A MESSAGE from THE PHOENIX

 A MESSAGE from THE PHOENIX:

March 25, 2021

Dear Friends,

It has been more than a year since Covid descended upon the world bringing hardship and loss

to millions of people. The Age of Covid has made me more grateful for the many blessings bestowed upon me, not least of which is that I have been able to teach through it all – thanks to you.  When I launched Music without Borders in 2008, words like “pandemic”, “self-isolation”, and “social distancing” were not on my mind. Fortunately for me and my students, my many years of experience teaching online positioned me well for the changes we have all had to make during the past 14 months.

With a half-century of teaching experience behind me (yes, 50 years!) I have come to learn that teaching is not merely the transference of information. Any textbook or self-help website can do as much. It is about knowledge and nurture. It is about making the journey as engaging as the end result successful. Teaching in its purist form is about mentorship. My own teachers cherished these ideals, and so do I.

I hope you can join me for Summer School 2021. Our joint exploration of music will provide at least one constant element in what remains a shifting Covid landscape.  As musicians, we understand the value of community, collaboration, and sharing. May those values carry us forward as we continue to look after ourselves and each other.

Keep the Faith!

Joe

Wasaga Beach, ON