Annual ‘No Music Day’ observed in Brazil

As amusing as the idea may sound, the aim of NMD is to encourage a greater appreciation of music through its absence.

'I decided I needed a day I could set aside to listen to no music whatsoever,' Drummond explained to the Guardian. 'Instead, I would be thinking about what I wanted and what I didn't want from music: not to blindly - or should that be deafly - consume what was on offer. A day where I could develop ideas.'

Today will see the attempt of silencing all music in Brazil in particular. The NMD's official website features a photograph of a street in Sao Paulo displaying a poster of Drummond's manifesto with statements that include 'iPods will be left at home' and 'record shops will be closed'.

'I couldn't imagine a world without music but sometimes I don't think we realise how much it frames our life,' says Claire Pledger, a third-year music student at the University of Leeds, when Muso explained the event.

'No Music Day is a brilliant idea to make us appreciate something we normally take for granted,' she adds. 'I will be observing No Music Day - although I have to admit I feel lost already!'

NMD was chosen to fall on 21 November each year as it is the day before St Cecilia's Day - a celebration honouring the patron saint of music.

www.nomusicday.com

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