Going Viral

The next planned post was a second part of the origins of music in human evolution. But, then the world happened. What with all things being virus related this week, it occurred to me that there were an awful lot of music lessons that might be affected by current cancel and isolate mindset. While I think there is evidence out there that music is good for one’s health, somehow the possibility of a room full of piano students trading germs then bringing them home may not optimal. And, as it happens, one of my daughter’s music schools sent out a notification that they would be conducting classes remotely for the next few weeks. This got me thinking, and doing a few web searches. So, I thought I might, just real quick like here, share a couple of links to sites that might help fill the music education gap created by COVID-19. It turns out that there are already some really pretty good lists out there. Two things should be noted here before we move on: First, I have not actually used any of these sites’ services. I, therefore, am not in anyway endorsing them as such. These were just things that looked potentially helpful to me as I searched around at what was available online. Second, and this is the one that really sucks jagged rocks in my book, all of these links are totally useless if a student doesn’t have access to a computer and the internet. Wouldn’t it be nice during this time of schools temporarily shutting down if all students had access to the hardware that is kind of increasingly becoming required to get a good education? Without getting all political on ya’, let’s up education funding people.

Here is a nice article from the New York Times that goes through a number of possibilities for creating self directed lessons.

I’m never sure how MakeUseOf decides what to include on any of their many lists, but this particular list has some interesting things.

For the more classically inclined, OnlineUniversities.com’s list might be to your liking.

And for folks who are more phone/tablet oriented, here is a list of apps.

Finally, assuming one already has a teacher, and access to the needed equipment, you can always go communicate directly with a teacher via your basic Skype, Discord, Slack, Facetime (if you live in the Appleverse), or Viber.

As I think about it, I’m sure most people know all of the above already. I guess, maybe, in the current atmosphere of nervous isolation, looking at and writing about these sites and lists, even briefly, was a kind of cathartic exercise for me…putting something positive out there in all the gloom. And now, having catharted, let me wish anyone who might accidentally read this good health, good learning, and good music.

Music listened to while writing: MFTJ by Mike Keneally and Scott Schorr

Featured image by Me…it’s a quarter note…