🎶 The Fête de la Musique: How France’s Street Party Conquered the World

June 21 isn't just the start of summer—it's a full-blown musical celebration. In France, the Fête de la Musique turns every corner into a stage. As an English teacher in Vincennes, I wait all year for this “holiday.” From jazz quartets in Nice to techno along the canal in Paris, it’s one of my favorite moments of cultural pride. And it’s not just French anymore—this festival has become a global celebration of creativity, oral fluency, and the universal power of music.

From French Streets to Global Stages

The Fête de la Musique began in 1982, launched by then Minister of Culture Jack Lang and music journalist Maurice Fleuret. Inspired by a national study showing how many French people played instruments but lacked a platform, the event promoted one key idea: “Make music everywhere. Concert halls nowhere.”

Just three years later, in 1985, the concept expanded to Europe. Today it’s known as World Music Day and celebrated in more than 120 countries across 1,000+ cities, from Bogotá to Berlin, from Mumbai to Dallas.

In the U.S., the celebration is called Make Music Day, with events in over 150 cities and more than 5,000 free performances. Yes, I’ve celebrated there too—once in Dallas, Texas, where I saw mariachi, jazz, and bluegrass bands fill public parks with song.

Why I Love It

I’ve celebrated the Fête de la Musique in Toulouse, Nice, and Paris, and every time feels different. In Toulouse, it was brass bands. In Paris, DJs spun late into the night. And in Dallas, I danced in a public square under string lights to a surprise blues concert.

Why does this event matter to me as a teacher? Because music breaks down barriers. In my private English lessons and E-learning programs, I see students come alive when they hear music in English. They don't worry about grammar—they just feel the language.

How to Use Music to Learn English 🎧

You don’t need to wait for June 21 to start. Here are a few ideas for using music in your English course—whether you’re learning with the CPF in Vincennes, or online at home:

1. Use Lyricstraining.com

This free website turns songs into gap-fill quizzes. It’s fantastic for building listening comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar in context. Choose your favorite artist and level, and let the music teach you.

2. Read and sing along with lyrics

Use sites like genius.com or azlyrics.com. Singing helps with pronunciation and rhythm—and it's more fun than memorizing word lists.

3. Create a personal learning playlist

Choose songs you like that are sung clearly. Classic pop, acoustic folk, and musical theatre are often easier to understand than rap or electronic music.

4. Focus on expression, not perfection

Imitating singers helps you speak with better intonation. Don’t worry about sounding native—worry about being clear.

5. Watch live performances

Many Fête de la Musique concerts are livestreamed on YouTube. Watch them, take notes on lyrics, or just enjoy them with subtitles in English.

Whether you’re in Paris or Porto, Vincennes or Vancouver, Fête de la Musique reminds us:✨ Language is for expression, not perfection.✨ Music helps you speak, not just study.✨ Confidence is born from joy—not from rules.

So this June 21, take your English out into the real world. Sing. Dance. Listen. And if you’re learning English in Vincennes with me—I'll see you on the street. 🎷