Build A Playlist, to help You Through the Day

01.04.20 – Darrell Priestley

Most things, I find, can be dealt with if accompanied by the right play list. Music – it’s something that’s always worked for me. There’s music for almost every mood, every situation, the trick of course being picking the right tunes for the moment. Don’t overlook instrumentals, which generally provide undemanding background listening for many a chore, with no mental struggles trying to work out wierd and frequently inane lyrics. Since it’s getting tougher all the time to find a radio station that plays a selection of music you actually like, you might as well put your own lists together, but positive aspects are i) it will fill up some time you unexpectedly found you had, and ii) it’s genuinely fun to do.

Your playlist should have a name, to suit the mood you want to use it for. But once you’ve made one, you will probably want to make more, so don’t try to put all your favourite tunes on the same list, as you will rarely find a tune that fits all situations. Curiously, I have a particular favourite tune I like to play while cleaning my teeth, though only at bedtime – how odd!

My go to streaming service is Spotify, which is incredibly easy to use and offers a free version, but there are a number of other services you could use. For these present times, you will no doubt want to put a good few uplifting tunes on your playlists, special favourites to take you away from the now. We have built up hundreds of playlists over the years, which may sound a bit indulgent but since this music powers us through our long days, often eleven or twelve hours, I think it is justified. Another thing about Spotify that I love is how is easy it is to explore music you might never hear on the radio, making it easy to discover some new favourites.

We get a lot of compliments on the music we play (when we are open!), but our tastes are quite eclectic, so it’s hard to make suggestions for you. However, you will already have a good idea what you like, so an idea might be to choose a favourite tune as a starting point and then build to a theme, eg ‘Tuneful Tranquillity’, ‘In Line Online’ (aka ‘Waiting for a Website’ – a kind of hold music of the pandemic, I suppose), or perhaps at the opposite end of the spectrum, ‘Demonic Dusting’. By now, we have a playlist for nearly every occasion, the longest of which has maybe a thousand songs, and we come up with around two new list for Christmas alone every year. So, to help you get started, the advice would simply be this: start to build a playlist, it should soon be enough to help you get you through the day.

Urgent – Email Updates

31.03.20 – Darrell Priestley

Have you been receiving email updates from us recently? We are sending out important messages to all current students. If you have not received yours, please check your spam filters, otherwise simply email to let us know so that we can quickly bring you up to speed.

The Lockdown Diaries

31.03.2020 – Darrell Priestley

So Tuesday, so happy. Well, I think it’s Tuesday, though who amongst us really knows? At least we got through Monday, which is a good thing, I think. Yesterday was a day of many hours spent at the kitchen table, planning, preparing, and video conferencing with teachers. Productive too, although each day, which I begin by typing away and gazing hopefully at the computer screen, starts off filled with such promise, it’s always a bit sad when reality bites and some tasks remain not quite complete.

Yesterday also involved a trip out. How very brave. Well, we needed to shop, which at present we are doing for three households, which means a fair bit of planning. Shopping can make me nervous at the best of times, I will confess, but there is a little extra trepidation nowadays when we are about to venture out amongst others. Fortunately, shopping etiquette is coming along splendidly. Who knew queueing could be so much fun? Great systems are appearing at most shops, and distancing is doing very well, but my word it’s strange seeing a queue for Boots in Pontefract stretching down Market Place toward the Town Hall.

Just like you, and everyone else, we would rather like our shopping delivered. No such luck. Six nights in a row last week I arose between 3.15am and 4.15am thinking this might help access the supermarket websites – who ever thought there would be queue to shop online? At one point, there was what passed for nocturnal excitement as I saw there were only 192,524 people in front of me, and it was quite a dilemma, should I stay up and shuffle slowly forward, or should I go back to bed and hope to awake just in time to take my place at the head of the queue? I’d like to say I made it to the front, but Zzzzz. You have probably been there yourself.

Speaking of shopping online, there are some funny tales. Did you hear of the lady who, ordering Brussells Sprouts (x1), received just one sprout, singular! Still, at least she got a delivery slot. Perhaps you have some funny, interesting, or heartwarming experience of your own that you would like to share. If you do, please send it to [email protected], and I’ll see what I can do. Uplifting stories would fit the moment particularly well.

One good point to emerge from Monday was our new Guidance for online lessons. Jessica put this together for us, and did a great job. It simply outlines a sensible approach for all to take, so that lessons remain professional, friendly and safe. Please take a moment to read the guidance through when you receive a copy, as it is important and intended to be helpful for everyone, and especially parents.

Lessons Online Start Soon

30.03.2020 – Darrell Priestley

Hi Everyone, Monday dawns. Feeling oddly a bit like every other day. Over the next few days, the teachers should each receive their new northernmusicacadamy.co.uk email addresses, and start getting touch with their students. So, what can you expect? Typically the teacher will email you, so watch out for that, letting you know how they are approaching lessons online, how they plan to arrange lesson times, and so on. They may also suggest how you should prepare, appropriate dress for the meeting (no pyjamas or swimwear online!), tips on warming up at your instrument first, and so on. They will also let you know about their terms, and what your options are. Please note, all existing students should at least have access to check-in visits, regardless of your current circumstances.

Do remember, though, this is not lessons as usual. The timetable will be different, and online lessons will be offered at special terms for our existing students to help out while we all isolate. Those of you who pay weekly will generally have a lesson in credit, and if so that will still be there for you when you return to the Northern Music Academy, (and who isn’t looking forward to that day?). Quite a few of Darrell’s students pay for their lessons monthly by standing order; he has planned a special package just for you, and is aiming to line your lessons up as a matter of priority.

Once we are given the all clear, we will all rush outside, do a little dance, and probably skip straight down to the music academy to share our experiences and show each other what we’ve learned. Some of us will probably have forgotten our books, but it will be ok! (One off exception, lol). Special prize for the one who has made the most progress.

We have a number of fun ideas that we wouldn’t want you to miss out on, so don’t forget to keep checking your email. Additionally, your teacher will contact you to arrange lessons and start meetings, also by email from their new email account. Don’t worry about any of this, just check your emails and we’ll guide you through it. Darrell will be quietly conducting in the background, and if anything is bothering you, write to him at the main email address: [email protected]

Finally, keep yourself safe, learn new things, and check this news post regularly.