playing) walked over first to Greeley Square and played two separate pieces, and then strolled over to Herald Square, a block north and just across the street from Macy's, the iconic flagship location known most for the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.

As a percussionist, I mainly played accents because the focus of the Tilted Axes pieces is the guitar chorus. They played mostly chords (the first piece was mostly C major and G major, and the second was mostly A minor) with some solo work interwoven. I kept my tambourine beats fairly steady to provide a bit of backbeat and kept my ears peeled to the drummer's work.

We were very fortunate that the weather was nice. It was mostly sunny without wind and not very cold. I was the luckiest musician of the group; I was able to wear gloves while playing my tambourine. People of all ages were watching us, and many stopped to soak in the music: don't think that all New Yorkers are always in a rush! Many took cell phone photos and videos, which we expected, and two members of the group gave out postcards with info on Tilted Axes. 

We played for less than thirty minutes and would spread out into a circle at both Herald and Greeley Squares. It was enjoyable and an intriguing way to usher in the Winter Solstice. 

No matter where I have gone around the US and the world, outdoor music is a delight for all folks.