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“ When this is over, and it will at some stage be over, “

it’s those that have managed to adapt and overcome
that will have survived.

WHAT’S NEXTT’S NEXT
S WHA
STAY MOTIVATED, STAY IN PRACTICETAY MOTIVATED, STAY IN PRACTICE
At the beginning of this period I saw some colleagues getting
Finding At the beginning of this period I saw some colleagues getting
Finding musical motivation when having no live concerts,musical motivation when having no live concerts,
very upset because people had suggested they should
recordings or productions to prepare for is something no-one very upset because people had suggested they should
recordings or productions to prepare for is something no-one
consider diversifying into teaching or some other non-live
is used to. For some professional players, gigs are the only . For some professional players, gigs are the only
is used to consider diversifying into teaching or some other non-live
performance aspect of music to earn. The people in the
thing
thing that keeps them practising. I know this has led tothat keeps them practising. I know this has led to performance aspect of music to earn. The people in the
main were those who have been able to create a full income
genuine difficulties for some
genuine difficulties for some, the mental strain being no small , the mental strain being no small main were those who have been able to create a full income
part of the equation. Personally, practising is a two-edged of the equation. Personally, practising is a two-edged
part just playing and perhaps felt that the show they were on,
just playing and perhaps felt that the show they were on,
Orchestra
sword. I’m lucky that I enjoy it, find it meditative, productive , productive
sword. I’m lucky that I enjoy it, find it meditative Orchestra they were in or the freelance circuit in general was they were in or the freelance circuit in general was
leaving them in the lurch by not providing the opportunities
and I look forward to the private time it affords me to be in my
and I look forward to the private time it affords me to be in my leaving them in the lurch by not providing the opportunities
that had in the past been available. But 8 months later, had in the past been available. But 8 months later,
own space and head. Perhaps like going for a run or playingspace and head. Perhaps like going for a run or playing that
own
it’s clear this wasn’t the case, and it was just the businesss clear this wasn’t the case, and it was just the business
a solitary round of golf or reading a book. Its positive time for it’
a solitary round of golf or reading a book. Its positive time for
reacting to the climate. The hard-cold reality is that if you are . The hard-cold reality is that if you are
me and isn’t a chore. This is how I try to sell it to players I’m . This is how I try to sell it to players I’m reacting to the climate
me and isn’t a chore
encouraging, professional or amateur. At the same time, I’m . At the same time, I’m going to survive this, you have to find a way to protect your
encouraging, professional or amateur
going to survive this, you have to find a way to protect your
unlucky
unlucky, as any period greater than a couple of days away , as any period greater than a couple of days away musical output and future by diversifying and developing
musical output and future by diversifying and developing
your
from my instrument and my playing goes downhill faster
from my instrument and my playing goes downhill faster your business. Even if that means doing something non-business. Even if that means doing something non-
musical to ensure you survive pandemic.
than Compo in the bath. At least in my head it does. Which is musical to ensure you survive pandemic.
than Compo in the bath. At least in my head it does. Which is
perhaps even more dangerous. Maybe I’m an addict. But over even more dangerous. Maybe I’m an addict. But over
perhaps
the last 8 months it’s been as blessing. s been as blessing.
the last 8 months it’ Please
Please don’t misunderstand. This is not the same as thedon’t misunderstand. This is not the same as the
awful R
awful Rethink, Retrain, Reboot adverts which are so offensive toethink, Retrain, Reboot adverts which are so offensive to
every freelance / self-employed artistic person in the country..
I’ve seen various efforts of colleagues and friends to stay in seen various efforts of colleagues and friends to stay in
I’ve every freelance / self-employed artistic person in the country
shape, motivated, positive and musically active. Basically, , motivated, positive and musically active. Basically, W
shape
We should not be giving up on the arts for a second, but there e should not be giving up on the arts for a second, but there
ways to keep playing. Some are inspiring, some less so
ways to keep playing. Some are inspiring, some less so, but , but is no shame in making sure you survive to come back firing on
is no shame in making sure you survive to come back firing on
all cylinders when the work comes back. Which eventually it
all genuine and honest. Musicians need an audience and all cylinders when the work comes back. Which eventually it
all genuine and honest. Musicians need an audience and
social
social media sort of provides this. Some made a lot of videos media sort of provides this. Some made a lot of videos will!
will!
and uploaded them to platforms like Instagram and Y
and uploaded them to platforms like Instagram and YouTube. ouTube.
When this is over, and it will at some stage be over, it’s those this is over, and it will at some stage be over, it’s those
The Acapella app went viral! When
The Acapella app went viral!
that have managed to adapt and overcome that will have
that have managed to adapt and overcome that will have
survived.
There have been many collaboration recordings and videos
There have been many collaboration recordings and videos survived.
for organisations like the British trombone society
for organisations like the British trombone society, Cory , Cory
Call me an optimist, but I believe that if you can be one of those
Band and W
Band and West End of Wales, and there have been onlineest End of Wales, and there have been online Call me an optimist, but I believe that if you can be one of those
who
meetings, classes, masterclasses, seminars and lectures who survive, you’re going to be better off when the cogs of the survive, you’re going to be better off when the cogs of the
meetings, classes, masterclasses, seminars and lectures
music business start turning again.
which ensembles, colleges, universities, music hubs andensembles, colleges, universities, music hubs and music business start turning again.
which
individuals have set up to try and keep members, students or
individuals have set up to try and keep members, students or
even the public motivated.
even the public motivated. Jonathan Pippen
L
Lots of new online teaching hubs have popped up, offering ots of new online teaching hubs have popped up, offering
lessons
lessons and coaching remotely in an effort to take advantage and coaching remotely in an effort to take advantage
of the lack of traditional face to face teaching, and many have
of the lack of traditional face to face teaching, and many have
set up home recording studios in an effort to carry on with the
set up home recording studios in an effort to carry on with the
work they were doing before lock down, and also to develop
work they were doing before lock down, and also to develop
new avenues. I’ve done a little bit of all of these things,
new avenues. I’ve done a little bit of all of these things,
and even have found myself writing and arranging music
and even have found myself writing and arranging music
which has massively helped me to stay motivated and feel
which has massively helped me to stay motivated and feel
productive from home
productive from home. Whatever people have done,. Whatever people have done,
I think the key is that whether you do it quietly on your own, or
I think the key is that whether you do it quietly on your own, or
by covering you tube in recordings of yourself, everyone has , everyone has
by covering you tube in recordings of yourself
had to do something. And that’s the key. Keep doing stuff, stay s the key. Keep doing stuff, stay
had to do something. And that’
positive and find ways to enjoy playing you instrument.
positive and find ways to enjoy playing you instrument.
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