April Is nearly here
Of all the things I could have imagined this 2020 world being embroiled in, it would be all of us fighting off this virus! I think the word we all need is endurance. Imagine a long arduous journey where we just have to keep going to the end.
We are coming up on the third week of online music lessons. There have been wonderful highlights including my youngest student who dressed up in lollipop mouse ears and colorful clothes which really brightened my day! Annabel has only been learning for a few months and she managed learning online very well. (Photo with Mom’s permission).
Some students have used their home time to do extra practice and it really shows! One of my high school guitar player/singers has recorded that beautiful and strangely prophetic song song “If the world was ending” after her last lesson and her rendition is beautiful. You might remember Kaitlyn from the last Soiree.
Leo has written a new song to encourage everyone “ Spring Allergies”! Chorus: “Even though there’s a virus going around, We’re not going to let it get us down.” I am sure you will be hearing it at the next Soiree. I hope to have more recordings coming in this week because sometimes is it not easy to hear clearly when we are online.
I do think week three might see some of us get frustrated and cranky. I know by last Friday I was a bit snappy – sorry for that! It is a lot of extra work because I have to record material for singers, and prepare more carefully so I have student material in front of me on the piano. However, I am really happy that I can teach my students and see them each week and hear what they are doing, and I hope everyone can continue through April. Let’s just endure this journey and stay distant and well.
Face time and skype are working well but I am also now using google duo if anyone would prefer that. It seems to work well. I have fibre optic cable and fast internet thanks to Carol’s work but I realize not everyone has that facility and sometimes there is a delay but we are all managing. I would love to get some recordings of students especially singers but try using voice memo or some audio only program because it is clearer and easier for me to access. But I can also access video but better to put it in drop box as the files are big.
If you have not seen this video below it is amazing. Boston Conservatory at Berklee student Shelbie Rassler made an arrangement of the Burt Bacharach song “What the world needs now”. She sent out the arrangement to all her musician friends and each recorded their part solo and she edited them all together. Very inspiring. (Must have all had metronomes!)
https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-now/what-world-needs-now-student-made-video?ss=213221
April: I am not taking a Spring Break. It seems pointless when we are all locked in to our homes so I am happy to keep teaching and will take a break when we are allowed out again. I hope everyone is OK with that.
You can pay fees by using Zelle (I am told by my bank that it is pronounced Zail, like sail), or post a check to my address (2119 Sprunt Ave, Durham NC 27705) or drop a check in my mailbox but text me when you are doing that please. I know these are very tough times for all of us and I hope the government can make good on its promise to help us all financially.
April fees will come due on Wednesday 4/1/2020
Monday, Tuesday and Friday people will owe 4 weeks and Wednesday and Thursday people 5 weeks and this will all be in your email this week. On the subject of my feedback emails, I am trying to put a series of bullet points about what to practice in the subsequent week. If parents of the younger students could cut and paste these points into something that the student can have on the piano or on a bulletin board or in the front of their binders so they are clear about what to practice each week. I am very keen for this to happen; let’s take advantage of all this extra indoor time!
Stay well, be patient and endure this imposition, play lots of music, write new songs and compositions, send to me and be kind to each other.
PS the pollen is requiring a tad more endurance. I guess the trees have to do their thing!
Lorna
