Andre Rieu replaces instruments ...

... stolen from disabled musicians: 

‘My heart broke’

Picture: Getty

By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM London

5K

The Dutch violinist has vowed to reimburse an orchestra for the mentally disabled, whose trailer full of instruments was stolen in the early hours of Thursday morning.

André Rieu has pledged to replace 20,000 euros of musical instruments, which were stolen from an orchestra of musicians with mental disabilities.

The instruments, which belonged to the Haarlem brass band ‘Happy with Music’, were stolen in the early hours of Thursday 13 June, along with the band’s trailer.

The chairman of the band, Juria van der Lubbe, told Dutch newspaper the Telegraaf: “Seventeen years of work is in it. Sponsor promotions, the VriendenLoterij, the local Vomar. All these years they have contributed bit by bit to all instruments. That is gone in one fell swoop.”

After reading about their story, Dutch violinist and maestro André Rieu decided to step in.

He said: “My heart broke when I read on the Telegraaf website that this group of musicians had been robbed of all their instruments. I want them to be able to perform again very soon.

Van der Lubbe described the news as “fantastic” and “almost unbelievable”.

She told RTL Nieuws: “What a lovely man that he is going to do this for our brass band. I am completely confused.”

Last year, Rieu pledged 700 tons of steel towards the restoration of Notre-Dame, following the fire which devastated the 850-year-old cathedral in April.

Mental health charities call for ...

... ‘vital’ support for classical musicians

Two thirds of musicians suffer from depression. Picture: Getty

By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM

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A new campaign – ‘Harmony in Mind’ – aims to better support musicians and tackle the mental health crisis in the culture sector

A study by Help Musicians UK found that 71 per cent of musicians have experienced anxiety and panic attacks. Meanwhile, 65 per cent have suffered from depression (three times higher than in the general population).

Between 2011 and 2015, it was found that men working in the culture sector were 20 per cent more at risk of suicide, while the risk among women was 69 per cent higher, compared to other industries.

Today, the magazine Classical Music launches a major campaign to help tackle the sector-wide crisis.

Classical Music is joined by seven of the leading mental health and classical music charities, including the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine, Help Musicians UK, the Incorporated Society of Musicians, Musicians’ Union, Music Support, The Royal Society of Musicians, Help Musicians UK and Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma movement led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.

Picture: Getty

Together, they are calling on industry leaders to better support musicians and staff, and to tackle the underlying causes of the crisis.

They are also urging orchestras and other classical music organisations to sign up to the Time to Change Employers’ Pledge. Led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, ‘Time to Change’ is working with employers in all sectors to change how they think and act about mental health in the workplace, and ensure that employees facing these problems feel supported.

“The music sector has a high level of self-employed workers which makes them particularly vulnerable,” said Francesca Treadaway, from the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

“The gig economy, where short-term contracts or freelance work is prevalent, has a lack of regulation with no job security or access to holiday, a pension scheme, sick pay or maternity cover and protection and support mechanisms which are to be found in more traditional employment.”

Picture: Getty

Over the course of a year, Classical Music magazine will provide a platform to share best practice, new research, advice and resources for musicians. It will also create a virtual forum for visitors to pledge their support, share experiences and discuss solutions to end the mental health crisis.

The campaign is led by the magazine’s new editor, Lucy Thraves, who hopes to create an environment where musicians feel “safe, supported and accepted”.

“This wonderfully creative and enriching industry presents unusual challenges for its people, with high levels of stress around performance, job insecurity [and] widespread funding crises,” said Thraves. “Stigma around mental health issues is still great, with constant anxiety and stress considered normal.”

Last year, a report was commissioned by the concert promoter Skiddle, who reported that 65 per cent of its respondents were dealing with “intense and unmanageable” levels of pressure.

Six things musicians should be doing on social media in 2018

By ClassicFM, London

By Maddy Shaw Roberts

956

Whether you’re a long-time aspiring musician or you’re looking to kickstart your career in music this year, here are some tips on how to succeed from the best musicians on the Internet.

1. Be yourself

It’s a lot easier said than done, but the truer you are to yourself, the greater chance you have at being an online music sensation.

“So many people are trying to be someone else or emulate someone else’s lifestyle on social media and it’s refreshing when you find a person who is completely and honestly themselves,” says Chloe Trevor, a violinist with 146,000 followers on Instagram. “There is only one you – let the world see you shine!”

So if like Chloe, you’re feeling poorly and want to post a video of yourself playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in a unicorn onesie, you should definitely do it.

2. Talk to your audience

French Instagram violinist Esther Abrami advises to “help your followers to enter your musical world”. Your social media followers love to watch performance videos, but remember that most of your followers won’t have a degree in music.

10 reasons you should take up a musical instrument

Esther encourages aspiring musicians to “interact with your audience, explain to them the story behind the piece you are playing or introduce them to a new piece of music… it isn’t often people can enter the intimate world of a musician so when they do, they love it!”

Here’s a comparison video Esther did recently, asking her audience about the difference in sound between two violin bows:

Can you hear the difference between a $500 and $160,000 bow?

Credit: Esther Abrami

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3. Be patient

“Look at social media as a tool for documentation, not as a way to get famous overnight,” says Drew Alexander Forde (thatviolakid). Whatever platform you’re using, use it as a way of documenting your progress, rather than putting pressure on yourself to get thousands of new followers overnight.

“It takes 30 years to be considered an ‘emerging artist’, says Drew. “Be patient and simply strive to become 1% better every day!”

4. Post content that makes you happy

“Post content that inspires you,” advises Chloe Trevor. “You will appear more authentic if you post content that motivates you rather than trying to post what you think the general public will like. Work hard, keep your standards high, post what you love and people will take notice.”

21-year-old Esther Abrami has amassed over 100,000 followers on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube thanks to her positive, fun videos. “Forget possible criticism or self-doubt,” she says. “Happiness is contagious and the joy you put in whilst filming your videos will spread to your followers when they watch it.”

In the case of this video, joy = newborn kittens.

Esther Abrami plays Mendelssohn

This violinist played Mendelssohn to a litter of sleepy newborn kittens.

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5. Don’t be afraid to post ‘imperfect’ content

As tempting as it is to use social media as a way to post about the happiest 10% of your life, as a musician this isn’t always the best way to gain followers.

Sara Ferrández is a Spanish violist on Instagram, who says she finds it “inspiring” when other musicians share their practice time or their live concerts. 

“There is always some magic in the ‘real thing’ because almost nobody can sound daily like a CD recording right? I like to show things as natural as they are, and share my bad days of practising as well because it happens to all of us musicians.”

Don’t forget, the more followers you get, the more influential you become – and younger musicians will find it helpful to watch how you practise for that 10/10 performance of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto you gave last week.

6. Dare to be different 

“Life will always set walls of disruptions and it's up to you to break it by creating your own hunting ground,” says Brett from the internet sensation duo, Two Set Violin, whose 200,000 followers on Facebook follow their hilariously geeky videos.

Flautist Ariana Piknjač has found Instagram fame with her multi-tracked flute videos. She advises up-and-coming musicians to “listen to your gut feeling, intuition however you like to call it. If you feel like sharing a collaboration of an arrangement playing the overture to Mozart’s The Marriage Of Figaro with a trumpet player and you play the xylophone, WHY NOT?”

These are the best classical covers of pop songs

“Play what you think feels right at that moment. If you feel like doing a classical cover of an Eminem song, go right ahead! When you believe and whole-heartedly feel your work, trust me, people will too.”

Here’s a multi-tracked video Ariana did for Halloween last year, using a flute and two alto flutes. It got 14,000 views:

Now you’re ready to be an online music sensation, read our top 10 tips to help you practise more effectively.

Musicians are three times more likely to experience depression...

...according to study

By CLASSIC FM, LONDON

0

A concerning new piece of research reveals the scale of the mental health crisis facing the UK music industry.

‘Can Music Make You Sick?’ is a new study commissioned by Help Musicians UK, which explores the effects of a career in music on musicians’ mental health.

The study, completed by University of Westminster, investigated 2,211 musicians, 71.1% of whom said they had suffered from panic attacks or anxiety, with 68.5% saying they had struggled with depression.

Researchers Sally-Anne Gross and Dr. George Musgrave cited a few major issues including money worries, because of juggling many different jobs and dealing with precarious and unpredictable pay, and poor working conditions.

They also found musicians were more likely to be subject to sexual abuse, bullying and discrimination – as well as antisocial and unsympathetic working environments.

While relationships with family and the support of close friends and partners are highly valued, they are also “open to abuse and feelings of guilt”. Plus, musicians often lack the financial means to seek professional support.

This news follows a recent study in the scientific journal Eating and Weight Disorders which revealed that a third of musicians suffer from eating disorders due to stress, concerts and perfectionism.

Since publishing the study, Help Musicians UK have promised to establish a music industry mental health taskforce, launch a 24/7 mental health service, Music Minds Matter, and to advocate change across the industry.

Christine Brown, director of external affairs at Help Musicians UK, told M magazine: “Help Musicians UK is uniquely placed to commission and share the results of this important, game-changing study. The charity granted nearly two million pounds last year to those that need it most in the industry, so it is a natural step to examine the key issues and make a call to action to help implement wider, lasting change in the industry. 

“The British music industry is in rude health and has a world class reputation – but to continue the long-term wellbeing of the industry and its workers, we aim to create a constructive forum for discussion, partnership and collaboration.

“Through the new Music Minds Matter service, we are closer to providing the crucial support, advice and education the music community desperately needs. Together we can continue to chip away at the stigma, so that in the long term those working in the community never have to suffer in silence.”

Researchers Gross and Musgrave added: “This research is a crucial step forward in our understanding of the complex relationship between the working conditions of musicians and mental health conditions. 

“The honesty and poignancy of our interviewees has made possible this important work, and informed the service provision being implemented by Help Musicians UK, and for that we are truly thankful. We welcome the new service Music Minds Matter and hope that this research can spark a wider debate both in the music industry about the welfare of those at its heart, and more generally about the challenging nature of precarious work.”