Virtual Musicking During COVID-19: Maintaining a Music Ensemble Community

Kearney, Daithi and Commins, Adèle and McGuinness, Philip (2021) Virtual Musicking During COVID-19: Maintaining a Music Ensemble Community. Journal of Music, Health and Wellbeing.

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Abstract

The propensity of choirs and music ensembles to support their members, develop social skills and nurture wellbeing is well documented but, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the possibility of such groups to come together to rehearse, perform and socialize was removed. This paper focuses on the Oriel Traditional Orchestra (OTO), a voluntary, intergenerational, cross-border community orchestra of approximately 80 members spread over four counties in the border region of the north-east of Ireland. This paper reflects on the feedback from two surveys with the ensemble, undertaken before and during the COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland. These surveys highlight the importance to the ensemble of developing a social network for members, their sense of community, and the link between social activities connected to participation in music-making and wellbeing. During the period of restrictions resulting from COVID-19 virtual engagement in musicking contributed to wellness and the wellbeing of members but a desire for face-to�face activities remained. The paper details how the OTO has responded to the crisis to support its members and continue its social role for members.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Arts and Humanities Arts and Humanities > Music
Research Centres:	Centre for Creative Arts, Media & Music
Depositing User:	David Kearney
Date Deposited:	18 Jan 2022 15:18
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2022 15:18
License:	Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0
URI:	https://eprints.dkit.ie/id/eprint/774

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