A Powerful Reminder
- Irene Feher
- Sep 5
- 3 min read
It’s March 2020, I’m sitting alone in my home in a strange state of shock. I’m not allowed to go out, and even if I could go out, there’s nowhere for me to go. I never imagined I would ever live through a worldwide pandemic.
In my EuSing! Online class earlier this week, I met a new participant who looks familiar. We met online when I was co-faciliating Music for People Improvisation online during the pandemic. I’m overcome with a feeling of gratitude as I remember those strange days facilitating improvisation online. I can say that those online music sessions were a lifeline for me, and for many others.
Earlier this summer, Pedagogies for Later-Life Music Learning & Participation - Facilitating Creative Musical Development in Later Life, an online open access academic publication was released. Chapter 3 describes a study that was conducted on the Music for People Online workshops I co-created and facilitated along with my colleagues Mary Knysh and Cliodhna Ní Aodáin. The study illustrates the importance of community music, and how the online platform offers so much possibility for those who may not otherwise be able to participate in musical activities due to various challenges with mobility. Our online musical gatherings grew out of a desperate need to connect with others in music during a cold fall and winter lockdown.
As I read through the chapter, I was transported right back to those hours spent in front of a screen bound to others by a love for music and musical creation. I remember how we bumbled around learning how to use Zoom figuring out how to run online workshops and create meaningful musical experiences. Everyone who attended was also as open and curious as we were. We shared our music, we laughed, we cried, and even managed to play together despite internet latency. We collectively longed for a time that we could actually be together in one room making music. Preparing and running each gathering was basically a huge improvisation in itself.
Since then, I have met many former online participants at live workshops and it was always a moving reunion. I decided to continue my EuSing! Sessions online because of the community that formed over the last 5 years. It’s the people who show up who bring so much to each vocal improvisation session.
Music for People decided to maintain monthly online sessions as part of the Musicianship & Leadership Program as it serves to maintain that sense of community that can fade away between live workshops.
The researchers offered an articulate perspective to what we do as facilitators. It is truly amazing to read others’ observations. In the moment of a session and during the rush of managing everyday life between sessions, there is often little time to reflect on the intrinsic value of what we do.
I never tire of co-creating music in the moment with others. Always playing at the very edge of chaos, we come together to make music out of nothing. The music that emerges is not only the combination of all our musical experiences, it is our willingness to be there for each other. When we are all in the midst of difficult times, that sharing becomes even more profound.
Maybe we need to do more musical co-creating… just a reminder… and a nudge…
I hope you take the time to read the chapter. It is really special. I want to thank those who participated in the research and the amazing researchers who put so much into this insightful piece!
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A Powerful Reminder
