When the world is told to distance yourselves and remain isolated, young people living in challenging circumstances feel heightened levels of anxiety and loneliness. The coronavirus crisis is making life tough for young people, so now is a critical time for us to support our students. We plan to offer online music-making and social sessions for EVERY young person. That's 350 students and 475 sessions every week! Please will you "BE THERE" to help us support young people when they need us most?
Not being able to come to our academy every week because of the coronavirus lockdown, presents a real loss for our children and young people to include: - Disruption to the security of their weekly routine at a difficult and worrying time - Disconnection from their World Heart Beat 'family' who provide them with support when they may be missing that at home - Discontinuity with their music learning, which gives them a sense of purpose, self-worth, and identity.
"I'm not really scared anymore because the flute is helping me be calm and not be panicked. We also live in quite a small flat so I don't have many things to do" - student who has trialled our online lessons. By providing children and young people music-making opportunities and the chance to 'meet' online, we will reduce their feelings of isolation, improve their well-being, build their confidence and provide a sense of achievement, as well as continue to develop their musical skills.
We expect the days, weeks and months ahead to be testing, even more so for disadvantaged children and young people. We know that by being there online for our students every week through the crisis, we will be able to support them as individuals and as a community. And, when brighter days return, our young people will be well and happy, and ready to come together once again to play, and share the joy of music.
