Pupil’s Newsletter SEPTEMBER 2020 Elwyn Jordan. Guitar, Bass, and Banjo Tuition. We are back! Well, the Newsletter is anyway. And some lessons have resumed, albeit online only. You can read all about that—where we’re at with teaching—in the article below. The photo here shows an online lesson under way. As well as that, I take another look at how the music industry is doing, in a feature that’s a kind of follow-up to the one in the last issue. And there are lots of other news items and feature articles as well; so enjoy the read! being in the more-vulnerable age range, it made In This Issue.... sense to stop. What’s Happening With Lessons? 1 As I explained, for me that was an involved The Pandemic & The Music Industry 3 process. As I was already, officially, semi-retired New Fenders 5 (I’d cut back a bit on my teaching a couple of Tuners Feature 9 years ago), it meant formally shutting down the Age Can Adversely Affect Guitars 11 business. Some assistance packages were available Stretches For Musicians 12 for self-employed, but already being in receipt of a YouTube Clips (3 of them!) 14 part-pension put me in a different category. So I And lots more of course! just, officially, retired. (But always with a view to “coming out of retirement” in the future!). I don’t have to tell you what the situation with the pandemic is at the moment, because you all know. Here in Australia we are much better off than many countries around the world. And in NSW particularly, we are doing pretty good— well, we were until some outbreaks started happening around Sydney. That, and the dreadful situation in Victoria (which is thankfully improving as I write this), has shown just how easily serious out-breaks can spring up. And that has created a strange new world that we are living in. For example, who could have imagined, at the As detailed in the last Newsletter—which start of this year, that we would be wearing face- was published back in April! — I had to stop masks to the supermarkets? teaching. Government-imposed restrictions meant Now, while in some areas measures to I had to anyway, but my wife and I decided to pull prevent the spread of the virus have increased -the-pin on our teaching operations just before the (such as wearing face-masks to the final boom fell to close things down. Especially supermarkets!), some of the restrictions have been eased. Private music lessons are allowed to Elwyn Jordan Music Tuition. http://elwynmusic.homestead.com happen, provided COVID-safe rules are adhered was able to keep it at the same level for longer, 2 to—such as allowing 4 square-metres per person in but I really should have applied an increase a room etc. Gradually, other teaching services have before now. Consequently, it has now been started back up again. So, where am I up to? increased—as I outlined in the letter I sent out—to Well, there are a couple of factors involved. the lower end of what professional teachers are The first is that, as I explained previously—and charging. also explained in letters I have written to all my But getting back to my lessons, the second pupils—having been forced into retirement, as it factor is that I am still very much concerned were, I don’t intend coming back to full-time about the situation with this pandemic. As we teaching. Well I wasn’t full-time before, as I have seen, it only takes one person, perhaps not mentioned, but my intention was to enjoy some even knowing they are sick, to start an outbreak; an retirement, but also still do some lessons. outbreak that can, potentially, have devastating To this end I have investigated alternative consequences for those most at risk. So face-to- teaching services, for face lessons are still on hold for the moment. those who might However, I have started online lessons. wish to take that This took a little bit of setting up (including buying option. I don’t know a new laptop), but I have it up and running now. any of the teachers at Haworths ZOOMING INTO LESSONS! personally, but from Yes, I am using Zoom for my online what I can establish, lessons. Zoom is interesting. Since the lockdowns they seem to be began in March, Zoom has become the program for doing a good job. video-conferencing and meetings etc. Until then I’d They are significantly more expensive than what never even heard of it, but it has been around for you have been paying here, but around the same quite a while. The company actually began in 2011, sort of figure as other ―studios‖ (some of which I and launched its product in 2013. It was founded by have heard bad reports about). Eric Yuan, who came to the US from China in Laura Holt is located in Dapto and was 1997. It’s a bit ironic isn’t it, that a man from China recommended. I have spoken to her on a few would be responsible for developing a video- occasions, and I’m impressed with what she does. platform for helping us all communicate during a She has been teaching for about 15 years, is a good pandemic that came from China! teacher, and, like me, places a strong emphasis on It was a success with businesses, but it was learning the theory of music as well as just playing. 2020 when it really took off in the general public. Her available times are limited though, as she has a That is reflected in its market value. In 2019 it was young child to look after. The other thing is that her listed on the stock market with a value of $16 background (and specialty) is in classical guitar. billion. In 2020 it is now worth $42 billion. So, while she does teach ―all styles‖, she does so (Wouldn’t you have liked to have bought shares in using classical guitar and fingerstyle playing. that last year!). Pupils are welcome to bring a steel-string acoustic Anyway, back to for lessons, but she doesn’t have facilities for our online lessons. Yes, electric guitar. Her fees are more than you were they are done with Zoom, paying here too, but at the lower end of what most and as with face-to-face professional teachers are charging. lessons, we book you in at a regular time each week. Payment is made by deposit into my bank account. The lessons work much the same way as face-to-face lessons, except we do less playing together. At first the connection was a bit laggy, On the subject of fees, it has been 8 and having me and the pupil both playing at the years—2012—since I last increased my fees. An same time didn’t work. It’s better now, but still not increase has been long overdue, but I haven’t ideal. Other than that though, it works the same as bothered, until now. A change in tax obligations (I always. You (the pupil) play through your lesson no longer had to include GST in my fees) meant I piece of music you’ve been practicing, and I give you new material—theory, chords, strumming distant future when I will invite some pupils 3 styles, whatever. I play the piece of music I’m back to face-to-face lessons. giving you, and you can record it onto a phone or Finally, please feel more than welcome to tablet etc, just as you would if you were here. I call me if you have any questions, or just want to scan the music and email it to you. chat about your lessons or your music, or even just So, after a bit of shaky start (with the lag) it to chat generally. is now working quite well. Actually, although the photo on the front page shows me using a laptop, I’m now using the computer instead. The wi-fi output from the modem we got when we first connected to the NBN is not too flash, and has given I wrote last time about the music industry, problems on some and how it is suffering in this Pandemic. Back then other devices. In the studio it has to go through two I mentioned the hurt that was being felt by venues walls to get here, so I suppose that slows it down. I and those working behind the scenes, as well, of did have a webcam on the computer (that a friend course, as the artists themselves. Most musicians gave me just after the lockdown began), but while and bands at least start out doing what they do it was handy for joining an online group with my because they love playing and love performing. church (and once with a car club), it wasn’t ideal When that is stopped, it has a huge effect. It’s not for teaching. The position of the camera wasn’t just that they are ―out of a job‖, they are out of a ideal, and I (naively!) thought that the camera was way of life they enjoy. For professional mirror-reversing the image. But I discovered that it musicians, their whole life is about music – being wasn’t: in fact most webcams seem to mirror- out and performing to people. Now, suddenly, reverse the image on your screen; but not at the there was no performing and no people.