Un-imagined, unexpected and full of adaptation describes our current lives. What I have come to understand, though, is that music is still thriving! I am so grateful to all of my students and their parents for their patience and perseverance during this time. Many students have inspired me by practicing more than usual. We got through the spring with virtual lessons and performances: our studio participated in a live virtual format for Federation and National Piano Guild, both of which were surprisingly free of technical difficulties. We managed to keep our high school group performance class going on-line all through the spring and everyone in the studio participated in at least one virtual small group recital.
I took some time off in June and am now beginning to resume lessons again. Many students will likely continue to work with me on-line, some will resume coming to my studio for in-person lessons, and some will use a combination of both of these formats. I have come to see much value in virtual lessons and I think distance learning will remain with us well after the pandemic has ended. I am continuing to enjoy learning and experimenting with new ways to improve audio and video quality.
That being said, I have to admit that when my first student arrived back for an in-person lesson, I was so overjoyed I would have gladly paid him for the lesson instead of the other way around! I have never been so happy to see a live human in my studio! I took for granted that connecting and communicating with students in person was an incredible privilege which I have missed so much.
"Sometimes you just have to shut the world out, close your eyes...and turn the music up." Not sure who said that, but boy do those words resonate with me now.