BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
It’s impossible to ignore the innovation in our industry as it responds to the pandemic and consequent career-impacting restrictions. The absence of physical concerts has seen the launch of digital concert halls and livestreams, enabling musicians to continue their performance practice in the virtual world.
But it’s also been a tough road for artists who work outside the performance sphere — such as music teachers. These people have had to make major changes to their daily worklife in order to continue to maintain their income.
Almost as quickly as the pandemic was announced, Melbourne musician, arts administrator, and CutCommon contributor Tim Hannah not only recognised the challenges facing Australia’s music educators: he launched a solution.
Tim’s Stave It Off website has a mission to “connect potential students — be they lapsed musicians, complete beginners, or experienced amateurs — with some of the best freelance artists in Australia for online lessons”.
Tim, you took action so swiftly to start up a resource for music teachers. Tell us why you were compelled to help out the industry, even though you’re working within it and may therefore be experiencing your own tough challenges during this time, too.
Like many, my initial response to our current situation was to be overwhelmed by the avalanche of information and news of cancellation after cancellation. I’m very fortunate to have a full-time job that has remained somewhat insulated from the immediate financial impact of coronavirus on the arts sector. However, my workplace went into lockdown over two weeks ago and I’ve been working from home since.
The idea for Stave It Off came from a personal attempt to find a way to support a musician during this time, and enrich my own experience in isolation. I haven’t played piano or had lessons in over 10 years. With no commute, and more expendable income, I figured I could use that privileged position to support someone who had lost a lot of work during the pandemic, whilst polishing up my own musicianship.
My initial Facebook call-out for a teacher had at least half-a-dozen replies from pianists within the first hour. I realised there was a real need for this out there, so Stave It Off was born!
So what’s Stave It Off all about? Talk us through it.
At the end of the day, it’s about encouraging people to continue making music! There are so many lapsed and amateur musicians out there who are now working from home or self-isolating. We want to connect them with freelance musicians who are in need of work so they can support each other — emotionally and financially — through this time.
This period of isolation is a chance for many to revisit old instruments and explore or hone new skills they’ve never had the time to consider. We now have over 100 musicians listed, offering lessons in everything from singing to composition. Music is such an important part of so many of our lives, and we now have the opportunity to practice it in ways our fast-paced schedules never allowed.
Your initiative already offers an enormous amount of educational services, from harp to tuba to yoga! Did you expect to generate such a big uptake when you put the call-out for educators to be involved?
No, not at all! It began as a Google form that linked to a spreadsheet with a simple dropdown search. This meant it could only be used by one person at time. Within three days, we’d seen so many users that it was obvious we needed to come up with something more functional.
The uptake from musicians has been amazing. It’s really a who’s who of Australia’s freelance musicians. However, it’s also an indication of the scale of the impact coronavirus has had on our sector, and the overwhelming need for work and support.
What’s been the feeling among people you’ve spoken to when you’re arranging these online lessons? Have people been afraid and panicked due to the situation in which we find ourselves — or do you feel this sort of opportunity to share skills online is helping people take calmer control over their creative practice?
In creating this directory, we can’t promise that everyone will get work. However, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. I think there’s a real confusion out there about the scale of the problem and what we can do as individuals. Initiatives like this, and others like the Melbourne Digital Concert Hall, are affirmative actions that act as rallying points for people.
Musicians are also incredibly resourceful people, and there’s a genuine interest from those I’ve spoken with to share their creativity and skills with others. Even if people don’t have access to an instrument, there is so much we can learn from every musician listed on the website.
Are you giving your own lessons, too?
I gave my first online lesson today! It was for an existing student — I haven’t listed myself on the website — and I was surprised how easy it was. Technology has come a long way, and it’s amazing how effortless the transition felt.
I don’t need more students at the moment, so I’m prioritising keeping the admin side of the website running to try to generate opportunities for those in more need.
As a musician yourself, what advice would you give to people who are looking to set up online music lessons? This of course refers to practical advice for the studio, as well as strategies for communicating when you’re not face to face.
Pace yourself! Sitting in front of a screen and microphone can feel like you’re under a lot more scrutiny than normal. It can be tiring, but it can also unlock a level of concentration you didn’t know you were capable of. Start slow and communicate clearly with one another until you’ve built a good rapport.
It can also take a moment to get the technology right. A good microphone and speaker, whilst not necessary, can go a long way. Either way, patience is key.
Don’t be afraid to ask colleagues or friends for help along the way.
What response have you felt in the community, including students and teachers who have found your resource?
I mentioned rallying points earlier, but another theme has been ‘hope’. Even if it’s only one or two additional students for some of the musicians on this list, the fact that the resource exists at all seems to have boosted the spirits of many I’ve spoken with.
A few people have also pointed out that adversity can really encourage us to think and act more creatively. Many of the resources popping up during this time exist as solutions to present problems. We don’t know what the world will look like after this issue dies down, but we will have created some amazing new things in the meantime.
So where do you see the future of this initiative? Specifically, do you feel it’s a temporary one that can help tutors and teachers survive this self-isolation period, or is it an initiative you feel might help change the future of the industry — and make lessons more accessible to everyone no matter what their situation or location?
I really hope this generates connections between musicians and students that last well beyond the current isolation period. As awful as this shutdown is, it has also highlighted several problems with the way we pace our lives and leave little time to engage with each other in measured and creative ways.
For a lot of people, the idea of an online lesson without the commute may be a way they can continue to have that engagement in their lives when things resume. For those living in remote communities or living in difficult personal circumstances, it may be the only way they can continue to access high-quality music teachers. If this resource can continue offering that service, I want it to live on.
A little teaser – we’re also in the process of developing some other areas of the website for those that may want to find a way to engage with these musicians but lack the resources or confidence to take lessons. Stay tuned!
Anything you’d like to add about how people can be involved?
Learning to sing or to play an instrument is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences you can have. If you’ve always wanted to give it a try but never had the time, this is it.
There are also so many community musicians out there who are currently unable to rehearse. This is a great chance to continue practising and improving your musicianship.
