Like all of you, we have been following the updates on the spread of COVID-19, and we wanted to check in with our songwriting community to see how you’re holding up through all this.
Here at Toronto Songwriting School, we are still holding some private lessons and recording sessions. We’ve enhanced our cleaning and disinfecting protocols, so we wipe down and spray every microphone, instrument, seating area, flat surface, door knob, and railing immediately before each class and repeat this procedure immediately following the class.
We’ve also started doing a lot more Skype private lessons, which are a great way to continue to work on your songwriting and get professional feedback while still practicing social distancing.
In terms of our upcoming classes, we have decided to postpone the start of our Spring Beginner Course to Monday, April 6th to give us more time to assess the unfolding situation. In terms of size of the classes, we have always deliberately kept them small because space is limited, but also because we believe it creates the best learning environment where everyone has time to play their songs and get personalized feedback. So we could continue to hold these small group classes with our updated cleaning protocols.
But we want to know what you think. Would you prefer that we move the Spring Courses to an online format? Should we postpone the start date until May? Do you have your own suggestions for the best way to facilitate these courses for you? We would love to hear them as we navigate these uncharted waters.
The most important thing to us through this is the health and well-being of our community. We hope and you and your family stay healthy in the coming weeks and that you use any unexpected down-time to explore your creativity.
Write songs. Learn some new chords. Journal. Paint. And come up with creative ways to support those around you. Do a Facetime concert for your nieces and nephews. Help elderly or ill neighbours get groceries and supplies delivered. Follow your favourite independent artists on social media, buy their records, and try out their Patreon offerings.
There’s a lot we can’t control about this situation, but we can control our reaction. If you have a staycation for a couple weeks, try to use that time in a positive and productive way.
Murray Foster & Mary Krause
Toronto Songwriting School, Inc.