Sunday, 22 November 2020

Trying to arrange virtual performances for schools

 I have started to send message to a couple of contacts to gauge their interest in having me perform online as a guest artist.  So far, I have reached-out to five music teachers.  Three have responded that there is some interest; one has actually extended an invitation.  This is great news.  So, I am busy preparing.  In fact, this school is interested in my performing, plus adjudicating some of the student musicians, and offering a workshop, masterclass.  So, I am very excited about this opportunity.  I am trying to generate some work.  My plan is to continue to reach-out to other music teachers, with the hope of generating even more performances.

     (December 5). Followup posting to share the satisfaction feeling I experienced delivering performances, workshop and adjudication on December 3rd, arranged at St. Elizabeth CHS.  Wow, what a treat, indeed.  While I was a bit nervous a few days prior, dedicating time to preparation, I feel that I accomplished a great deal of success.  In the morning, I performed, answered questions, mainly from Mrs. Mansell - which helped a great deal to keep things moving.  This performance & Q / A first hour was followed by a workshop lesson, introducing students to graphic notation, sparking their creative spirit and inviting students to appreciate the sounds in their environment.  I think this second hour went well.  The afternoon session started similar to the am session:  I performed and completed a Q & A segment in the first hour; then, the second hour, I was invited to listen to an original composition, and two vocalists perform.  It was fantastic.  I truly do miss teaching.  

     I think the performance part demonstrated and offered many tunes in a medley; lots of variety in styles.  I actually prepared a listening guide with questions.  I also prepared additional handouts for the graphic notation experience and some suggestions to listen to Epitaph for Moonlight by R. Murray Schafer.  The preparation for this presentation was busy, but enjoyable.  I think the most nervous part is using the virtual platform to perform, speak, teach, listen, etc.  One is always concerned about the sound quality and if other technical difficulties occur with surprise.

     I hope that I can do more of these presentations in the future.

Friday, 6 November 2020

Former students

     I think I have included some mention of this in previous postings.  The other night, I was invited to play the keyboard / organ at a church, with a former student vocalist:  Anne M.; it was a memorial mass.  Way back in the early 2000’s, she would hire me on many occasions to accompany her at wedding performances at the church.  Much time has passed since we worked together.  It was nice to see her and she sings beautifully.  This particularly memorial mass came from the church recommendation at St. Paschal, and the client contacted me to work-out the details.  I then contacted Anne to invite her to sing.  Actually, Anne recommended me to the church I have been playing regularly for the past 20 years!  Sunday mass and additional celebrations, depending on the season, for example:  Easter, which requires additional masses.  When I started at the church, Saint Clare of Assisi, it was in an elementary school.

     This particular experience reminds me of the many opportunities performing with a variety of former students.  These former students have moved on to develop great careers for themselves.  I cannot remember how many different students have contacted me to perform together; perform for their family celebrations; and more.

     Currently, I am working with a former student who has invited me to perform at real estate presentations.  She is a realtor and an accomplished pianist.  In school, she explored the clarinet as a member of the concert band.  

     I am proud to have played a role in their musical lives.  I am honoured that they contact me and invite me to perform with them.  A number of vocalists, and a number of instrumentalists.  I suppose the former students have become a part of my network.  It’s nice to know that they trust & value my artistic contributions.  When I started teaching, I never thought about future opportunities with former students.  

     Recently, I have contacted my network of former students who are practicing teachers, to ask them to consider inviting me to perform a virtual concert to their classes at school. Rather than contacting the individual schools, my connection with a former student (teacher) may help me to arrange this project with success - there is a better chance that something fruitful will come from this project idea.  

     This posting is showing once again the connection between my music artistic performance career and my teaching career - how the two work so well together.  It reminds me of that scene from “Amadeus” film, where Mozart’s father asked his son:  do you have pupils?  The young Mozart was a performer, and a composer, but he was encouraged by the father to also have pupils.

Thursday, 5 November 2020

Music Alive . . . Leaning more towards Education(?)

     I continue to devote time to this project.  I think it is paying-off.  With Character Community (Susanne’s) help, the proposals submitted to the YCDSB is gaining some enthusiasm, and hopefully, with another meeting scheduled for next week between Character Community and YRDSB, the potential for offering a modified set of educational modules will take place in the new year.

     I am both frustrated and inspired to volunteer my time because I virtually meet with Esprit Orchestra, and talk to Canadian Music Centre, and think about possible strategies to arrange in proposal fashion.  It’s keeping me in the game.  If successful, I will get paid some money for delivery and monitoring the program in the new year.  I am hopeful that Edel would be willing to split the duties & pay.

     I have had two virtual meetings with the committee members and music alive festival was focused on performance with the educational component as an important secondary reward; now, with Covid-19, and many music students not permitted to make music together using traditional band instruments and their voices in choirs, the festival is highlighting the educational component over the performance component.  I think the key is to develop experiences for students to develop skills that can be transferred to improving their respective performance abilities, once we are permitted and supported to return to regular collaborative music-making.  For now, Music Alive must adapt, and continue to be an important resource for York Region, and beyond.

     (December 5) The website is open for registration!  We officially launched December 1st.  It has been intensely busy adjusting documents for the website, talking to guest artists, and having discussions with Edel, Elkan, and Susanne.  Now, I continue to gather information (bios and photos) from guest artists, and I continue to try and find guest artists.  Now, we wait for clients to register.