It was a beautiful sunny day to complete filming of the b-roll and interview portions of the Piano Therapy Virtual Tour, thanks to our wonderful crew, director, Andrew Lamb and Alex and Iain from Endless Films.
Public speaking is something that I have regularly done over the years but having specific points to cover, especially on emotionally sensitive topics related to one’s mental health, made this process challenging. I got through it though and I’m happy I did it.
This footage will be interspersed between the solo piano performance we recorded last month at Noble Street Studios. Dennis Patterson and I have already edited and mixed that audio…he has made it sound great!
What is the Piano Therapy Virtual Tour? It will be a series of hybrid events featuring the private screening of my solo piano concert film where I perform my compositions based on my own challenges and successes battling depression. The performance will be interspersed with storytelling about my journey. Following the screening, I will join a live event via video chat for a discussion, facilitated by the host organization’s mental health professional, where attendees can ask questions, share their thoughts and experiences.
The event is geared to college/university music students, specifically addressing the challenges of a life in music. It’s intended to be empathetic and inspiring — whether someone is battling a mental health issue themselves or they have a colleague or loved one who is. The event can also be an opportunity for the hosts to promote the mental health resources and services they have available to their community.
I am grateful for the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts for funding this project.
Editing of the film should be completed soon so I will be ready to begin the tour this new school year. If you are a Faculty member at a post-secondary music school and are interested in having the Piano Therapy Virtual Tour “visit” you, please email me. For updates on the progress of this project, feel free to sign up for my e-newsletter.