In terms of the musical community, the Coronavirus has really shed some interesting, and also troubling light on many aspects of how musicians make a living. My original training was as a performer (originally trumpet and now piano), and only much later in my life did I veer towards musical composition. I never abandoned my love of performing, which also gave me inspiration and motivation to compose music that I could perform myself. For many years I have been able to piece together a living as a professional musician with “a little bit from this and a little bit from that”.
The current pandemic has laid out in stark terms the fragility of many aspects of life, and most certainly those of performing musicians. Although the virus has virtually eliminated any opportunities for me, and my jazz singing spouse Suzi to do live performances, I have been very fortunate to have been quite busy working during the past few months from the comforts of my home studio, orchestrating, composing and producing music for an upcoming Netflix film. I even got to remotely supervise several recording sessions in Vienna for the project.
In some ways I feel a bit guilty knowing that so many other musicians, who depend SOLELY on performing, have basically had their lives turned upside down with no real end in sight for this situation. I personally miss the satisfaction of playing music with other musicians, but it’s a far cry from the devastation that others are going through.
So, I encourage EVERYONE, should you have the opportunity to support a streamed or socially distanced performance to do so. Music is not just entertainment, it is part of who we are as a species, and there are SO many wonderfully talented and dedicated people who have made it their careers and livelihood who need your help. And the great thing is the music they make will make YOU feel better as well!
Well stated…I totally concur!