There's plenty of places to hear music in San Antonio. (One less now that The Rustic has suddenly closed, although Stable Hall has really hit the ground running.) But finding the initiative to make music with others can be a huge barrier. That largely self-imposed wall comes crashing down on June 21, when Make Music Day pops up in the Alamo City.

On the longest day of the year, Make Music Day emerges in cities around the world, from Ghana, to Italy, to small American towns you've likely never heard of. This DIY festival transforms all kinds of spaces into performance venues, be it parks, libraries, record stores, or others.

The purpose, as it was 41 years ago in its first iteration in France, is to make a truly egalitarian music festival, where performers don't need clout or experience to get out there and enjoy their craft. In 2023, 117 cities across the United States played 4,791 concerts on Make Music Day.

Some places take "everyone" more literally than others, offering audiences a chance to play music in addition to enjoying more standard concerts. (The festival is organized by the National Association of Music Merchants, so it follows that some cities offer a strong emphasis on getting to try new instruments.) San Antonio has both, all for free.

As of June 3, there are seven Make Music Day events across San Antonio, with that number likely to rise as folks sign on:

• The AM Project at Hemisfair — "music, dance, music making crafts and so much more," promises the youth nonprofit on Instagram
• Make Music Theater at Texas Public Radio Headquarters — a long day (from noon to 10 pm) of concerts and activities including a modern classical performance, a drum circle, a public singalong, and karaoke
• CMI 210 Festival’s Youth Program Participants at Edgewood Theatre of Performing Arts — a final concert showcasing the skills of music students
• SOCO at Southtown Vinyl — a solo performance by an experimental ambient musician
• Tongue at Small Talk Spirits & Taps — a performance by a local hardcore band. Presumably some other programming will happen during the 4-hour event
• Mariachi Gallos de Oro and Fiesta Noche del Rio at the San Antonio Botanical Garden — a mariachi performance with dancers
• Opera San Antonio at San Antonio Public Library: Parman Branch — a demonstration about understanding characters through music by Apprentice Artists from the OPERA San Antonio-Classical Music Institute Young Artist Program

Musicians (professional or otherwise) who would like to see their name on the list can enter their information via this form. They will get a music profile, which will make them available to match with venues to make independent arrangements. It's not necessary to find a willing venue. Creatives can list their own spaces — the website suggests a front stoop — and get right to playing.

Doers who would like to get involved, but would prefer to build on someone else's idea can check a list of national projects on the project's broader schedule. Examples include downloading sheet music for a school band performance, a song swap for artists to make covers of each others' music, and a group project setting up flower pots to be played on. The deadline has passed on some of these projects, but now you know for next year!

There are 15 Make Music Day celebrations in Texas, including San Marcos, Dallas, and Houston. Remember, though, that they all take place on the same day — so you'll probably have to choose just one. If you're outside a city core, you can even sign up to create a new local chapter.

More information about Make Music Day is available at makemusicday.org. Local information is available at makemusicday.org/sanantonio.