By Jasmine Taylor

“There are many ways people can take social action through music in their own communities, from performing at community events and protests to organizing benefit concerts, creating participatory music experiences, and using music to foster reflection and connection.”

On May 4, 2026, Sebastian Ruth hosted a webinar in collaboration with Yale Online and the Yale School of Music to revisit his online Coursera course, Music and Social Action, exploring questions such as: “What does it mean for musicianship to serve the public good?”

Originally published in 2016, the course has continued to resonate with learners around the world. Ruth shared that he wanted to encourage learners to take the ideas from the online classroom and apply them within their own communities. His goal was for participants to recognize that people across the globe are engaging with the same ideas and using music as a tool for connection and impact.

When asked why the ideas in Music and Social Action continue to resonate today, Ruth said, “I think musicians often ask themselves the question of how their work can contribute to improving the lives of people in their communities and around the world. In today’s socio-political context, I think musicians and artists are particularly looking to the past to understand models for how their artistry can connect to public commitments.”

When Ruth isn’t teaching online, he runs the organization Community MusicWorks, and teaches a seminar at the Yale School of Music titled Music, Service, and Society. In the course, he explores the many ways theorists, artists, and educators have connected the arts to positive social impact. He shared that “the topic is very rich because intuitively many people understand music to tap into a deep part of our humanity, and from there see potential for music to benefit society.”

The webinar welcomed participants from India, Italy, Brazil, Peru, and across North America. Through the Q&A discussion, it became clear that communities around the world are finding meaningful ways to use music in service of others.

If you’d like to learn more about the course, visit Yale Online: Music and Social Action

Missed the May 4 webinar? Rewatch it here: Music and Social Action Webinar Recording