Into spring…

Photo by Venetia Jollands

What in the world has been going on?

Hattie

Happy March! I had such a lovely month in February, including going to Lewes on holiday for a few days and playing Joni Mitchell on the piano. It’s going much slower than last year, which feels so right and I finally feel some semblance of balance. I’m also learning to line-manage my new assistant at work, which has brought up so many interesting emotions and thoughts about how we use our power, especially when managing people the same age as us. I mostly hope you’re all really well and send so many thanks for continuing to read our newsletter.

What I’m currently reading

Intimate Friends by Martha Vicinus. What an amazing survey of gay history between 1778 and 1928, including everyone’s favourite Ethel Smyth.

Favourite concert/event of the month

English National Opera’s Barber of Seville. After a lot of borderline-traumatic operas over the past few months, it was so lovely to laugh and just have a stupidly great time at the opera!

Becca

Life is full of movement right now: I’ve given up most of my private teaching to give myself a bit more space and to stop myself burning out; I’m currently working towards my first Brandenburg Concerto at the end of April; and I’m feeling more myself every single day that we move towards Spring. The past few months have felt dark, cold and a bit too busy so it feels very empowering to be (hopefully) moving out of that!

What I’m currently reading

I just started This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein. I don’t think it’s going to be very jolly…

Favourite concert/event of the month

I actually had my first gig of the year at the weekend! The legends that are She Got Brass (the UK’s first all female brass band) asked me to come and dep for their gig at The Jago in Dalston, and the sheer rush of being on stage with so many brilliant women will stay with me for a really long time.

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Pod News

What have we been up to pod-wise?

• We had the most incredible time speaking at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Music Industry Careers Festival. Speaking on a panel about podcasting and journalism, it was such a soulful experience to share our journey in podcasting with younger musicians.

• Interviews! We interviewed cellist and founder of Classical Wellness, Jalayne Mitchell, and Rebecca headed to the Royal College of Music to catch up with conductor Chloé van Soeterstède

YOUTUBE

Type 1 Diabetes - one year on from diagnosis
Hattie shares the story of her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in February 2023. From skepticism by the nurse in A&E to a five-day hospital stay, weight loss, weight gain followed by learning about her body all over again, she shares the journey towards ultimately choosing life and health over destruction.

PEER SUPPORT

We are hosting a monthly support group for musicians! Holding space for the many emotions that are surrounding us at the moment felt incredibly important - we have so much love for our beautiful community. Do share with any musician you feel might like to connect!

The next group will be this evening, Monday 4th March at 8pm.

To access, join the Patreon community for £1 a month here.

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New episodes

Classical Strife

What’s depressed us this month?

Becca Still hearing about and experiencing the peer pressure (particularly from older men in orchestras) to drink at work. I can often take my little social circles for granted - they’re so understanding and we all support each other to be true to ourselves. But occasionally at work, the very real criticism of being ‘boring’ for not drinking rears its ugly head. Why is this still happening?!

Some events to look out for…

A Celebration of Women in Music & the Arts for International Women’s Day

Thursday 7th March 2024 7-10pm (Doors 6:45pm) | Toulouse Lautrec, London

Saturday 9th March 2024 6:30-10pm (Doors 6:15pm) | Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester

Admission: Pay What You Can

Empower is an initiative born out of the desire for gender equality within the music industry, and aims to shine a spotlight on female composers and musicians to create positive change.

Showcasing the finest music by female composers of the past, present and future, including premieres of new works. This informal, drop in event, is a safe and inclusive space for everyone to learn, share, and ultimately empower each other to make a positive difference to society, through the sharing of music and experiences.

London

Panel discussion featuring: Ellie Consta (Violinist, Arranger and Director of Her Ensemble), Annie Lydford (Chief Executive of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields), Dani Howard (Composer), Jocelyn Lightfoot (CEO at London Chamber Orchestra). They will share their musical journeys, opinions and personal experiences of finding their way as a woman in the arts.

Manchester

Panel discussion featuring: Samantha McShane (Creative Director Manchester Camerata), Carmel Smickersgill (Composer), Jenni Watson (Saxophonist and Composer), and Ellie Slorach (Conductor and Artistic Director). .

Book tickets here

ISM webinar

The ISM Trust and PiPA (Parents & Carers in Performing Arts) are co-hosting a free webinar on flexible working for parents and carers in music on Tuesday 19 March, 4-5pm.

The webinar will delve into the new ‘Day One Right to Flexible Working’ law and find out what it means for employers as well as parents and carers working in music.

Sign up here

The Royal Society of Musicians is Britain’s oldest music charity and our aims remain as relevant today as they were in the earliest years – to provide vital financial assistance, advice and guidance to those professionally active in the world of music but who are unable to work due to accident, illness, stress or anxiety. We are so grateful that they support the work we do at TMDTA!

Become a member!

For just £45, your subscription as a Member could provide vital funding for physical and emotional therapies, referrals to specialised practitioners and associated treatments, or providing short-term living expenses for musicians suffering from physical or mental ill health.

If you are a music professional and would like to help, please do consider joining us. We welcome anyone professionally active in the world of music whether they are a performer, teacher, technician or administrator, from all genres.

Visit www.rsmgb.org/join to complete an application form. Don't worry if you don't know any existing Members to act as your recommenders, our Governors and Court of Assistants will be happy to act in this capacity. 

What’s on at RSM?

HEALTHY LOWER STRINGS PLAYERS WEBINAR
Thursday 18 April, 10.30am, Online

Join Judith Kleinmann and Lucie Rayner in the latest in their series of RSM/BAPAM Healthy Practice webinars. They will explain the common injuries faced by cellists and double bass players, the best techniques for prevention and the routes to recovery; Judith as an expert in Alexander Technique at the Royal Academy of Music, and Lucie as a physiotherapist and clinician at BAPAM. 

RSVP here

RSM PEOPLE
George Caird

A life spent playing, teaching and leading has led George Caird to the role of RSM’s new Chairman. Here, he discusses his varied career as an oboist and in academia, and what plans he has during his tenure.

Read here

We are listening to…

Becca

No theme to my music this month, just some absolute bangers:

1. Other Song - Caroline Shaw

2. A Rock Somewhere - Jacob Collier (feat. Anoushka Shankar & Varijashree Venugopal)

3. As Good As it Gets (Acoustic) - FIZZ

4. Vienna (Live) - Couch

5. Friends That Break Your Heart - James Blake

Hattie

Some new ephemeral/sad girl musical discoveries this month, as well as a return to Mozart

1. Violin Sonata in E minor K. 304 - Mozart

2. The Yellow Mile - Marika Hackman

3. Butterflies - Nadiiife

4. The Deer’s Cry - Arvo Pärt

5. Hejira - Joni Mitchell

Musician of the month

Jalayne Mitchell (aka Classical Wellness)

We are so excited to share our chat with the ICON that is Jalayne Mitchell who you probably know from her insanely good project Classical Wellness. Whenever we see her Instagram posts, it gives us huge hope for the future of classical music and those musicians working within it. Jalayne’s commitment to talking about every angle of being a musician is just astounding and she always expresses things in ways we wish we could! Check out her stuff immediately if you haven’t already <3

Visit our website for more and join us on Patreon to support us in continuing making content!