I produce a student recital for my Lansing students twice a year. One in April after Easter and one in November before Thanksgiving. The recital actually only involves kids up to high school. I don't have a recital for my adult students. Truthfully, most of my adult students would refuse to participate. They would even enter a "Federal Recital Protection Program" if such a thing existed.
The November recital was a week ago. The little auditorium was filled with students, parents, and other relatives, with the occasional friend here and there. The children come to the stage one at a time and play the song they chose a few weeks earlier. They are nervous, of course, but they bravely face their fear. As calmly as they can, they play, stand to take a bow (as they were taught), and then return to their seat with their parents.
For a variety of reasons, some family members cannot attend. Some reasons are medical, others are geographical. Last November I got the idea to "live stream" the event. I failed miserably. An old man using technology does provide a moment of frustration for all. But I got it figured out by April and I was able to stream the recital.
That recital was seen by friends and relatives throughout the U.S. and in six different countries overseas. I realized that time and distance were no longer a factor. Barriers had fallen. Those who didn't watch in real time were still able to watch at a later date. A father on a business trip to France, extended family in eastern Europe, and grandparents in Tokyo were all able to attend our little recital. The lives of these young ones matter to them and they were able to share moments that would have previously been kept from them.
I don't know who watched last week. That hasn't been shared with me and I haven't asked. But the success of the first one has given me a glimpse of the possibilities.
I confess I had a moment of ethical doubt. I wondered if I was exploiting the moment. I'm pretty sure the answer is "yes". But I'm also pretty sure that it's okay. There is no harm being done and plenty of good.
I'd like people to think that I'm really smart for coming up with this idea, but I actually stole the idea from a different source and adapted it for my recitals. I get excited talking about it because of the good that it can do and I hope that others will steal it from me. Oh, and I should mention that I did it with my phone for free.
If you would like to watch the recital just click this link and then click on "videos". https://www.facebook.com/RogerHumphreyClassicalGuitar/