It has been a challenge. I coach women to claim their power in their relationships so that they can communicate their needs clearly and confidently, avoid conflict and have the love they deserve.

I had expected to speak on stages or in one-on-one meetings to talk about the problem of control and loss of power in relationships, how devastating that can be to a woman, and the long-term damage it causes. I was in the process of sending out material to book speaking engagements when Covid-19 upended it all.

The subsequent lockdown meant that I have had to pivot to interacting exclusively online, which meant quickly beefing up my online visibility. Visibility is what gets you in peoples’ faces, getting your message across and being relatable and vulnerable, so that people are comfortable enough to want to work with you.

That means spending a lot of time on social media. I chose Facebook, because it is most commonly used by more people, than Instagram, which is another new thing to learn, or LinkedIn, which focuses mainly on business. I have to be honest and say that I was not previously a fan of Facebook and I am not enamoured with it now, but it is the best way for me to get my message across.

I started a private Facebook page so that woman could have a safe place to discuss their concerns about challenges in their relationships and in order to make the group work and attract people to it, I have had to nurture it daily. I decided to set up a routine: Monday, I ask a question; Tuesday I post a short video on a related topic (I have included one at the bottom of the article); Wednesday, I interview someone or post a You Tube video on the topic; Thursday another video; Friday, a profile of a powerful woman; Saturday, something inspirational. That is a lot of work, particularly the videos. I think of a topic, write the narrative, record two at a time – I have to put makeup on (LOL) – and then I have them ready for Tuesday and Thursday. The profiles take a lot of research, but I believe it is important to showcase women like, Rosa Parks, Katharine Graham, Grace Hopper and Viola Desmond, who triumphed against all odds.

One of the challenges is stepping out of my comfort zone which I have no choice but to do. Learning new technology, like Zoom to hold a conference and present a webinar; Streamyard to be able to make Live Facebook presentations; Stripe to collect money; and those are just three. It seems as if I have to learn new technology every week. It is exhausting. I expect there will come a time when I am able to hire someone to do the technical stuff but for now, it is all up to me. The isolation is also a challenge and after a while, it is easy for the brain to check out during yet another Zoom call with people whose faces you know only from being on Zoom.

However, I am grateful that I live in Canada, I am healthy, and I am surrounded by people who are also healthy. I also see this as a time for all of us to reset and learn new ways of being and doing things. It will be up to the collective will of all of us to wake up and to create a new world. Ecclesiastes chapter 3 tells us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,” and verse 3 tell us that there is “a time to tear down and a time to build.” This is the time for us to build a new world where everyone is respected and treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are.

Bronze Foundation Academy

Spring  2020 Virtual Choir Project

Bronze Foundation Academy (BFA) is a community based, twelve member handbell choir with membership across the GTA:  Mississauga, Toronto,  Pickering,  Markham,  Nobleton.  It is a gently auditioned handbell choir with most members providing music leadership within their home churches.  J.C. Coolen leads this lively group of bell ringers.  You may remember him if you attended one of the  Hands on the Handbells Workshops sponsored by TSP last year. 

This virtual choir project sprang into production last March when COVID19 struck.  Suddenly the practices went online without the playing of bells.  Concerts were cancelled.  Strategies for the possible development of strengths, and technical knowledge within the group were discussed.  Logistics regarding the location and accessibility of handbells and handchimes were sought. 

Once each member received their musical allocation, each was tasked with recording the assigned allocation(s), in their own home, with their own equipment.  This was definitely a stretch for most of us.  My living room became a recording studio and stayed that way until all the takes were accepted.  Then it was time for the technicians to make it all fit together.  This process was hugely time consuming and extremely involved.  The final product of this collaboration is this YOUTUBE Video – Bronze Foundation Academy; Spring 2020 Virtual Choir Project Michael Mazzatenta, Larghetto in D Minor.  I hope you enjoy the viewing.  Ann Rowland

Hi Everyone,

I miss you all terribly and have been trying to stay busy so as not to go completely insane while I live on my own.  Without a job or a cottage to visit or a backyard to sit in, I have been walking into High Park every morning, only a 10-minute walk from me.  Thank you God for that park!  It is beautiful and fresh and full of people like me who are receiving all the gifts nature can provide.  I have completed many sketches there.

Back in my apartment, I have been doing some virtual singing with the Church of the Redeemer choir.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyR0nteK06g.  Maybe our church choir could go virtual.   

In addition, I have read many breathtakingly marvelous books lately:

1. ‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama;
2. ‘The Splendid and the Vile’ by Eric Larson, about Winston Churchill’s first year in power during the Blitz of London, England;
3. ‘The Mirror and the Light’ by Hillary Mantel;
4. ‘My Dark Vanessa’ by Kate Elizabeth Russell; and
5. ‘Trumpocalypse’ by David Frum

Next on my list are:

1. ‘The Skin We’re In’ by Desmond Cole; and
2. ‘The Vanishing Half’ by Brit Bennett.

Finally, I have been teaching myself to paint thanks to two incredible international artists who offer online courses:

1. ‘Will Kemp Art School.’  He lives in England and teaches acrylics.
2. ‘My Painting Club’ by Richard Robertson.  He lives in New Zealand and teaches oils.

The painting of the orange slices on a blue plate are from Will Kemp’s painting blog.

All my love,

Sandi Hill

RE-VO’s Karaoke Classics (2020) is a gift of love to his family and friends. RKC 2020 features twenty-two songs performed live to multi-track by Mac Reeves (in his basement under CO-VID lockdown), and post-mixed/equalized to ensure balance. Throughout this video album, Mac showcases many vocal tones, often performing in the “style” of a particular singer yet still maintaining his “true” voice, a technique he calls ‘hybrid-vocals’ (eg. part Neil/part Mac). On other songs, we hear Mac doing his own unique “covers” of classic or contemporary songs (ie. “Don’t You Forget About Me,” “Nothing Breaks Like A Heart” or “Someone You Loved.”)

The songs use sophisticated Karaoke tracks developed by professional musicians from around the world, and then, in RE-VO’s home studios, these Karaoke tracks are enhanced/reinforced by RE-VO’s own performances (eg. drums, bass, guitars, keyboards and background vocals) and additional production layers. RE-VO searched the Web far and wide for the best of the best, and these talented artists are first in their class, the wind beneath Mac’s vocal wings on these basement sessions.

View the full playlist here!

Pat and I have assembled a little chamber music project in our living room.

I have always loved this little piece that appears in Bach’s Magnificat.

Originally written with recorder duet, Pat and I can play that – and it is wonderful sounding writing Bach has done. The keyboard part is also manageable so I added that.

Then we added voice and cello to what we had assembled that far. I don’t have a solo voice, but I tried!

I should add that I like the “good news” words from Luke – the starving (destitute?) will be filled with good things, the rich will be sent away empty.

Even if it makes you laugh, it will have accomplished something in these strange times.

Take care. Be well.

Tom & Pat Clark

Click here to view the performance!