Our Mandates and Goals
Provide an avenue through which members can connect with like-minded people and can provide and receive emotional support in a safe and confidential space
-
This is something that only other adult music learners can totally understand. To facilitate this, our bi-weekly group meeting discussion portion will be for our group members only - no friends or family are allowed to attend this portion of the meeting
-
For the performance portion, we will open the group up to the larger community when we feel ready to have a more public recital i.e. perform for our family and friends. Or we may invite family or friends to join us for certain festive performances.
-
With regard to emotional support, we have decided to include the following policy on psychological safety so that all current members and future members are aware of this policy going forward:
-
The ALMSG leadership team believe that psychological safety is of the utmost importance for our group and its members. We endeavor to create a psychologically safe space for all group members to discuss difficulties and challenges. And when each group member performs, they are placing themselves in a vulnerable position as they share their music learning with us. We know that this policy will instinctively be adhered to, for most people, but we feel it is important to define what is allowed and not allowed so members have a good sense of our group culture and know what the repercussions of not following our policy will be.
-
After a member’s performance, group members are allowed to give positive and supportive feedback ie a group member can comment on what they liked about a member’s performance only. And when group members are in an in-person meeting, only comments that are heard by all group members are allowed. Private feedback from one group member to another is prohibited. This is to ensure that only positive feedback is given and that no psychological harm can be inflicted from one group member to another.
-
If we include friends or family in any in-person or Zoom meetings, then this policy will apply to them as well. In other words, non-group members are to follow these rules of giving feedback and group members must follow the rules of feedback when commenting on non-group members’ performances. If a group member contravenes this policy then the executive leadership team which currently is defined as the president, vice-president and founder will be discussing the infraction with the group member. And depending on the outcome of that discussion, the executive leadership team will make a decision as to the next course of action. There can only be three courses of action: 1) If the infraction is minor, the group member is allowed to stay in the group but upon a repeat infraction, will no longer be welcome in the group. 2) If the infraction is severe, the group member will be immediately banned from the group. In both of these cases, there will be no refund of the group member's fees. 3) If it is a non-group member who commits the offence then that person will no longer be welcome to any future meetings.
Provide and promote peer to peer mentoring and learning
-
This support group is meant to be only a supplement to what you are learning through your teacher and must not be used as a substitute. We can give peer-to-peer advice based on our experiences but most of us are not music teachers.
-
If you do happen to have experience as a music teachers, then as a participant in this group, we are all considered peers and thus considered equals. No group member can consider themselves above another group member. After all, at one time or another, we all started as beginners.
Ensure that all members have a psychologically safe space and a well equipped venue to perform
-
For in-person meetings, we will be meeting in a venue with a piano for pianists and if you need a microphone, please bring your own microphone (this is especially important in this current Covid world) but a stand and an amp will be available for vocalists. All other music learners will have to bring their own instruments. If you need an accompanist, please collaborate with another group member or bring a recording along to which you can play or sing with. If you do not own a blue-tooth speaker, please ensure that someone on the executive council will bring one for you to use for your performance.
-
For Zoom meetings, you will just have to have your instruments ready at your own house to perform. Usually singers will not need to have microphones but they will need to have a bluetooth speaker at home to play your recording so that group members will be able to hear the accompaniment over Zoom.
-
Many music events need volunteers to run their events - please consider committing to this valuable service for the music community
-
Or you could consider sharing your musical skills:
-
Rehab hospitals, nursing homes and seniors' homes are places where the residents really appreciate visitors, especially those who are presenting them with the gift of music.
-
We encourage every member to participate, either by organizing a recital or agreeing to perform at a fellow member's recital. It is easier for the organizer if there are at least three to four other additional performers. A recital should be about 45 - 60 minutes long so you need enough music pieces to fill in that time.
-
If you have a place that has a special interest for you for which you want to organize a recital, please let us know so we can post it so that group members can join you.
-
Encourage group members to contribute to the community
at large by volunteering at music events or sharing their music skills
Create immediate learning opportunities for our group members and advocate for long term educational goals for all music learning adults
-
Our group will create group music learning opportunities such as workshops or masterclasses so group members can enjoy learning as a group. We have created six masterclasses in the past. We hope to present at least one music-learning opportunity each year for our members.
-
This group will advocate for and create masterclasses and educational workshops that members desire.
-
ALMSG may partner with educational institutions to create classes, workshops and masterclasses for our members.
Updated October 25th, 2024