Five creative ideas for celebrating International Music Day with your students

International Music Day on 1 October is a fantastic opportunity to bring the global language of music to life in your classroom. It’s a global initiative founded by the International Music Council in 1974. A tribute to music's universal power and its ability to unite people from all cultures and communities.

It's a day for everyone—whether you're a seasoned music educator, musician or simply a music lover to actively engage with and appreciate the art form in whatever way you can. The core message is simple: music is for all of us, and this day is dedicated to celebrating it.

Here are five ideas for how music educators can celebrate the event with their students. To mark the occasion, we’re also running a prize draw with a chance to win a Sonos Roam 2 portable speaker! See the link at the bottom of the page to enter.

1. The Global Listening Challenge

Create a playlist of music from five to ten different countries or cultures. It could include anything from Japanese koto music and Nigerian Afrobeats to Argentine tango and Scottish folk tunes. Have students listen to the pieces and research the history and instruments behind one of them. For a fun, competitive element, turn it into a ‘Guess the Country’ quiz where students listen to a short clip and guess its origin.

2. A ‘Music in Our Lives’ Showcase

This activity is inclusive and focuses on the personal impact of music. Ask students to prepare a short piece (a slide, a poster, or a video) that celebrates music in their own lives. They could share a meaningful song, discuss an artist who inspires them, or explain what music means to their family or culture. You can then showcase these projects on a display board or have students present them in class.

3. The Genre Challenge

Divide students into small groups and challenge them to compose a short piece of music inspired by a specific musical genre. You can assign each group a different genre from a list you create, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music (EDM), hip-hop, or blues. Provide them with some basic parameters, such as a specific chord progression, a unique rhythmic groove, or the sound of a certain instrument to build their piece around. Students can use classroom instruments, music software, or even just their voices and body percussion. The final pieces can be recorded and shared with the school to celebrate the wide world of music.

4. Instrument ‘Show and Tell’

Turn the focus to the instruments themselves. Invite students who play an instrument to come and perform and perhaps talk about the instrument itself, its origins and the style of music the instrument is typically used in. If possible, invite a professional musician whose specialism is traditional music from another country to come and play. This hands-on, live experience can be incredibly inspiring and educational, giving students a chance to see and hear something new.

5. A Virtual Music Trip

Take your students on a virtual journey. Using a large screen/whiteboard or projector, explore music and performances from around the world via platforms like YouTube or through Google Arts & Culture's music collections. You can ‘visit’ the Sydney Opera House, watch a flamenco dance in Spain, or listen to traditional drumming from Ghana, all from the comfort of your classroom. This is a great way to make music history and culture feel exciting and accessible.

If you're doing something to mark the occasion, please share your celebrations with us on social media using #TrinityMusic. We'd love to see how you celebrate the day! 

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