The new everyday life

George Marti - "George & Jam", a weekly concert series, had just got off to a good start when the big lockdown was declared on March 16: All the jams were organized until the end of May, my last pedagogy exams for 1 April were perfectly prepared, other gigs, events, projects and the vacations were planned. And then the lockdown! Everything came to a standstill. Everything was ready. Canceled. Suddenly it was just me and my music. A new adventure.

After a short time, the ZHdK started distance learning. And it was fun! Have you ever experienced drum sessions with flip-flops and wooden boxes? It sounded fan-tastic. All resources were used and evaluated. The unique online after-work beer meetings organized by the Rectorate were also new. There were some great conversations, everyone was finally there again and was able to compensate a little for the lack of inspiring moments in the Toni Areal. It was the daily contacts, the exchanges, the rehearsals with the bands, all the people I missed. I have always appreciated the good collaboration with the ZHdK lecturers in individual, ensemble and big band lessons. During the virtual collaboration, I experienced very intense attention and a mutual sense of responsibility. These precious moments gave me a lot of trust and confidence. Suddenly I was spending time on the exercise bike almost every day or enjoying coronavirus-compliant walks in nature. For so long, there had been too little room for exercise in everyday life. I felt good. By chance, I met old friends at the edge of the forest who I hadn't seen for many years. I was surprised again and again. By the new everyday life and by me.

I was able to decide spontaneously, work intensively or consciously enjoy a break in the sun. This gave me time to plan my second Master's project alongside my studies or to continue working on the post-production of "Playas". Finally, Pastor Andreas Maurer invited me to conduct an online service for the Reformed Church in Zug. I improvised in the workshop of Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe on the topics of "Being on the road", "Appreciation", "Resilience" and "Farewell". It was a special commitment that meant a lot to me personally. At the same time, it was the end of the lockdown for me. I suddenly felt the relaxation, the measures had worked, the pause, the perseverance and the further development had paid off.

I am in regular contact with my clients and I can resume the jams. As soon as the situation allows, I start to rebuild. New approaches have emerged. Concerts and cultural events are returning, cautiously and on a small scale. But good and strong. We will play live again and everyone will feel a new, deeper lightness and joy.

George Marti

... is studying jazz and pop music education at the ZHdK.

Jonas Inglin - Looking back, it feels like everything happened so quickly. At first, with the first news from Wuhan, I was gradually overcome by uncertainty, which I initially paid little attention to. But barely a week later, I became more aware day by day that this coronavirus would definitely affect me too. At first, people were still talking about what precautions needed to be taken in order to hold concerts, and some concrete measures were even already being planned. But with the Federal Council's press conference on March 16, it quickly became clear that none of this was realistic, and my dark premonition was confirmed: I wouldn't be leading a rehearsal, playing or conducting a concert in the near future, and I wouldn't be teaching for the time being either.

From then on, I experienced a rollercoaster ride in many ways: my general mood, my motivation, my sense of security but also my self-esteem - everything fluctuated. Although I am in a very comfortable situation (my income is not too badly affected thanks to various permanent jobs, my housing situation is fantastic and I have the opportunity to practice for as long as I want), it has not always been easy. Some projects that I was really looking forward to were canceled or postponed, including the tour with the duo Amstad Inglin, which was particularly close to my heart. I began to ask myself why I should practise at all if I wasn't going to play in the near future anyway, indeed, why I should do anything at all if everything around me was practically at a standstill.

I have found various answers to this. Probably the best one is that you can do activities for the sake of doing them. I really enjoy playing the trombone, so I don't really need another reason for it. A banal, seemingly obvious realization, and yet I had forgotten it in the meantime: I like being a musician because I like playing. Of course, it's nicer to play with fellow musicians, with an audience, with applause, with beer after the concert. But even alone, without an audience and just for yourself, it's something wonderful, and I hope that as many people as possible can take away such a beautiful realization from this crisis.

Jonas Inglin

... studied at the HSLU - Music Profile Classical, followed by a Master of Arts in Music Education with a minor in Jazz Performance.

Fabian Ziegler - Instead of concerts, lessons and lectures, Zoom meetings, unfamiliar practice environments and loneliness dominate the everyday lives of us music students. The corona crisis and its restrictions are hitting the creative scene particularly hard. For us as the Colores Trio, this is also a special moment with special challenges. Despite everything, we are trying to make the best of the given circumstances and are thus unexpectedly productive - albeit on completely different levels. Social distancing hits us as a chamber music ensemble like an Achilles' heel. Until recently, we couldn't even begin to think about big concerts, productions and our own goals. Streaming via social media channels is little consolation. The motivation to practice productively also waned rapidly within the first few weeks. At the same time, however, completely new areas away from the instrument quickly opened up, which otherwise often receive too little attention in everyday life. Administrative topics such as website design, public social media presence, enquiring about offers from streaming services, current CVs, good photos... a general overhaul of the ensemble's structure. This long period of holding out has also given us plenty of time to formulate new goals, discuss issues in the music industry and, above all, share our ideas and opinions. In short, we have made great progress again, and the path to be taken in the future is clearly set out before us. However, this time, which presents us all with enormous challenges of all kinds, also offers us the chance to get rid of the hectic pace of everyday life and get back on track with renewed motivation. We are looking forward to making music together again and are also looking forward to the upcoming concerts.

Fabian Ziegler

... studies percussion instruments (Master Music Pedagogy - instrumental/vocal music pedagogy - classical music) at the ZHdK.

Sandro Erni - I first heard about COVID-19 in January, but of course I would never have guessed that it would have such an impact on my musical life. When the number of cases suddenly increased in Italy in February and then in March the concerts I wanted to attend and the ones I was supposed to play in were postponed or canceled, I realized that this would have a major impact on my musical work.

The university kept us regularly informed by email. We also heard about many of the measures through the Federal Council's press conferences, such as the ban on events and school closures. I remember when, after three hours of composition lessons, I received the push notification announcing the school closures, read it and realized that the next few weeks or months would probably not be the same as usual.

My musical life has changed a lot in some areas, but has also remained unchanged in others. The most drastic change is that I am not allowed to have face-to-face lessons with my professor until July 31. As I already had a good microphone before the pandemic, my professor can understand how I play reasonably well. However, many aspects are lost through online lessons: for example, the small nuances that are essential for music, whether in the sound or otherwise in the music, which cannot be transmitted via a microphone. What bothers me most about online lessons is that there are sometimes small connection problems with Zoom, which the program tries to make up for, making it difficult for the other person to understand the rhythm due to the resulting tempo fluctuations in the transmission. Surprisingly, I didn't have a lack of appearances during this time. I was able to play in various tele-worship services. This was good for not losing my performance routine, and I would like to say a big thank you to all the parishes, as they still made it possible for many musicians to perform even in times like these.

What I regret very much, however, are the extra-church engagements that suddenly disappeared. Especially the chamber music activities, but also various orchestral concerts with programs that I had been looking forward to for some time. It's a shame not to be able to present the newly created works to an audience.

I am pleased and relieved that the number of cases in Switzerland has stabilized very well, that the healthcare system has not been overburdened and that these relaxations are now possible. It is understandable that the university management has canceled face-to-face teaching until the next semester so that foreign students have had the opportunity to return to their families. However, I very much regret that face-to-face teaching will remain restricted until August, even though more would be possible in terms of relaxation. Basically, as a 17-year-old, I don't see myself in a position to criticize others. But I have two wishes: I hope that normal face-to-face teaching will be allowed again as soon as possible, as the students and professors who are on site would have the time and the space to do so. And I hope that innovative formats such as those I have personally experienced through my involvement in the church sector will continue to take place and offer many musicians a certain amount of support in similar crises.

Sandro Erni

... studies trumpet, is a junior student at the PreCollege Music of the ZHdK and attends the Rämibühl Art and Sports High School in Zurich.

Catalina Paredes - I come from Santiago de Chile, a city with almost six million inhabitants, where many different realities come together. South America has an incredible number of facets, social distancing is practically non-existent there, people always greet and say goodbye with kisses and hugs. There is also a lot of dancing and there is hardly any space between the many people on public transport. The year 2019 ended with many social tensions in South America, and poverty is more noticeable as a result of the climate crisis. But our stories are always full of difficulties, and we are used to crises - we always get up again.

In January, I heard that the university had instructed students from China to stay at home. When a fellow student traveled to China in February, I brought him his double bass to the train station - and that's when I realized it was serious. Then everything happened very quickly. When the closure of the Toni-Areal (for me like my home) was announced, I took everything I had there with me: Sheet music, plants, bows, clothes - and of course my instrument. The announcement on March 27 that foreign students should travel to their home countries as soon as possible sent me into a panic. I started to think about everything to do with the journey home: to fly or not? Give notice on the rented apartment? What do I want? What can I do? Well, I stayed here and spent the rest of the following three months alone at home practicing. Normally I have a lot of rehearsals, and for me there is no better mission than playing the bass line in an ensemble. Since March, however, I have never played with anyone else. There were very productive weeks and others that were just awful. And at some point I didn't feel like eating instant soup every day anymore. I was glad that the university provided various links for psychological or financial help during the crisis. What strengthened me the most was the incredible humor and energy of my teachers Wies de Boevé and Duncan McTier. They did everything they could to make me feel good, they even organized master classes!

Now I'm glad that things are easing. I'm still a little worried that there will be another outbreak, but I remain optimistic that the situation in Switzerland will continue to improve (unfortunately, I can't say the same about my home country). I can finally plan again, meet colleagues, have a beer. But I think that nothing in me will ever be the same again. I don't want to be afraid, but I want to walk through the world more consciously. I am happy and grateful to live and study here. Nevertheless, I ask myself whether it's all worth it? Being so far away from home in a crisis like this? But my answer for now is yes, even if my heart is in Chile.

I've learned a lot in the last few months: how fragile everything is, how important communication is, how valuable physical contact is, but also how wonderful loneliness can be, how undisciplined I am, how globalized the world is, which people really care about me, how much I miss my mom and that it's time to have a boyfriend. The only thing I have for sure in my life is music and my double bass. Now working in chamber music groups becomes much more valuable, and maybe it's a chance to get music out of the theaters. Music needs a fresh audience, we need to bring classical, modern and contemporary music closer to people. A concert is not only a moment of relaxation, but also a moment of learning. My wish is that all people in the world have a home, love and are loved. That states and nations take our planet seriously and that we understand that it is more important to invest in science and health services than in weapons and war material. The current level of globalization allows us to better understand the origin and purpose of everything. But it is not that we need more, it is that we can live in peace with less.

Catalina Paredes

... studies double bass (Bachelor Music - Classical - Instrumental/Vocal) at the ZHdK.