Make Music Day Brings Communities Together Across the State

Music is more than a job for Jonathan Leahy. It’s a calling that bridges his love of technology, creativity, and community. And he wears many hats as a multi-talented jingle composer, podcast host, and e-commerce specialist for Heid Music. But his passion for making music accessible to all shines brightest each year during Make Music Day.

Make Music Day is celebrated worldwide in more than 1,000 cities across 120 countries. The June 21st event turns streets, parks, and porches into vibrant stages featuring free music. Wisconsin holds the record for the most events with 1,037 around the state in 2024. Find one near you — this year here.  

Amery, Appleton, Ashland, Baraboo, Beloit, Cable, Cambridge, Cross Plains, DeForest, Dodgeville, Green Bay, Hayward, Kenosha, Land O’ Lakes, Madeline Island, Madison, Marshfield, Middleton, Milwaukee, Monona, Oshkosh, Platteville, Shell Lake-Spooner, Stevens Point, Sun Prairie, Superior, and Verona are among the 150+ U.S. cities hosting thousands of Make Music Day performances nationwide, as part of the world’s largest annual music event. 

Anne Katz, Create Wisconsin

Heid Music is a statewide sponsor along with the Create Wisconsin organization. And in Appleton, Heid Music partners with area school districts, Fox Cities PAC, Lawrence University, Mile of Music, and more – for a day full of free, interactive programming and fun.

“It’s all about participation,” Leah Reed, events coordinator at Heid Music says. “Whether it’s picking up a ukulele for the first time, joining a communal percussion session, which is our fun way of saying drum circle, or watching local piano teachers fill a room with music, Make Music Day celebrates everyone’s ability to enjoy music.”

Meanwhile Leahy, who got his start writing jingles as a high school student who was fascinated by the early internet, knows it takes discipline to turn passion into craft. 

“It’s like what Stephen King says: you have to punch the clock,” Leahy explains. “I sit down at Pro Tools every day and treat it like work. That’s how you grow creatively.”

---

Listen to the complete “Make Music” conversation with Maino and the Mayor here:

---

Leahy’s discipline carries over to his work at Heid Music, where he creates jingles for the business, including those heard on the popular Heid Music repair stream and Sound Underground podcast. 

And while many may associate musicians with a freewheeling lifestyle, Leahy insists serious musicians are some of the most disciplined people he knows. 

“Music teaches discipline just like medicine or law,” he says. “It’s repetition, study, and constant practice — but with a creative twist.”

Beyond Make Music Day, Leahy and Reed are focused on supporting music educators and nurturing the next generation of artists. The Sound Underground podcast features interviews with musicians, educators, and industry leaders. They consider it a way to highlight the diverse world of music education.

“We really want to lean into supporting music educators and building that community,” Reed says. “Music is good for the soul — whether you’re just starting or you’ve been playing for years.”

And as Make Music Day approaches, Heid Music invites everyone to pick up an instrument, or join others in support. It’s a way to discover the joys of creating and enjoying something together.

“Music has always been a big part of my life,” Leahy says. “And thanks to Heid Music and Make Music Day, we get to share that love with our community and the state.”