Analysis: Desperate times, desperate measures

With countries ordering their citizens to stay at home as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic, musicians are trying to adapt to the new reality of life under lockdown. How do you stay connected with each other and your audience? How do you keep playing and teaching, or working from home when you’re also trying to look after and home-school your children? Where is the financial assistance for musicians whose concerts have been postponed or cancelled? The internet is helping players to stream live concerts and enabling teachers to switch to online lessons, but technology can only do so much. While emergency funds have been set up to help musicians facing financial hardship, governments have been slow to commit to supporting freelancers.