Dear everyone, hope you have all been keeping well ‘during these unprecedented times’… blah, blah, blah. What an intro! Probably the same message that’s been spamming your mailbox. Even through it has been difficult to keep up a positive mindset, news such as hearing that naturalist Sir David Attenborough has joined Instagram to promote climate awareness has raised the hopes for many.
Over the lockdown period, I continued my studies at Junior Trinity through remote learning. This has been an invaluable experience for us all: learning how to mute and unmute on Zoom, taking part in sectional rehearsals despite being muted! Taking part in a variety of virtual projects has also allowed me to nurture my skills in recording which will prove invaluable to me this year as I continue to audition and search for new exciting projects with educational institutes.
Sadly, my inaugural performance with the National Youth Concert Band was cancelled, alongside my school’s Founders’ Day showcase and several residential summer music courses that I was looking forward to participate in. Though, one of the positives I took from these cancellations was that it allowed me to explore courses further away from home, now moved online which gave me the opportunity to meet young musicians as part of the Cambridge Youth Music Young Composers’ Workshop and the Macclesfield Music Centre Online Jazz Sessions – both great fun!
With Junior Trinity, I had the opportunity to perform in their flagship ensembles, the Wind Orchestra, Sinfonia and Four Part Choir as well as to feature in a number of their smaller, intimate recitals now conducted online. I also participated in a number of projects, such as exciting virtual performances with the National Youth Concert Band and Medway Youth Orchestra.
And then we came to September – returning to Junior Trinity for blended learning, comprising of some on-site and off-site lessons; hooray! And seeing all of those smiles when returning to school, and exploring new repertoire with my school orchestra – Copland’s exciting work, Hoedown. I have personally been exploring some exciting repertoire by none other than Hindemith, and Thea Musgrave’s classic, Piccolo Play.
Though for new Year 13 students, it continues to be a time of tempestuousness – teachers and students preparing their personal statements to be scrutinised, upcoming mock examinations which could define our actual grades in the case of another national lockdown, and interview preparation. But every five minutes or so, log off, go outside for a walk, whip out your flute (or whatever you play, or indeed sing) and perform! In times of stress, the chemicals in your brain act as if they are in constant chemical warfare – so make some music, release some endorphins, feel good.
RICKY TAING 