Covid 19 has been a major bummer. There’s no way around it. Our family loves attending outdoor concerts and performances during the summer months. As we head into the July, we are missing it very much.
I have, however, loved seeing how musicians are coming together to share performances using digital platforms. Lockdown concerts from the talented Kanneh-Mason family have been a wonderful treat. A friend of mine who used to work for the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra put together an evening of music on Zoom, with musicians and vocalists from all over the country participating in sharing music. Yo-Yo Ma’s collaborations that he shares on his Facebook page always bring my family joy.
These digital performances need not only be left to the professionals. Consider ways in which you or your student might also hold your own music recital during a pandemic.
ZOOM COLLABORATION
If you have other family members or friends with music students, team up to hold a “Music Sharing Time” on Zoom. Create a program for everyone to follow. Have those who aren’t performing mute their microphones.
LIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Have your student prepare 10-15 minutes of songs to share. Let your friends on your Facebook or Instagram feed now that your kiddo (or even you!) are going to be performing live. Set your phone up on a tripod with a good view of his hands and then hit the “GO LIVE” button! This is a great way for friends and family to show support by sharing comments on the livestream that your student will enjoy reading through after the performance ends.
FACETIME GRANDMA
Even if Facetiming a friend or relative means you won’t have the biggest audience, sharing a recital during a pandemic with someone you don’t get to see in-person via Skype or Facetime is a wonderful gift for them.
RECORD VIDEOS TO SHARE
If the “live” aspect of a zoom conference or a Facetime call intimidates your child, don’t push it. Create a video of your student playing his favorite song. Sometimes knowing only YOU are watching the performance in the moment helps take some of the pressure off. Sharing the video via text, e-mail or social media and getting feedback feels less intimidating. Next time around, see if your student has built up the confidence to do something live!
