Hello everyone, well I tried to have a ‘normal’ weekend, in that I tried to relax and do ‘normal’ things, in so far as doing anything can be ‘normal’ these days. I should have been conducting Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir on Saturday in the Rutter – Requiem and Jenkins – Stabat Mater. Hopefully this concert will be re-scheduled so we won’t miss out on singing this wonderful music.  I also went for a walk around 10.00 pm on Sunday night, clear skies, a chill in the air and a yet a peaceful silence. I was, amidst all of this confusion, quite ‘content’. Spending time at home is something I don’t do as much as I should and I have found myself enjoying more of my time here. Although there has been quite a bit to keep me busy. Keeping in touch with all of my choirs, as many people as I can in the Festival world and seeing how I can support my piano and singing students, plus reading guidance from the Government and increasingly becoming  more distanced from the media. I watch what I need to and have stopped watching the debate and speculation. In fact, I am almost thinking that this weekend I will turn my ‘phone off. Let’s see! I have also been able to laugh and it is important to keep amused. Friendships and family have strengthened and we all know without saying so that we are there for each other.

I really am keeping busy, but flitting from one job to the next, no real routine, but staying positive and focused. I had a great night last night, hosting 28 members of Honley MVC on Zoom, and believe it or not I think we really enjoyed seeing each other! We are going to attempt some kind of sectional rehearsal on Tuesday, and whilst I know it won’t be the same, we can at least try to keep our voices going!

I have had many conversations with different groups of people this week and many interactions through social media and it is clear that we are all handling this situation in different ways. Not that I profess to know everything, although many in my choirs will recall me saying on more than one occasion that I am always right! You don’t need to remind me! But, I think we all need to give ourselves a break; don’t be too harsh on ourselves when things don’t quite work out how we want them to! We are all learning something new each day, having to cope with new situations each day and it is ok to make mistakes. I am sure that we all want to think we can handle anything, but in reality maybe we can’t – so talk to your family and friends, give yourself a few moments to reflect and perhaps to just hit the pause button. The expectations we place on ourselves shouldn’t stifle or stop us! Be realistic, and be supportive and above all else be human!

I hope you are all doing ok? I had quite a busy day yesterday, with three hours of zoom technology and we are going to trial rehearsals next week (of a kind). Just getting people to sing, albeit on their own; but with the ability to see each other. If nothing else it keeps us amused. I have been able to sit in the garden and read – thank you Elly Griffiths for your amazing books. If you haven’t come across this author, you really must give her a look. I also sat and watched the birds in my garden, and listened to the various bird calls, I hadn’t realised how many there would be. The next task is to work out what they are. I know I have seen four magpies and I think a wood pigeon. Hopefully, by next week I will have communicated in some way or other with all of my choirs and it is good to see people smiling on-line or to receive messages from them. Our community is strong and alive and will support each other. I have stopped watching the ever growing speculative approach of the media. I know it is important to stay informed and I am doing so through social media, but I don’t want to watch the blow by blow account, the criticism, the hype! It is all too much. Today I went for a short walk and found my self rushing – why I thought to myself. Slow down, enjoy what is around you, enjoy a friendly good morning from the lady on the other side of the road. This is a good time to reflect, to build your emotional and mental strength, as well as looking after your on-going health. Have a good day everyone!

Good morning everyone. I trust you all managed to have some semblance of normality this weekend! Sat in the garden on Sunday morning, sipping tea and enjoying the sunshine gave me just a few moments of peace and I think it really helped. Amidst the ups and downs of social media and the need to report everything, no matter how big or small can really tip the balance on your perspective. Apart from the press conference from the Prime Minister I watched no news or press coverage at all over the weekend and it truly helped. It is important to stay informed and act responsibly, but equally important to be measured and calm. So, I did much needed tasks over the weekend. Household jobs, that had taken a back seat….and those blinds really did need cleaning! Much needed pruning in the garden….I can actually see it now! And how proud am I of my newly numbered bins! House numbers bought a year ago and now finally stuck on! It took 2 minutes! Today, becomes my first week of what would have been a normal week. I was due to be adjudicating at a festival last week, returning home only yesterday, but as many of you know I came back last Monday, so this last week has been devoted to adjusting myself to a new situation. Being at home! This week would have seen me teaching, rehearsing, supporting a student in an external exam, at York Theatre Royal with Wasteland  and a concert with Chesterfield Phil! Instead, I am emailing my ‘musical notes’ to each of my choirs on rehearsal day, writing a blog, undertaking two meetings on Zoom, catching up on admin tasks at home, reading, and the normal things like eating and sleeping. It really is important to take one day at a time and I am doing that. Happy reading!

Well, I have a large gin and tonic in my hand whilst I write this and have to admit to feeling tired today. We are in unprecedented times and there is a fair bit of confusion still. But, we have never had to deal with anything like this before and to some extent because no-one knows its true course are improvising. Everyone is needing guidance and support and perhaps a little more patience too. I may not be a key worker, but I have significant communities in my working life and I want to make sure they are all ok! For my choral world, we have lost that which binds us…the shared goal of singing and to be together. I have experimented with Zoom and have had two positive face to face (albeit remote) interactions. We have been pleased to see each others faces (mostly), we have laughed, and we have even tried to sing together (not terribly successfully), but we are all embracing new technologies. For my Festival community, we have cancelled many opportunities for our performers, but these cancellations have been necessary and have been made with a very heavy heart. Many performances have either been cancelled or postponed and my teaching is suspended too. But, one underlying theme is coming through – we all care for each other, we all need each other and we won’t let each other down! https://youtu.be/xjKWBAGYH6Q

Don’t worry folks, I haven’t suddenly become profound, but I have on my desk “a wise quotation for every day” calendar. It was given to me by Unlimited Voices Merseyside on 3rd July 2016 and I have used it ever since. So, the title of the blog is today’s quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. I have been busy multi-tasking – well doing different things, getting distracted and so on! I spent an hour in the garden cutting back some ivy which has been wanting doing for ever – so job done! More work cancelled today, but it is totally understandable and everyone is in the same position. Never before has the ability to communicate by the internet been so valuable. No-one could ever have imagined the situation we currently find ourselves in and the importance of being able to stay in touch. Social media is on the whole being used positively and I am sure we are all grateful for the interaction. Tonight I shall be trying a musical gathering via Zoom, so I will let you know how that goes. I have started the first of my “Corona Chronicles” – my ‘musical notes’ that I shall be sending out to each of my choirs on their usual rehearsal night. In the absence of singing, I am hoping to keep us connected and together. So, I am now going to settle down for a cup of tea and a cadbury cream egg! Keep smiling!

Well…..I do have the time. I haven’t quite established a routine yet, but I am working on it. There are, as I am sure most people will be experiencing many variables about how and when we will return to normality! But it has been important to communicate, ensure everyone is safe and make decisions based on all the available information. This I have done with all of the groups and organisations I work with and each have been supportive and understanding on how we move forward. On a positive note, we are seeing organisations postpone events to a later date, which should give us hope that this situation will pass. I appreciate it’s not going to be next week, but in order to safe-guard our well being, we as a community will inevitably plan for the future. I have noticed many on-line attempts to engage and this is really good for those who can; let’s remember there are still some people for whom social media and the internet are a mystery. I will be sending a ‘musical note’ round to all of my choirs on their normal rehearsal day to keep them together and connected and I have encouraged those who are on social media to engage with each other and perhaps to support those that are not to become so. But, I know my groups will work hard to reach out to everyone. In the meantime – here’s something to make you smile! https://youtu.be/oM-A38vXmvI

Well…I suddenly find I have rather more time at home than I would usually have, so perhaps it is a good time to start blogging again. So, what do I know? It is going to be a very strange feeling being at home in the evening when for over 20 years I have been conducting three nights a week! I am not sure how I am going to find things, but one thing is certain is that the support I have received from my choirs has been incredible. Suspending three sets of rehearsals and postponing concerts has been quite a mammoth task, but by the end of last night this had been done. I cannot applaud the committees enough, each has risen to the challenge of dealing with quite significant issues. Conversations today though, have been about keeping in touch, looking after all of our members, especially those who are alone or vulnerable. What an amazing community the choral world is! We will continue to look after each other and be mindful of our need to get back  singing as soon as we can. Stay safe and together we will sing once more!