Not a whole lot going on...

[highpitch]

Covid19 has shut down our concert band; no rehearsals nor performances.

Virtually all AZ schools, like the one we rehearsed in, are closed.

I'd suppose it is the same in a lot of US localities, the Brits have literally locked down the entire brass band scene. https://www.4barsrest.com/news/latest

DDG

[MarChant]

Same here in The Netherlands. I suppose all countries affected by the virus have taken similar measures.

[RickF]

Same here in S. Florida. Concert dates moved and rehearsals cancelled. I suspect the new concert dates will end up be cancelled all together. This is a terrible pandemic with a huge risk to people in groups or crowds. Pretty sure this season is over for us.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those at risk and for those medical workers on the front line.

"Stay home, stay safe, stay healthy"

[John Morgan]

Same here even in remote South Dakota which has only a handful of cases of the virus. Schools shut. All music shut down, including New Horizons Band, Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, etc.

But I fully support the actions being taken in order to try to cut down on the spread of coronavirus. Linda and I are just chilling out at home.

A lot of time to play my horns and work on "the next solo".

Be safe everyone!! Follow the guidelines!!

[MarChant]

... only a handful of cases of the virus...

Don't be mistaken, that's how it starts. In The Netherlands it started february 27th with one confirmed case, within three weeks it was over 1.000! And that's only the confirmed cases, they're not even testing every suspected patient anymore (only the ones who are at risk of severe complications). After that, the government announced a shutdown-light.
So I guess you're right to shut most social activities down and stay home. Only go out if really necessary.

[Snorlax]

Indiana is also closed down. Schools are out until May 1st (at the earliest), Indianapolis Brass Choir, Indiana Wind Symphony, and Crossroads Brass Band all on hiatus until further notice...mother-in-law can't leave her senior living community and we can't come in. ;-)

[daruby]

All's quiet here in the greater Massachusetts scene. All of the musical organizations I normally work with are shut down. For sure, I have no musical activities now through the end of April, and in all likelihood for longer than that.

My wife and I will complete day 7 of "Social Distancing" tomorrow. I have to admit, that at the expense of not practicing, I have gotten lots of household projects done. Grocery stores just started "senior hours" here today (5:30A - 7A and 7A - 9A depending on store). We are going out for just 3 reasons; groceries, pharmacy, and curb-side takeout at the four locally owned restaurants that are still open.

One thing that I am doing, as appointments for things like hairdressers (not for me), massage therapy, and others are canceled, is to make sure we try to pay the affected provider anyway, since, like our fellow professional musicians, they have no other support. So many of my fellow musicians that are dependent on their music for their livelihood are just gutted. We donated the unused portion of our BSO season tickets to the organization rather than asking for a refund in the hopes it will help a bit. Another program that we are contributing to is our local Council on Aging. There is a companion private organization that works with the COA called "Friends of the Elders" that can take private donations and work with the Senior Center to deliver groceries and other supplies to the most at-risk and in-need seniors.

In any case, I must admit that while my music is not giving me much relief right now, I am working hard to stay busy and productive. I was already planning my retirement in summer of 2021 from the serious high-intensity year round performance that I normally participate. I turn 70 in July 2021. I want to relax back to community groups, perhaps just summer, christmas, July 4, etc. and work on the "bucket list" and more casual interests. I hope that decision has not already been made for me.

May all of you be well, safe, and healthy!

Doug

[Fishlips]

I play in a community band in the Seattle suburbs. We haven't rehearsed since February 27th due to COVID-19 closures at the time in some area schools. Since then, of course, all schools were closed and no large gatherings are permitted.

We were informed tonight that our "spring term" rehearsals and performance have now also been cancelled, and we will be told later whether our handful of summer performances in various parks will take place.

I'm all for the social distancing, especially as a sexagenarian (I always enjoy using that word!), but miss playing with the group and seeing the gang nonetheless.

[John Morgan]

...I'm all for the social distancing, especially as a sexagenarian (I always enjoy using that word!), but miss playing with the group and seeing the gang nonetheless.

As a septuagenarian, I am practicing social distancing, too, but I miss playing with my groups, also. I have mild emphysema, which would be bad news paired with coronavirus.

[ChristianeSparkle]

Things looking bad in my country too. Government gave the Stay At Home order, but people still flaunt it and many, I mean many, tried to travel interstate. They're getting the military to assist the police in manning checkpoints starting Sunday.

Just got news that the Wind Festival in my country got cancelled. I was so looking forward to it and was practicing a piece for it.

Been working from home, the weather has been harsh, but at least I get to toot on my Euph for a bit on and off throughout the day.

Our community band had a full program lined up too this year, most of them were scrapped. Not sure about the ones during year end.

[dsurkin]

Update from Westchester County, New York. I play trombone in a community orchestra that rehearses in White Plains - near the New Rochelle epicenter. All rehearsals canceled for the foreseeable future. We play a lot of nursing homes, community centers, and libraries - all concerts canceled. I also play in a community band that performs outdoor concerts throughout the summer. No word on that one yet, but during the school year the conductor leads the Lehman College Community Band (Bronx, NY), with a lot of overlapping personnel, and that's been canceled.

My teacher conducts my lessons via Facetime.

My wife is on staff at NYU, and she's working from our home office, holding Zoom meetings and classes. I work part-time at Pace University, and all classes are being conducted remotely. My day job is counsel at a NYC accounting firm, and the firm has directed all professional staff to work remotely. So here I sit in my home office, with my wife at her desk ten feet away, Jazz on the daybed behind me and Delilah probably curled up on the good sofa in the living room that she knows she's not allowed on.

All in all, I applaud those in NY State government, and all my fellow citizens, who are doing what they can to slow the progress of the pandemic and hopefully avoid a surge in hospitalizations.

[MarChant]

In The Netherlands, just a week after we reached 1.000 confirmed patients, we are closing in on 3.000! It's going really fast now. 106 deaths now, 30 of those today alone!
The "stay at home" here is not very strict, it is just an advice and there is no fine if you do go out. I do expect/hope the Government announces more strict action soon. Some people are really stubborn, or just plain stupid and don't realize how serious the situation is.
There was a guy arrested for DUI near where I live, he shouted at the police that he was "infected with Corona" (he was tested later and turns out he wasn't infected) and spit in the officer's face. He got sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for that.

As I am a Security Guard, I still have to go out to work, but apart from work, grocery shopping or watching over my kids when my ex-wife is not able to, I stay at home.

[RickF]

Hope everyone stays safe during this coronavirus pandemic. Today I'm wearing a tee shirt one of my grand kids gave me awhile ago - but not for the reason suggested.

[Himura]

We're all shut down here in Nashville, too, and it's definitely for the best. We've got a lot of people in the highest risk population (as I suspect most community bands do), and so I don't anticipate getting back together until well after Memorial Day. It sucks hard to have to fill that void, but better that than the alternative.

Probably the worst part for them, though, is that the band might be the largest part of their social lives. I do wonder how many will return to playing once this situation gets sorted out.

[ghmerrill]

Hope everyone stays safe during this coronavirus pandemic. Today I'm wearing a tee shirt one of my grand kids gave me awhile ago - but not for the reason suggested.

I got a variant of that for Christmas from my wife. Oddly prescient.