Blow your trumpet

Fitting right in

Artistic director, Rob Jones, reveals how member instrumental group Misfits Music has found COVID-19 compliant ways to run

At the very beginning of lockdown during March, we started running online activities such as playalong sessions, quizzes and bingo to keep in contact with our members. We also helped many of our older and less technically able members to use both Facebook and Zoom during the lockdown so that they could stay connected with others.

As restrictions started to ease, we got NESPA is a charity which organises one of the oldest competitive music and drama festivals in the country. Founded in 1907, it has been running annually ever since, except during wartime. 2020 was expected to be a busy year. As the closing date for entries approached, the impact of COVID-19 set in and we realised that a live festival was unlikely, so we forged ahead with a quickly formulated plan B.

Participants were asked to submit prerecorded performances, using whatever technology they had to hand. A timetable was prepared as usual with virtual classes set up using Zoom meetings in place of physical venues. Performers were given access to the relevant Zoom meeting, where videos were shared by a host as if it were a live performance. The audience was invited to unmute and applaud at the

permission from Moseley Park and

Pool to run outdoor in-person sessions, which strictly follow guidelines on social distancing. We only have group sizes that are recommended by government advice, with volunteers who help us welcome members and ensure they stay spaced safely apart, and we also provide hand sanitiser. If anyone is self-isolating or shielding, or is displaying symptoms they can instead join us for our online activities.

We started running in-person drumming sessions alongside rehearsals of our normal music because, at the time of printing, playing wind/brass instruments is currently banned and we really wanted to give our players the chance to get together and make music, even if they can’t play their own instruments. The sessions have been really popular so far. We lend out end of each class. The adjudicator then gave live feedback, speaking to each performer individually and to the group as a whole.

It was as near to the ‘real’ thing as we could manage. One parent described how her family, including those who would not normally be able to attend, were able to watch a concert, ‘with all the buzz of a real competition.’

Location was no barrier to participation. We had soloists and their accompanists, adjudicators and their stewards, teachers and audiences from across the UK. A couple of videos a day were also posted from past participants, including Dame Evelyn Glennie. They were invited to record a few words, remembering their time at the festival, our own percussion for these sessions, although we do have people bring their own too! Another core part of what we offer is wellbeing visits for some of our older and more isolated members.

Putting on these extra activities has been a lot of extra work from both myself and my colleague Reuben, and our volunteers and committee have been a great support. Luckily, we secured crucial funding from the National Lottery Community Fund –Coronavirus Support Fund to support our outdoor activities, and a grant from Heart of England Community Foundation to support our online activities.

We are having new attendees most weeks at the moment – I think the word is spreading that there is finally a chance to play together in a socially distanced and

A festival in lockdown

Janette Hall, festival director, tells us how Aberdeen & North East of Scotland Music Festival Association (NESPA) moved their annual music competition online

safe way. misfitsmusic.org.uk

telling us what it meant to them, where they are now, and some gave a short performance. These were so enjoyable and inspiring.

Yes, we had a few IT glitches. But in the absence of exams, and in difficult times, performers had something to focus on. The result far exceeded our expectations. As one of the adult performers said afterwards, “You pulled a blinder!” What better praise. https://nespa.scot