NAfME collegiate advisor Musical Moments That Resonate in a
Pandemic: Why We Love to Create Music Sharri VanAlstine, WMEA State Chair, NAfME Collegiate Advisor
Musicians and teachers have suf- fered with the effects of the pandemic in ways that are unique to the field. Teach- ing, of course, has become particularly challenging in all areas, but teaching
music while managing aerosols, spit valves, and social distancing has wreaked havoc in both teaching and music making. Musicians and music educators, however, function with a living passion that cannot easily be suppressed by outward condi- tions because music is vital to their souls.
I asked music majors why music still mat- ters, and why they are willing to spend so much energy hauling equipment to unusual rehearsal locations. Words spilled from them almost faster than they could share them. They continue to learn, cre- ate music, and are doing it together for the same reasons musicians have made music forever. Their resilience reflects the passion that will shape music performance and education for the next generation.
This is what I heard:
Because of music! We love music – to create it, listen to it, talk about it, and communicate with each other in ways that are otherwise inexpress- ible. The students love learning music and learning about music. One student noted how she loves that she can hear a record- ing, identify the composer, and thrills to hear the horn solo in the piece. Another student relayed a memory in which he experienced goosebumps as the music swelled around him at a final rehearsal prior to a performance at Carnegie Hall. Did you catch that? We get to have these experiences in the rehearsal! Why would we consider giving that up for social
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distancing and masks? In a similar vein a singer grieved the loss of rehearsing and performing together when the pandemic first began last spring.
“For spring and summer of 2020, I barely sang at all, and when I did, it was alone. But when we got back to school in the fall, and we were able to meet in person, I had forgotten how much I loved singing with a group. Although we have to social distance and wear masks, our collaboration, passion, and love for singing is still strong and more apparent than ever.”
More apparent than ever! We love to create music, and we have more passion for those experiences than ever before.
Because we love to share music!
All of the students said that they love the communal aspects of creating music. We all love making music with others, shar- ing a deep connection and communication beyond words. Several noted that as they play or sing, they feel a special love for their friends and fellow musicians. One student shared one of her favorite musical memories arising from a choir tour.
“For me, performing is more than just some notes on a page. It’s about the overall experience, get- ting to play this music with other people, and share it with an audi- ence, whether they be in person or behind a screen. For a moment, or a few, we, performers, audience, anyone involved, are all sharing the same experience.”
This statement certainly encapsulates how we have all felt at some point – this insa- tiable need to experience and share music together. She also noted this is part of our current reality – “whether they (the audi-
ence) be in person or behind a screen.” We are doing so much music sharing behind a screen these days, but it still fills us with
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