I have heard and read a few interesting stories about how people are making and getting their music during this time of isolation. I’ve been doing only online shows other than my distanced shows for senior homes, but there are all kinds of other ways that people are performing and spreading music. One classical music couple are doing custom recorded video performances of song requests for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries on viola and piano. They call it “pick a song.” I did a custom CD of favorite songs for an anniversary and another for a long-time friend. One musician in Canada has a platform on his vehicle that he performs shows from in front of people’s houses, and I’ve heard of others doing this from pickup truck beds in parking lots and driveways. There are several bands that have set up concerts on stages at drive-in movie theaters to people in their cars. I even heard about a performance that had speakers mounted on hot-air balloons that flew over neighborhoods in an area with the live music wirelessly broadcasted. Music is just very important to our well-being, and it turns out there are a lot of ways to deliver it. I may try some of these more creative ways of performing, but for now I’ve been enjoying the intimacy of online performances a lot. The technology is finally good enough that the quality is acceptable even though there is always room for improvement. I guess we will see where performing music returns to after the pandemic is over.
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What have I been up to?
Last week was a lot of fun. I just had a couple senior homes. With the weather changing quite a bit this week we will have to think of other ways to entertain the folks. Online shows don’t work as well for them yet until higher speeds and more screens are available in the facilities.
Thursday online I did more of my own original songs, and there were songs I haven’t played in 30 years that I attempted to reconnect with. Some worked better than others. I’ve had an interesting career with quite a few different songwriting influences.
Sunday online I did a bunch of new requests and one new song I wrote in the vein of John Prine. It being Labor Day weekend I had a lot of folks tune in whom I hadn’t seen in a while. It is so good to connect with old friends and acquaintances.
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What am I up to this week?
Wednesday 7-8:30 mountain time I’ll be doing my weekly theme show instead of Thursday because I have a private online show on Thursday. This week I’ll be doing the music of Dan Fogelberg. I can honestly say that he is one of the few artists that I have every album. I didn’t hear his first couple albums until a few years after they came out, but I was a big fan once I latched onto his music. He had such vocal and instrumental talent, not to mention very poetic lyrics. Many of his songs affected me in very deep ways. Please tune in if you can.
facebook.com/tom.munch
tommunch.com/photos-videos
Thursday I have a private performance for a women's club in Wisconsin on Facebook. One of my childhood friends is part of this group, and I’m really looking forward to playing for them.
Saturday I’m playing a show on Facebook for folks who have joined me at the Yellow Pine Ranch for the barbecue over the years. The barbecue was cancelled this summer due to the virus, and this is my chance to connect with all the friends I’ve made over the years at the Yellow Pine in Cuchara and get to sing for them a bit. If you’ve been to the Yellow Pine and would like to be part of this then let me know.
Sunday I’ll be performing virtually for the Cuchara Chapel service that is recorded and shown online on the cucharachapel.org site. My good friend Rev. Eileen Ramsey leads these services all winter, and I’m proud to play for the second Sunday of each month. Tune in if you’d like a little inspiration and a few songs from me.
Sunday 7-8:30 mountain time I’ll be doing my weekly favorites and requests show on Facebook. My list of requests grows every week, and I spend a lot of time learning new songs each week for this show. It has become a very special time that I look forward to. Please join us if you can.
facebook.com/tom.munch
tommunch.com/photos-videos
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That’s it for this week. I’m pacing myself for performances and recordings each day.
Best always,
Tom
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Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing a Facebook Live Concert of Dan Fogelberg songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/photos-videos
When: Wednesday, September 9, 7-8:30 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing a Facebook Live Concert of favorites and requests
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/photos-videos
When: Sunday, September 13, 7-8:30 pm mountain time