We know that this is going to be an incredibly difficult time for many people, and particularly for the Disabled community, and we are committed to doing as much as possible to support our community during this time of crisis.
In these uncertain and difficult times, community and human connection are so important and music could be a great comfort, support, escape and creative outlet for us all.
We are starting a list of other resources and support available to musicians and creatives as this is an unprecedented crisis and many people in our community are especially worried.
Here are some, we will continue to keep this updated with useful resources as we find them. Please feel free to let us know if you find anything useful that we could share.
Our Collective Frequency group for musicians on Facebook could be a useful forum for supporting each other. Please join up if you think that would be helpful for you: https://www.facebook.com/groups/collectivefrequency/
Coronavirus info & support
- A master list of Mutual Aid resources for Disabled people
- EasyRead info about Coronavirus
- Easy-Read glossary of terms relating to the Coronavirus crisis
- EasyRead info on self-isolating
- EasyRead info on the lockdown
- Coronavirus info from the Government
- NHS Coronavirus info
- COVID Mutual Aid – local organising support groups
- Government advice for employers – Helpful for anyone who employs PAs
- HMRC helpline for self-employed folk & businesses affected – 0300 456 3565 or 0800 0159 559
- NMDUnited – Advice on coping with isolation if you have a PA or support requirements
- Money Saving Expert – Advice for self-employed people
- Unlimited – Resources for Disabled artists and freelancers in response to COVID-19
Mental Health support
- Mind – a support page on wellbeing during COVID-19
- Music Minds Matter – a 24/7 Mental Health support line for musicians – 0808 802 8008
- Musician’s Union Mental Health info page – lots of useful info here
- Record Union’s ‘Wellness Starter Pack’ – a new resource for mental health from an independent music distributor
Support for musicians
- Arts Council England (ACE) – Info on financial support for artists, creative practitioners and freelancers
- ACE Blog post on emergency response & diversity, equality & access
- Attitude is Everything and Sound and Music’s Overview of Hardship Funds – includes info about access support
- Help Musicians UK Corona Musicians website – info for musicians and financial support details
- Help Musicians UK – Health and welfare support
- ACE Culture in Quarantine fund – Money to produce new work connected to self-isolation
- Disability Arts Online – new commissions during Coronavirus
- ISM – Guidance for musicians, performers, teachers
- PRS Foundation – up to date info for grantees & applicants
- PRS Foundation Emergency Relief Funds – for PRS Members
- PRS/ Spotify Sustaining Creativity Fund – £750 grant to support music creators to continue their creative work
- Musician’s Union – up to date info from the MU
- Sound and Music – latest support and advice from Sound and Music
- Sound and Music – Interpreting Isolation commissions – A new commission opportunity for musicians during COVID-19
- Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief – Fundraising from Spotify for partner organisations who support musicians
Creative tools
- Online real-time collaboration – a guide from the ISM
- Using iPads for Music – A free guide from the DM team with mini-video tutorials and step-by-step guides
- Jamkazam – A remote jam platform for musicians – we have investigated these before, but haven’t come across this one til now
- Free apps – Synths from Korg & Moog
- Chrome music lab – Online musical experimentation
- Boredom-busting resources list – includes links to online concerts and more
- Ignite your everyday creativity – a free online learning course
- Arts Professional Micro Site for creatives during COVID-19
- A thread of content being made available online including films, journals and more
- Women in Sound – Useful resource list
- Royal Academy of Music, Denmark – Using Zoom in ‘music mode’ (VIDEO)
For Music Leaders and Parents/Carers
Teachers and music leaders might want to join our Facebook group for inclusive music leaders in the UK. This is a useful place to share practice, ask for advice etc.
- Young Minds – Talking to young people about Coronavirus
- National Youth Orchestra – advice on how to speak to young people about Coronavirus, produced with a psychologist
- BBC: Found Sounds with Yolanda Brown – Making instruments out of objects around the home
- Out of the Ark Music – resources for teachers and parents
- Round Your House – resources for 11-17 year olds from the Roundhouse
- Heart & Soul – Stay home creative resources and playful activities from Heart and Soul
- Music Mark – Advice for music hubs and services on remote ways to continue to support schools
- Music Mark – Online teaching and safeguarding
- PLG Musical Services – Using Zoom for music lessons
- Special Needs Jungle – Coronavirus & SEND Law – Q&A
- Facebook group: Community music in the time of COVID-19 – Set up by Sound Sense member Jamiee Jensen-McDaniel for peer support for community musicians
- Soundabout Live – Join in with live music-making sessions at 2pm on Tuesdays & Saturdays
- Electric Umbrella – Live on Facebook four times a day with sing/sign-alongs, an inclusive choir, a live breakfast show and a bedtime story
- Makaton Choir with Cat McGill – A weekly choir event, now available online
- Makaton – Free resources to download
- Twinkl – Home learning hub with some free resources
There are also lots of things to explore on the News & Views section of our website, for musicians, music fans, teachers, parents. Have a browse.
If there are particular resources which would support you during this public health crisis please let us know and we will do our best to link to or create it.
Accessibility
We are aware that not everyone is online and not every online resource is accessible. If you have suggestions for other ways we can reach out to Disabled musicians, music fans, families in this time, please let us know.
You can email info@drakemusic.org with your thoughts, or contact us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Let’s stay connected and try to help each other. We are in this together.
