NLCS Year 7 Music Partnership Project 2021
The Performing Arts Industry in the Time of a Pandemic
Forward by Miss L James
There is no getting away from the fact that the ongoing pandemic has had a brutal impact on the Performing Arts sector. Opportunities for professionals and amateurs alike have evaporated before our eyes, and we are left wondering how and when we can rebuild our creative industry. Whilst we continue to be left wondering, one thing we do know is that when the Performing Arts sector makes its return, it will do so with bells and whistles! Newfound levels of technological know-how, a hunger to get stuck in again, and a replenished sense of gratitude every time we walk onto the stage, across the dance floor, or into the haven of our art studio. Because although it may not feel like it just now, we artists are so lucky! Our job is our passion. We live for our quartet rehearsals, dance squads, zoom choirs, invaluable one-to-one lessons with teachers and coaches. And as much as this pandemic continues to test us, we are no strangers to being out of our comfort zones – on a stage, in front of an intimidating audition panel. We’ve felt this strange mix of fear and eagerness a thousand times before – and we’ve used it to our advantage to give the performances of our lives! *** For this year’s Music Partnership Project, we wanted our Year 7 students to think deeply about the Performing Arts industry and how it has been affected from various angles: Scientific – 7N: Sarah Piplani, Amy Ye, Makoto Aso, Jiamu Yang, Siya Kantaria Economic – 7L: Felicity Lee, Eliya Istari, Kitan Oshin, Anshi Vipani, Psychological – 7C: Lia Bor, Sona Patel, Yoyo Xing, Aarna Agrawal, Ruhi Shah Creative - 7S: Ka Men Yau, Jen Liu, Parisa Rahim, Jheel Shah, Elle Menakaya Geographical – 7G: Amber Yap, Eden Starr, Zara Hayat, Koko D’Offay, Samantha Saravanan *** The usual custom of our Middle School Partnership Days is for NLCS students to pair up with pupils at The Sacred Heart Language College for a subject-specialist workshop. Whilst this was not a feasible option this academic year, Sacred Heart has decided to create their own research papers in due course, and we look forward to reading their subsequent findings. In the coordination of their individual and collective research, the editors and contributors to this NLCS Newspaper have only met via online video calls. Nonetheless, the resulting articles are thoughtful and highly informative, and their final presentation, professional; I know that all our readers will be impressed with the final product. Many thanks go to Miss James for her expert and dynamic guidance of the project. Dr McLoughlin
Congratulations to all students involved, and happy reading!
The Scientific Angle of Music January 2021
Music Partnership Project
Issue #1
By Sarah, Siya, Amy, Jiamu and Makoto The Scientific Angle SARAH AND SIYA “I think music in itself is healing,” American artist Billy Joel once said. “It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” Most of us would wholeheartedly concur with this assertion, and it is this widespread bond with music that has driven analysts including me and 7N at this challenging time to research its helpful potential. In the brain, reading music is a widespread, multi-modal activity, meaning that many different areas of the brain are involved at the same time. Even reading a single pitch activates this widespread network in musicians. While text and music reading share some networks, they are largely independent. There are a number of scientific theories that try to explain music. As mathematics is both a science and an art, music is both an art and a science. Therefore, the art of music is related to science of math. Patients with memory loss can often remember songs and specific song lyrics. Doctors will often use music and lyric recall to help individuals recover lost memories. Music is the common human denominator. All cultures have it. All cultures share it. Music is emotion.
The effect of music on our body science is particularly hypnotizing to me. Our bodies enough contain an internal pharmacy that controls various synthetic compounds to assist us with dealing with life's challenges. For example, if you are in a risky circumstance, you'll get a portion of adrenaline to give you energy, and if you achieve something which is valuable for you, you get a part of serotonin (which urges you to accomplish something fundamentally the same as again). Investigation has uncovered that music holds the keys to your body's pharmacy, and can progress or smother the appearance of these synthetics. For example, boisterous and cadenced music can raise your adrenaline levels, which will help with keeping you wakeful during a long, depleting drive. For a situation of sleep deprivation, loosening up music can help you drop off to rest by diminishing the proportion of the 'vigilance chemical' Noradrenaline in your framework. Essentially thirty minutes of calming old style music at sleep can assist you with re-establishing a sound sleep pattern.
How does music affect your body? JIAMU Evolutionary scientists say human beings developed a dependence on music as a communication tool as our ancestors used it as a main tool to converse with each other. Music remains a powerful way of uniting people: national anthems connect people at sporting events and lullabies enable parents and infants to develop secure attachments. Researchers now know that just the promise of listening to music can make you want to learn more. In one 2019 study, people were more motivated to learn when they expected to listen to a song as their reward.
January 2021
Our Stories
Issue #1
What is the link between Music and Math? AMY
More music stories
Including a story from a pro How does your brain read music? MAKOTO What happens to your brain when you listen to music? It provides a total brain workout! Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory. When you hear music, listening also involves the memory centers in the brain, such as the hippocampus and lowest parts of the frontal lobe. Tapping along with the music gets your cerebellum involved.
Sugaya and Yonetani instruct how individuals with neurodegenerative illnesses, for example, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's likewise react positively to music.
Music includes making examples of sound, though Mathematics is the investigation of examples. Examination has discovered that well-known bits of music have distinct numerical constructions that are less apparent in others. These examples appeal to our inborn desire for mathematical musicality and patterns. Greek thinkers like Aristotle and Pluto had confidence in the presence of a strong association between music and science, and included music as a kind of arithmetic. It is said that Pythagoras shaped the association among music and math when he heard a smith pounding the anvil. He discovered that they shaped amicable beats as a result of the request for the loads which were being hit. They were in the proportion 6, 8, 9 and 12 pounds, which framed Do, Fa, Sol, Do of the music scale.
"Usually in the late stages, Alzheimer’s patients are unresponsive," Sugaya says. "But once you put in the headphones that play [their favorite] music, their eyes light up. They start moving and sometimes singing. The effect lasts maybe 10 minutes or so even after you turn off the music.” This can be seen on an MRI, where "lots of different parts of the brain light up," he says. We sat down with the teachers, who are a couple, and requested that they clarify which parts of the mind are enacted by music.
Our Stories: Making Music Against the Odds PICTURED:
MAKOTO’S MUM This article is about how Coronavirus has affected music making in the UK through my point of view and also from a wider perspective. Schools were closed and music lessons moved online. I haven’t seen my teacher for 11 months which makes me sad. How worse could things be? Much worse: concerts were cancelled, music courses were stopped, quartets banned and piano accompanists unavailable. To keep music ‘alive’ my mum, my brother and I came together and formed a trio of two violins and one cello.
Throughout lockdown, we played a variety of pieces arranged for trio ranging from Bach to ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’. We also played some quartet pieces arranged in a way that the three of us covered most of the parts. We played these pieces on the ‘Clap for Carers’ days with our windows wide open, and our neighbours gathered (socially distanced) after we had clapped and cheered for the key workers. Reading, practising and performing new pieces every week was hard work but fun. After some intense practising and loose bow hairs, it sounded pretty good! My mum, a professional orchestral violinist, found lockdown terrible because to her music is about interacting with other people through playing together. Her work consists of rehearsals, recordings and live concerts. During lockdown this year, whenever she went into work, which was rare, every musician had to sit two metres apart, which made it difficult to “breathe the music together”.
During lockdown in Britain, the concert halls are all shut, as music is deemed as unessential work. In Europe, the concert halls are open for the orchestras to film performances for broadcasting and streaming purposes. The other European countries believe that it is necessary for art and music to continue through these dark times. Evidently the British government doesn’t agree. In October, the government issued an advert encouraging performers to retrain and get a new job. After enraging the music and performing art sectors the government took back the ad. Hopefully, when COVID restrictions are lifted, the world will start to think more about the performing arts and appreciate it more.
COVID-19
Performing Arts
Economics
The Performing Arts During the Time of a Pandemic Economics Perspective
A Brief Introduction to the Pandemic’s Effects on the Performing Arts From an Economics Angle -------------- FELICITY LEE 7L
A typical empty concert hall during the lockdown
How Have Musicians Made Money Throught the Pandemic and Lockdown? -------------- ELIYA ISTARI 7L The majority of musicians’ income comes from live performances and touring. Other sources of income come from selling merchandise, licensing their music for things like television, video games, or use of communal spaces, and partnerships or side businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has made live performances and touring almost impossible due to social distancing rules. Musicians and songwriters have suffered greatly and have lost around 2/3rds of their income so far. Musicians’ main source of income, live performance and touring, are no longer viable, and so they have had to look at alternative ways of making money. One alternative source of income that musicians have resorted to is hosting online concerts. Billie Eilish is one of many artists who has held online concerts during the lockdown. You must buy tickets online to watch, and a link to the concert is sent to the people who
have purchased tickets. The concert industry has lost around $300 billion, but online concerts have prevented even more money from being lost. Furthermore, the fans who attend can sometimes get special merchandise by buying it online. This is a further source of income for musicians. Hopefully, music festivals and concerts will be back soon. In the meantime, I recommend enjoying an online concert! Not all musicians are international stars who are able to attract big audiences and thousands of fans. Some have had to resort to less glamorous means of generating income, such as taking up a second job. This could range from becoming an online music teacher to jobs that have nothing to do with music, such as an office job or working in the services industry.
Economics is a very important topic. Everyone’s lives are affected by the economic situation in the country. But economics is not just about how much money we have. It is about trade, commerce and the distribution of our money across different industries. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly offset the distribution of the UK’s money. A great deal of money has previously been brought in by the music and performing arts industry, but that influx of money has now been stopped by the lockdown. We wanted to write about economics because it is often very complicated and complex, but yet it is so critical to each and every one us and to the lives we lead. The performing arts have certainly been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. After all, there has not been much “performing” during the lockdown. In this section we will be discussing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the music industry from an economics angle. You will find articles about many different aspects of the topic, such as financial support for struggling musicians and even the economic benefits of the pandemic.
2021
Economic Benefits of the Pandemic on the Music Industry -------------- KITAN OSHIN 7L
In this article I will be discussing some of the economic benefits of the pandemic on the music industry.
Lots of people have been streaming music during lockdown
Everyone seems to be losing money; but where is it all going? -------------- FELICITY LEE 7L The COVID-19 lockdown has certainly had a huge impact on companies and venues hosting live concerts; many of their performances have been cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions. The Royal Albert Hall, for instance, has lost over £27 million and the Royal Opera House has lost over 60% of their income. Despite this, lots of companies have economically benefitted from the lockdown as well. Radio stations have gained listeners. “Global,” which owns Capital FM and LBC, said online radio listening has risen by over 15%. Research shows that 38% of radio listeners tuned in for an extra one hour and 45 minutes a day compared to listening time pre-lockdown. With no live music events, people are turning to radio stations for comfort and specifically, for the comfort of music. In fact, radio listening is proving to be more popular than music streaming during this time which could be because human voices on the radio make people feel less lonely, or because it is increasingly hard to choose what to listen to on streaming services.
Additionally, streaming can be harmful to the environment, using up lots of energy. However, the number of songs streamed from services such as Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music has still considerably increased. It was 139 billion in 2020, up by 22% from the previous year. Spotify has reached over 144 million paid subscribers, and over 286 million active users. Online concerts have become increasingly popular, raising muchneeded income for musicians. Some artists hosting online concerts have donated the profits to charity. As there are no live music performances to attend, people are turning to virtual concerts to interact with artists/fans. In conclusion, although many companies have suffered financially during these difficult times, it’s not all bad; some people have had their golden year!
I will start from an instrumental/music teacher’s perspective. A teacher will most likely have a freer and more flexible schedule, allowing them to fit more students into the same amount of time. Another benefit is that the teacher will be able to reach more students through online instructing and could even make their teaching national or international, so they can teach more students and make more money. Another benefit is that there would be no travelling with online lessons, so there would be no transportation costs. For teachers that travel to their students they would save money and time. I will now address the economic benefits for a music student and their ‘chaperone,’ if they have one. One benefit for them is that there would be no travelling with online lessons, so there would be no transportation costs, such as paying for petrol. Although some may not realise, a great deal money is spent on transport to and from music lessons, and at the end of the year it really adds up. Another benefit is that since there is no travel time, there is more time for the student and the ‘chaperone’ to make some extra money or focus on any work they have. Additionally, if a student has their musical instrument at home, they can maximise the use of their instrument, making it more cost effective. Also, because your teacher can be anywhere, you can get a teacher suited for you, making the most of your lessons. A teacher who is not suited to you will not be able to help you progress as quickly, necessitating more lessons to reach a good standard. In conclusion, there are many economic benefits (though there are many disadvantages, too) of the pandemic on the music industry, such as fewer expenses for music teachers and students.
Where Have Musicians Gained Financial Support During the Pandemic? -------------- ANSHI VIPANI 7L During these difficult, unprecedented times, musicians have struggled immensely when it comes to their financial situation. Research has shown that in 2020, musicians lost an average of 65% of their income, which increased to 80% for those who relied most on live performances. Pre-lockdown, musicians were earning around £23, 059 per year, which was far below the national average of £29,832. So, think about how much that already-below-average number was going to drop during a pandemic. Their yearly income has fallen to the small total of £8,070. Subsequently, musicians have had to find new sources of financial support, which is what I will be discussing in this article. The “eat out to help out” government scheme in August was an enormous success and kept many businesses afloat during one of the hardest times of coronavirus. So, if the government was able to create a scheme to help restaurants, then why couldn’t they create one to help musicians? The restaurants, amongst other things, could still earn revenue from takeaways. In fact, according to a Musicians’ Union survey, 87% of musicians said they would struggle with earning money after the government furlough scheme ended. Many experts believe that the government furlough scheme could have been better. It proved a lifeline for those who needed it, but it only paid people 80% of their regular income. Many experts believe that the government furlough scheme could have been better.
It proved a lifeline for those who needed it, but it only paid people 80% of their regular income. Furthermore, it was fairly impractical. The furlough scheme didn’t help people to help themselves. In my opinion, it was the government panicking and simply throwing money at the situation at hand without thinking about the continuing longterm effects. Did they think that people would just get jobs straight after the scheme ended?! Especially for musicians, it is incredibly hard for to find jobs instantly as the music industry is a competitive, oversaturated market which at best is quite unforgiving and harsh. I think the government could have brainstormed a more innovative and effective way to help musicians during the peak of the virus. But it seems that the music industry and musicians were not considered a priority. They mainly considered how to help the retail industry and the unemployed, but their efforts to help didn’t work too well for musicians, as their jobs were viewed as being much less important to more prominent jobs. Despite the government not being much help however, these resilient musicians still found other sources of financial support to sustain their career during the first lockdown. First, streaming services such as Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music have been a massive help. They have been phenomenal platforms, accepting all musicians’ music. Furthermore, they have been advertising so much more, since they know that now more than ever, people need music to uplift them, and musicians need a way to make money to keep their career going. Spotify, in particular, has been a lifesaver because it has allowed fans of artists to donate directly to them. As a result of all the advertising that these streaming apps have been doing, Spotify now has 130 million paying subscribers, Apple Music has 56 million, and Amazon Music has 50 million!
Consequently, since the musicians now have even more people to potentially stream their songs, they can earn more money. The number of radio listeners has surged! Results from certain studies exhibited that 28% of consumers in the US and 25% of consumers in the UK had been using their commute time to tune in to radio channels or podcasts, so much so that Global, who own Capital FM, and talk station LBC said online radio listening had grown a tremendous 15% since the first UK lockdown. This has been fantastic news for our musicians, because it means that they could use radio stations as another platform to earn money from their music, performing to an even bigger audience! When it comes to podcasts, one man was thrilled to see his viewers rise during this pandemic. Charitable CEO Dave Zohrob stated that he had his fair share of ups and downs in terms of listeners. He saw a 20% disappointing drop in early March, but then there was a change of heart when at the end of March, he saw a 2.78% increase in his overall listeners. During this challenging time, many people have been turning to music podcasts for entertainment. Follow the link below to find a few of the UK’s favourites from the past year... https://www.rsmgb.org/supportingmusicians-in-need/ If you know any musicians seeking financial support, there are many charities and organisations to help them! You can head over to https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/healt h-welfare/how-to-apply or https://www.rsmgb.org/supportingmusicians-in-need/ if you or anyone you know needs some advice or support. As always, stay safe, have fun, and remember to support each other during this pandemic, when we all must stick together whilst staying apart!
THE CANONS CHRONICLE
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NORTH LONDON’S FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER
JAN 2021 ISSUE
The Performing Arts in the Time of a Pandemic
The Psychological Angle: Music therapy? Parkinson’s disease? How does listening to music affect the brain?
Intentionally trying to boost moods by listening to positive music could have an longerterm impact within two weeks.
People in Italy applauding musicians’ performances
By Sona Patel Lots of students enjoy listening to music while they study, but is that a good idea? Some feel that listening to their favourite music as they study improves memory, while others contend that it simply serves as a pleasant distraction. Research suggests that it actually improves memory. It depends upon a variety of factors, including the type of music, the listener's enjoyment of that music, and even how musically well-trained the listener may be. In one study, musically naive students learned better when listening to positive music, possibly because these songs elicited more positive emotions without interfering with memory formation.
However, musically trained students tended to perform better on learning tests when they listened to neutral music, possibly because this type of music was less distracting and easier to ignore. If you tend to find yourself distracted by music, it’s better to have neutral music playing in the background. Another benefit of music is that it helps to lift people’s moods. In one examination of the reasons why people listen to music, researchers discovered that music played an important role in influencing our mood.
Researchers have also found that music therapy can be a safe and effective treatment for a variety of disorders, including depression. One study found that music therapy was a safe, low-risk way to reduce depression and anxiety in patients suffering from neurological conditions such as dementia, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. All these therapies have proved very helpful during the pandemic, as listening to music releases a hormone in the brain called oxytocin. Oxytocin is commonly referred to as the ‘’Hugging hormone’’ and hence the name tricks humans’ brains into thinking that they are with one another. Listening to music therefore has become a popular source of comfort during the pandemic. People in Italy have taken this knowledge one step further and many musicians began performing on their balconies their neighbours.
The Performing Arts in the Time of a Pandemic
The Psychological Angle: Comfort music, everything you’ll need to know from A to G
People who take music therapy do so for a variety of reasons such as depression or loss. Another reason to why this is so effective is due to the fact that, it can distract you and take your mind of your current situation.
When listening to music, you can feel relaxed.
By Yoyo Xing Ever had a bad day or felt stressed and just wanted to listen to that one song or artist on repeat? If this has happened to you and you are curious to find out why then read on. Human beings always have times when they are worried, stressed and annoyed. There are many ways of fixing this but one of the simplest ways to fix a mood is to just relax and listen to music. We are mentally attracted to it and we have an urge to flow with the rhythm whether it is to tap your feet or hum along. Well why is this? As found from a study which used magnetic resonance, when people listen to music that
they like, a region of the brain called the limbic and paralimbic areas (which are connected to euphoric reward responses) releases a gush of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. This rush is what makes us want more. This links back to why we listen to music when in a bad mood. Your brain will realise that you are sad are will want to try to make yourself happy. Researches show that, as well as your favourite song, listening to light jazz, classical and natural music helps you to relax. Music is so effective that people can take music therapy. It helps people’s well-being, physical health, communication and much more.
During these current uncertain times, we find ourselves in situations where we can’t cope. We interviewed some average citizens to get their opinions on how music has had an impact on them during the pandemic. One said “Throughout my life music has been an essential part of my life and during these times, I have needed it more than ever. I went back and listened to some old favourites which brought back many memories. Some of which I was not prepared for.” Another said, “ I have found working online rather challenging as I do not understand how it all works. Music has played a fairly big part - especially when I needed something to calm myself down or just to treat myself!” As proved, music is an essential part of our life during the pandemic. Everyone has their own taste but we all need some of it now and then. It lifts our mood, makes us relax and can bring back sentimental memories. Whether it is Taylor Swift, Chopin or heavy rock, music can make you feel better whenever you need it. This has been very beneficial during the pandemic when our lives have become increasingly stressful.
The Performing Arts in the Time of a Pandemic
The Psychological Angle: Why has music become more popular over lockdown and how has this affected peoples’ psychology?
The level of streaming of music increased by 63%, from March to June, during the height of the pandemic. There has also been an increase in the time spent playing musical instruments during the pandemic.
A picture of an orchestra practising online
By Aarna Agrawal Before I researched this topic, I decided to give in my own insight: I think that lockdown would have increased the number of listeners to music, since over these stranger times, there would be less to do, and people may utilise their time doing something else such as listening to music. Of course, there are other ways to entertain yourself, and this may not be the main way, but it is one possibility. In my case, I think that my Spotify account has DEFINITELY been used much more during lockdown times! Research suggests that music listening has definitely soared during this time, and it’s
and it’s left people feeling happy, or in a good state of mind, which is really good, since these times have been really hard for some people, so to be lifting spirits and mental health with music is great. There has been so much listening to music that there has even been a rise in demand for new music! Some music apps have realised a change in regular “commute” times, where most people used to start listening to from 06:00 – 07:00, now it has changed to around 09:00 – 10:00.
For example, there have been many orchestras who have not been able to perform together this year, so many musicians have recorded their parts on some device so that recordings could be submitted to someone who would combine all of the recordings into one piece. Some orchestras, like mine, are meeting on Zoom, or other applications. However, sometimes we would experience delays when we were playing, so we kept ourselves muted while playing along to the score. All this proves that not even a pandemic could tear the foundations of music.
The Performing Arts in the Time of a Pandemic The Psychological Angle: How does music affect your brain and mental health?
For example, it is possible that it can increase aggressive thoughts, and even encourage crime. As a famous author once said, “Music can loft us out of depression, or move us to tears”.
An image showing how music utilises the brain
By Ruhi Shah Though you might think of music as just something to play, or listen to, when your bored, music has a much larger effect than just passing the time. Music can help both your brain and your mental health. Whether it’s listening to your favorite playlist, or sitting down at your piano to play a waltz, music helps your brain, without you even knowing about it. When you hear music, the response from your brain is so quick, but it triggers our pleasure centres, and, to put it simply, makes us feel happy. Music goes far beyond making us feel good,
it also pays a key part in your brain, developing its memory, and ability to learn quicker and process sound.
Music is so incredibly important for your mental health as well. It has been scientifically proved that it can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, improve sleep quality and make us more mentally alert. However, music can also have negative impact. Some research has shown that music can influence us a lot, and not always in a good way.
Music can help us in ways nothing else can, affecting our brain and mental health in some good and some less good ways.
An Interview with Rachel Steadman - professional violinist Interview by Lia Bor How has your mental health been affected by this year’s pandemic? My mental health has suffered as a result of the pandemic and specifically in relation to my work as a musician. Since March 2020 I have performed in public only a handful of times compared to working full time in previous years. I have not been able to make live music with my friends and colleagues and as a result of that I have felt very sad. I have felt that part of my identity has gone. I have felt that my love for music has not been able to be expressed properly and I have felt that society as a whole is a bit of a colder place without live music. And I think it has made me very aware that music is my voice - it is what I use to express myself and it is how I express my feelings. Without live music my voice has been suppressed. How have your audiences responded to your online concerts? It has been much harder to gauge audience responses from online concerts, because you don’t get the instant live response that you would get in a live performance straight away. You don’t know whether something is being well received or not. With a recorded performance you only ever get a much more measured response and you never really know weather it is genuine or not. So that is a massive difference. You don’t get the big initial round of applause or the cheers - you don’t feel that in the same way. Having said that I have received a lot of positive reviews. There have been a lot of people writing to say how much they have enjoyed my concerts, or that they have really liked the music and when we have done anything live [during the pandemic], people have loved it. Audiences have missed live concerts so much, so responses have all been positive, but it is a very different playing to a microphone than playing to a live audience. That has an effect on one’s mental health - one’s ego, one’s assurance, one’s happiness - all of those things have been affected by that. The magic element, the spontaneity, the joy of live performances - that anything can happen - that magic moment can’t be recreated and that is lost when you do a concert on line. You can’t have that connection. How do you think your audiences’ mental health has been affected this year? I think that the audiences’ mental health has been affected by the lack of live art, not just music, but all of the performance arts help a nation’s mental health. As an artist, I believe that but also, as an audience member I believe that. I think that people use art to escape and they escape difficulties in their life and the pandemic has been an enormous difficulty. It has created loneliness, division and anxiety whereas usually you would use art to try and comfort yourself in those situations. You listen to music to cheer yourself up, to console yourself or to distract yourself and to take yourself away from the everyday. Since people use different forms of art in their own way for that, they haven’t been able to access this relief. So they haven’t had that solace, and they haven’t had that comfort and they haven’t had that escape. When you go to the theatre and you watch a piece of theatre you disappear in your imagination for two hours and you don’t think about who is going to pay the bills or the work that is coming in. If someone is ill or suffering you don’t think about those sorts of things. The performance distracts you and it takes you to a different place that normal life doesn’t take you to. So, I think that people’s mental health has suffered, and that people miss it. They might not be able to put a finger on what exactly they miss but there is a feeling that is missing.
How has performing differently this year affected your mental wellbeing? I use music to escape and I use music to escape from anything you may want to escape from. Music is a form of communication so without that I would be all stifled. Even aside from all the music element, the fact that it is my job, and obviously I have not been able to work. As well as the psychological, mental health aspect, my career and earning money has completely gone. And I am one of the lucky ones because I know I earn money from teaching but you worry about the future, and how are you going to put a roof over your head, how you are going to pay your bills. And what is going to happen to this career that you have spent your whole life carving out? Is it going to just disappear in a second? You realise the skills that you have spent all your life practising and perfecting – all that work – doesn’t seem to have any worth anymore. Your career is not valued. You don’t have a place in society in the same way. So, there is the music aspect, but there is also your career aspect. All those things that people suffer from when they are not working. People who are unemployed can get quite depressed because they do not feel that they have a sense of purpose. All these aspects are really damaging to mental health. This has been a very difficult time for lots of people. How have you practised solos and ensemble work and how have you and your colleagues kept your spirits up? There have been a lot of zoom calls! It has been very difficult to stay motivated for practice. As a professional you practise to keep yourself in shape, but you also practsce for concerts and when there are no concerts, suddenly there are no deadlines and there is nothing to motivate you in the same way. So that can be quite difficult. But your day loses its structure, it becomes very easy to slip. But I have been lucky. I have been able to do some socially distance practice with others in the shed! Whilst wearing masks! I have managed to do some recording. And I have also managed to do some playing along with things, to feel like I am part of an orchestra again. Solo practice is still the same, but I miss being part of something bigger and being part of that sound and the feeling you get when you play with other musicians. It is something that you can’t put into words, the ability to play with other people and that is the thing that my friends and I are missing. Because of the problem with delay in zoom, you cannot play music at the same time. The pandemic has allowed a more impromptu, informal, communal musical experiences, with opera singers in Italy performing from their balconies during the first lockdown, online choirs performing or even a Scottish postman singing a sea shanty that has captured millions of viewers. So many people have space in their day, that they didn’t have before, that suddenly there is more time in the day to be creative. When you have a full-time busy schedule, you don’t have time to sit back and really enjoy it and relax and learn new pieces just for the fun of it. I haven’t really had time to do that since music college. There are positives. I have had more time to really enjoy music practice.
An interview with a postgraduate student at the Royal Academy of Music Interview by Lia Bor How has your mental health been affected as a musician by this year’s pandemic? The mental effects of the pandemic have been experienced by musicians and non-musicians alike, and in many ways it is difficult to pin-point ways that musicians in particular have been affected. Many musicians have lost a lot of work, which has naturally caused anxiety over financial stability, and the inability to meet and play music with others has left many musicians feeling discouraged, uninspired and lacking in motivation to keep going. How have your audiences responded to your online concerts? Mixed! I was due to give a recital in June, which was of course cancelled. But we offered a pre-recorded online concert broadcast on YouTube, and the audience loved it! One person even asked for a copy to keep on a CD! Many have struggled with the technology though, especially elderly audience members. How has performing differently this year affected your mental wellbeing? I don’t feel as though my mental wellbeing has been affected too much by the differences in performing methods. But, I do miss the experience of playing to a live audience terribly. When performing to real people it feels so much more personal, like I am giving a gift to the audience, and I can feel their reaction to it. Playing to a camera is so lifeless, and it is much harder to perform well. How have audiences’ mental health been affected by this year’s lockdowns? I met a gentleman last week who was telling me how much he missed theatre and concerts. He said, ‘if there is an audience present at an event, I am there’ – the kind of person the arts industry needs! He lives alone, and clearly was struggling with the lack of entertainment and the excitement that comes from a live performance. I am sure there are many others like him. How have you practised solos and ensemble work and how have you and your colleagues kept spirits high? It has been a great time for practising solo repertoire; I have covered a much larger amount of repertoire over the last year than I ever expected to because of all the extra time! It has been difficult not being able to rehearse solo repertoire (sonatas, concertos etc.) with a pianist or orchestra though. I have had to spend a lot of time listening to recordings and reading scores to try and understand how my solo part fits with the whole piece. Bach’s solo violin repertoire has been a real comfort – all I need is my violin and bow in order to give a complete performance! It was impossible to rehearse with my quartet and with my pianist duo partner over the lockdown, of course. We have coped using zoom calls to discuss the music we’re playing, and have just had to practise our individual parts on our own. When the rules eased, we spent a few days rehearsing non-stop to try and get everything done.
Useful links for further reading: Online choir lead by Gareth Malone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJ15LWgVJs Gareth Malone’s Great British home chorus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFQYNRgEkEM
THE CANONS CHRONICLE
www.nlcs.org.uk
NORTH LONDON’S FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER
JAN 2021 ISSUE
The Performing Arts in the Time of a Pandemic
The Creative Angle: How have musicians all around the world reacted to these sudden, bizarre changes?
Introduction
Inspirational Words
When Covid-19 struck the world, disaster erupted for all
During the pandemic, musicians
living beings on earth. Whether it was from the inability to
from different places around
spend quality time with friends, or even becoming bankrupt,
the world have been left to
different people doing different jobs have felt multiple feelings. This journal has been written to show how performing artists have reacted to the unexpected changes in these unexpected times.
feel profound financial, artistic, and emotional impacts. when hope was nearly lost, some optimistic people inspired them not to give up
Special Pieces/ Special Operashttps://youtu.be/XB6 yjGVuzVo This heart-warming arrangement of ‘Memories’ by Masa Fukuda will definitely put a smile on your face. Even though lockdown has dampened our spirits, these children have been working hard to make us happy. https://youtu.be/jYFaWYNbfnI In Chile, soprano Ayleen Jovita Romero defies the silent curfew by singing “El cigarrito” and a bit later “El
derecho de vivir en paz”, both by victor jara. This shows that even though we are confined to our own places, music can still live on just as vibrantly and actively as before. https://youtu.be/o1trWhB vZTs This last link leads you to a glorious version of ‘Nearer my god, to thee’ by over 800 musicians. Kudos to the video editors for their hard work!
and to keep going strong: Marcus Mumford of the award-winning Mumford & Sons created 2 uplifting singles in the lockdown to keep others entertained. He said"create as much as possible". https://youtu.be/k8w0mEfx91k This collaboration including over 208 artists from 28 different countries shows us that performing artists are still capable of creating new things. Mumford first makes an appearance at 0.09 seconds.
Elsewhere, Matt Thomson from rock band The Amazons says he's written more new music in the last two weeks than ever before and suggests that there's never been a better time "to express yourself and add something to the world". https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=hLEX8A9PiW0 This is the link to Riccardo Muti’s Speech describing the concert he conducted on New Musicians worldwide singing / playing their hearts out
How have performing
the concert, whether it is
artists reacted to the
from antarctica or
pandemic? Performing artists unexpectedly were hit with a pandemic at their peak of their music career. This led to many devastating bankruptcies and problems.
America. Finally, concert musicians and artists have been using this
Year’s Day. Maestro Muti explains the process they went through and how it was so much out of the ordinary compared to last year, where they had a hall full of enthusiastic audience members.
opportunity to plan ahead for their future concerts/ performances.
However, on the positive side,
two concert halls: Musikverein
many performing artists have
(Vienna)and the ALBERT HALL
taken this chance to create more
That were expecting a large
podcasts and albums - far more
audience but instead received no people at all.
than before.
By Ka Men,
They also took the chance to do more online concerts, benefits
Jen,Parisa,
of this are that people all around the world can view →
Jheel and Elle The ‘Coronavirus etude’
7S
THE CANONS CHRONICLE
www.nlcs.org.uk
NORTH LONDON’S FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER
JAN 2021 ISSUE
The Performing Arts in the Time of a Pandemic The Geographical Angle:
This edition explores Brexit’s influence on the Music Industry, K-pop’s online concerts, travel restrictions’ impact, effective concert community connections through the pandemic and COVID-19’s positive influences on music.
The Music Industry faces major concerns due to Brexit.
Travel restrictions cause financial issues and bankruptcy
A BTS concert had nearly 1 million viewers.
Marcus Mumford, solo musician.
Brexit’s obstacles for the Music Industry Brexit has presented many setbacks for the music industry. One example is detailed below. The UK rejected a proposal which would have been convenient for musicians. The offer meant performers from both sides had 90 days of visa-free travel between the UK and the EU. They could have performed in many countries in a short space of time without paperwork. If the UK had accepted, tours could have happened, meaning more live concerts and more profit. However, Boris Johnson has prevented EU musicians from entering this country by rejecting the proposal. There will now be travelling hassle, fewer concerts and less income. By Zara Hayat 7N
Music has helped through lockdowns.
K-pop online concerts attract a global audience Amid the success of South Korean measures taken to abate the COVID-19 spread, their music industry and fans have mobilized to continue performances. Fans globally now enjoy concerts without travel or extra expenses. BTS postponed their 2020 “Map of the Soul” tour. On October 10-11, their adapted online Map of the Soul: ON:E concert totalled 993,000 viewers from 191 countries, attracting a truly global audience. Elsewhere, SM Entertainment created Beyond LIVE, performances combining AR technology, 3D graphics and live video calls. So although
COVID-19 restrictions have prevented live in-person concerts, virtual concert initiatives have allowed performances and K-pop to continue, hopefully pushing the global music industry towards similar action. By Amber Yap 7G Travel restrictions’ impact on the Music Industry 2020’s COVID-19 travel restrictions caused the postponing and cancellations of hundreds of concerts and tours; before travel limits, global tours were allowed. An estimated 65-80% of performers’ incomes were lost in 2020. For musicians suffering from mental illnesses, being unable to perform was extremely challenging. After 16 years as emo-rock band Paramore’s leader, Hayley Williams was set to tour America in spring and summer but could not suffering from depression, PTSD and anxiety. Williams said ‘if I don’t put music on, I can feel the emptiness.” 2020 was detrimental to the music industry in many ways, such as travel restrictions. However, with COVID-19 vaccines within reach, this year may be better for the creative sector. By Samantha Saravanan 7G
Effective Concert Community Connections through COVID-19
COVID-19’s Positive Impacts on Music
Due to COVID-19, music concerts and performances had to be postponed. Live orchestras could not perform as usual. However, new entertainment methods have been instigated without in-person audiences, or members of the orchestra sitting closely together.
Many focus on COVID-19’s negative influence on the Music Industry, although there are still positive aspects, some of which are listed below.
Video calling and social distancing often had technical glitches with orchestra members playing out of time for instance. Despite negative aspects, there are positive aspects however. Computerised productions open up new opportunities to musicians globally, and when online, people from different countries and cultures can come together to celebrate music. To conclude, COVID-19 has opened up orchestras’ performances to people globally online, eliminating the struggle of accommodating a restricted audience in one venue. By Eden Starr 7G
Firstly, when artists performed previously, only a certain amount of people could attend whereas online concerts mean that people right across the globe can enjoy concerts. Secondly, the proliferation of social media influence has allowed fans to enter musician’s private house, and event, to oversee their hobbies – something that has allowed fans to relate more to artists and feel closer to them. Lastly, more people have had more time to do musical activities. People who already play an instrument have had time to practise and improve more, but also have been able to bring more of the joy of music to newcomers. By Koko D’Offay 7G