Owing to this tragic coronavirus pandemic, I have been unable to continue one-to-one piano lessons and now teach piano online via Skype. I'm happy because of the flexibility and it pleases the students, who have taken advantage of this new way of learning. It means they have no stresses travelling to and from lessons, they can play their own keyboards or pianos and relax in the comfort of their own homes. It's a much more relaxed way of doing things and has not proved any obstacle to their learning. My editorial consultancy has been absorbed into Manchester Piano Tutor Online as Write Words Editorial and I now have more time to devote to both.
Book appraisals
I'm delighted to continue with Bookblog for Bookworms because it is something I loved doing and I hope to build up my following again. I love reading print books. It can do nobody any harm, much is to be gained from doing so. Giving objective commentaries on the content and quality of writing is part of a writer's learning process and is intended to be helpful. Robinswood, publishers of my Left-hander's Handbook, which won a book award from the British Medical Association, are looking at ways of revising the book and bringing it up to date, which should also keep me occupied with research.
This is Woody. He's got an ear for jazz and learnt Joplin's The Entertainer quite quickly at his online lessons. Woody is 7 years old and was about to take his Grade 1 exam, when the exam board cancelled all exams because of the pandemic. Woody, who is off to Spain with his parents for a month, has decided to stick with Grade 1 when he returns but my three other Grade 1 entrants advanced so much during their online lessons that we were all agreed they should take their Grade 2 exams instead once the board starts running exams again at the end of this year. One of them is taking Grade 1 at the same time as she wants all the certificates. Woody has a great musical future ahead of him.
Feature writing
I was commissioned to write a feature about how I managed being in self-isolation and lockdown. This is the end of week 15 and I have only ventured out to top up my online shopping or to replace some of the electrical gadgets that have broken down while I've been incarcerated. Life has been full of ups, downs and ups. In the feature, Brave New Life I commented, 'Lockdown has brought out the best and, in some cases, the worst of us. Social media is rife with foul language and vicious ripostes to other people's opinions.' For some reason, many people are unable to accept the differences in opinions of others and acknowledge that there is no right or wrong, just differences. Intolerance has risen to the surface bigtime aimed at people of different races, nationalities, cultures and religions, which is disturbing. And a lot of people have been behaving rather stupidly and putting themselves and others at risk.
'I'm aware not everyone feels the same but it's just possible I may not want to come out of confinement once we're released.' I wrote the feature when, by week 9 I was thoroughly enjoying my own company, doing ballet, tai chi, singing and tapping (ENT) online and having my groceries brought straight to my door. It was when the washer leaked into the room below, I caught the plumber vaping in my kitchen, the smoke alarm wouldn't stop pinging, the vacuum cleaner packed up and the printer ate my wallet containing bank card and driving documents, which I'd misplaced on the paper feed, that the reality of my situation hit me. I lost my sense of purpose.
'It's a fact that if you have nothing to work towards or to aim for, you won't survive,' I wrote. Six weeks on, I'm adapting to reality and finding my purpose once more but I don't think life will ever be the same again. Do you?
Piano lesson promotion for July
I'm running a 50 per cent reduction promotion for July only - £10 for a 30 minute online trial piano lesson to test the water. If you have a piano or keyboard and would like to try it out, contact me on diane@manchesterpianotutor.co.uk/ And you can find out more on the website: www.manchesterpianotutor.co.uk/
Write Words Editorial and Guest Bloggers
Write Words Editorial has its own page and all you have to do is press the tab on the MPT website to check it out or google www.manchesterpianotutor.co.uk/write-words. Please don't hesitate to send me books for review or news of your writing activities. I'm also looking for guest bloggers. Phone (01614450159) or email first at diane.paul2@ntlworld.com
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