This blog is a space for members of the Westminster Chamber Orchestra to post their ruminations on music and social distancing due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Share your thoughts on how you are coping, how self-isolation has affected you as a musician or as a student, what you are doing to keep up your musical skills, how we can maintain a sense of community as an orchestra while being separated, your feelings about cancelled/postponed concerts, and your hopes for the future. In short, post whatever your thoughts are on any of these topics or others.
Hello music buddies. I know a lot of our inspiration comes from working as a group, but please, please don't feel alone right now. We have so many options for communication. ALWAYS feel free to reach out if you need anything. I found this calendar online, and seems appropriate right now. I hope it inspires you guys and with any luck we'll all be back together this fall!
ReplyDeletehttps://lacrosse.extension.wisc.edu/files/2020/03/Action-For-Happiness-Coping-Calendar-2048x1448.jpg
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone! It feels like forever since we last got to meet up as an orchestra (and a little longer for me, since I wasn't able to be at our last two practices). I have been using this time to start physical therapy for the tendinitis in my wrist, and things have been going really well! We have entered the strengthening portion of my treatment, and I am hoping to be able to play again soon (listening isn't quite the same for me). To fill the time, I've been really enjoying listening to the live broadcasts put on by the Seattle Symphony! They're doing more this week, and I've included a link to their schedule below. I hope you are all staying healthy and making the most of this time!
ReplyDeletehttps://seattlesymphony.org/live
Hi everyone, I hope you all are staying healthy and sane during this crazy time. As concerts and in-restaurant dining have almost entirely shut down across Utah and much of the country, a large portion of the musicians I know who perform professionally are out of prospective work indefinitely. On top of that, the possibilities for community ensembles, jam sessions, and even playing music with friends and loved ones are largely restricted. Though I have really struggled with this, through the last few weeks I have seen so many efforts from all over to keep creating music. There are many people collaborating virtually to write music, sending instrumentals for others to produce, or using social media to post playing challenges for others to join in on and post their own videos. Yesterday, I was walking through the park and noticed a group of friends who had brought their instruments to the park (two violins, a cello, an upright bass, and a cajon) and were playing together while keeping a safe distance. Seeing things like this have kept me motivated to stay in touch with my musical friends and keep practicing my instruments. These have been a stressful few weeks, and there will be more to come; that being said music is a unique outlet we all share that can help us come together and persevere through this time. Hope you all are well and I look forward to seeing you soon.
ReplyDeleteHello friends!
ReplyDeleteI've been going on walks through the neighborhoods each evening. It's quiet and there are few people around.
Occasionally someone across the street calls out a greeting and expresses cheer at seeing another human being. Sometimes, I run into someone walking along the same sidewalk as me. We observe the necessary social distancing precautions ("You walk as far to the right as you can and I shall walk as far to the left. This as much for your sake as it is for mine"). Smiles and nods are exchanged. After all everyone is having a hard time so let's be kind to each other if we can be.
The sun usually begin its slow descent through the sky around then, and it tints everything in an pretty orange glow. The cherry blossom trees are in full bloom and they're beautiful, especially in the light of the setting sun. People have taken to writing kind messages in chalk on the sidewalks and every new drawing I stumble upon makes me a little happier.
My favorite poet, T.S. Eliot, once wrote "April is the cruelest month." Even if we are in a pandemic, I don't think that's the case at all. Perhaps romanticizing little things is how I cope, but it helps me appreciate the world and remember the things I have to be grateful for. So I hope you all are finding things to be happy about, no matter how small. I hope the small things add up. And I hope the things you have to be grateful for always outnumber the things that make you sad.
I'm grateful for the music that we've had the chance to share, and I'm grateful for the music we'll get to share in the future!
On a slightly different note, the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra has created a digital concert hall that's accessible to anyone and everyone! (And if you cough, the whole auditorium doesn't turn around and glare at you!)
https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/news
Hello all,
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is high-risk, I don't really get to leave my house. So I've begun working on my next round of repertoire, which includes Liszt, Ives, Beethoven, and Scarlatti. So I'm keeping busy.
I've been thinking about the recitals and concerts I was supposed to perform in this semester. I had a degree recital that was essentially cancelled, I got to perform as a live-stream which allowed my family and friends to see it, and it was very kind of the school to allow me to play. I was supposed to play in several others, and it's hard knowing that no one is going to hear that music.
I'm hoping that I will be able to resume my collaborations, and in person lessons soon. Working over video isn't the same as in person instruction. In the meantime, I'm listening to music, practicing, and trying to survive my classes and workload. Wish me luck. Hope to see you all soon.
(Here's a link to my recital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovEv9qmZTHY&t=824s )
I'm just curious to know your impressions of your recital as a live stream event instead of full audience.
DeleteHello friends,
ReplyDeleteI hope all of you are surviving this plague. I have lived through and survived some strange things in my life, but I think this is the most bizarre. There is never a dull moment. We are doing some renovations in our basement and battling noise and dust. I have switched the majority of my private students to online teaching which has been a challenge. Some have opted not to continue in this format. I hope they come back when this isolation ends.
There are so many things that I miss right now.
I miss rehearsing. I have always enjoyed the process of going from the first reading of the material to the finished product in concert. And I miss the camaraderie and fun of playing with like-minded friends, the thumbs up or high five when you, or someone in the section, nail the passage you have worked so hard on. When you are involved in 5 large ensembles, that is a lot of missed rehearsals.
I miss playing the concerts. The excitement of finally performing what you have worked so hard on. Of doing you best and accepting the applause. Of celebrating with others on a job well done.
I miss playing duets with my students. Though I am teaching my grandson how to play clarinet and we play together.
I miss my recital. I miss the excitement and even the nervousness I felt as it got closer and closer, and then - poof - it was gone. It's been a struggle to even want to pick up my flute and play.
I'm thankful that I am well and we even found toilet paper in the store today. If I can ever get through the massive amount of writing I have to do before the semester ends, then I will be able to celebrate what I have accomplished over the past 3 years. There will be future concerts. We can figure this out.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteFirst I just want to say I have missed making music with all of you and seeing you each week. It is a difficult yet beautiful time to be in the music community. As others have expressed, it’s difficult that we can't make music in a group setting, however, I have seen many recordings shared all over social media of people making music in their homes. A friend sent me a video of Andrea Bocelli singing Con te partiro from his home. This inspired me that music can bring people together even when nothing else can and I just think it's a gorgeous song. It feels like a lot has been taken from each of us at this time but music can't be taken away and will make people smile regardless of everything else.
As for me, I'm around Salt Lake still trying to finish classes and graduate. The uncertainty of everything is difficult and I’m disappointed graduation is cancelled for now, but I think things will get better from here. I found that cooking and going on runs have been good ways for me to cure my boredom. I hope everyone's well, and hopefully I will get to see you all soon.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteIt’s so nice to 'read' from you, and that you’re finding some silver linings in all this. TBH the current situation has hit me pretty hard, not just because I’m not sure when/if I’ll get to see my Dad again, but also because life right now is similar to when I lived in Korea (being socially isolated, having limited mobility, etc.). When I came to Westminster and found the Orchestra, I was so thankful to be surrounded by an instant community of comrades where I felt a sense of value and belonging. If life has taught me anything it’s that as long as you have music in your life, you will never be lonely. I am splitting my practice between singing, fluting, piano and guitar and using this time to be more creative as a method of self care.
To keep in touch, I think it would be cool if we could have different topics to post under on this blog like ‘recipes’, ‘recommended reads’, ‘music links’ ‘movies/tv shows to watch’ so we could file and share the things that are keeping us entertained, what do you think? Thanks for those who have shared links already! I loved ‘A musical gift from the Musicians of the Utah Symphony’ to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-_fXcO9N8o&feature=youtu.be
I miss seeing all of you at rehearsals and was looking forward to how awesome our performance was going to be; I guess now we just have more to look forward to, including seeing you all soon!
I hope that you and your families stay safe and healthy!
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteI hope you're all staying healthy, both physically and mentally. I know it can be hard to balance those two aspects of wellness while also following all of the recommendations. I have enjoyed reading all of your posts so far. Hearing your updates makes me miss playing alongside you all even more.
The quarantine has definitely been challenging for me. I feel grateful that my loved ones are taking the precautions seriously and have remained healthy. As a student, I’ve struggled to stay in the school mentality without the emotional support of seeing my peers every day. Musically, I’ve also missed having a creative outlet established in my weekly routine—a priority for me as a non-music major. I can’t practice at home because I live in a thin-walled duplex and don’t have a mute. Instead, I’ve been trying to improve my theory and aural skills. I also teach private lessons and made the switch to virtual instruction several weeks ago. It’s definitely challenging and probably less impactful for students. I took for granted being able to point to a student’s fingers when teaching a new note and clapping a rhythm together without any lag. This final month of the spring semester has felt very overwhelming because I’m finishing up all of my graduation requirements, including my thesis. With everything going on, I decided to suspend my lessons for the month of April. It makes me sad to not even be teaching music during this time, but I know that it’s a necessary break for me while I focus on my academic responsibilities. However, I want to continue checking in with my students to provide any support or resources that I can. I look forward to sharing music with them (and you all) again as our world returns to normalcy.
Lastly, I am a member of the ASW Student Board—if you are experiencing any financial hardship amidst the crisis, please feel free to apply to the ASW COVID-19 Relief Fund. See this link for more information on what types of expenses it can cover and your eligibility. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuTPK7XD2-aZhnjD1df8ULBpw62RhVAtOfIAI1EJUZjm0NcQ/viewform If the link doesn’t work, look for an email from ASW Creative or feel free to reach out to me. I would be happy to answer any questions that come up.
Take care everyone,
Kate
Hey everybody!
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone is doing well with what has been going on. It sounds like everyone is surviving! I am working often in a Starbucks at a supermarket. Unfortunately, they will not close down the shop until the market closes, so my Starbucks is one of the last ones standing!
I've also been practicing a lot more on the piano. My hours have bumped up a couple. I am working on several new things that I hope you will get to see if this all calms down.
It's also been very nice spending more time with my family! I've been taking walks often with my dog in the mornings and cooking a lot with my mother.
Be safe!
Gabriel S.