Back to school announcement for the 21/22 school year
Welcome to the 2021-2022 season with Toronto Music Alliance!
We continue to be in unprecedented times. Though we have made remarkable strides during the pandemic, variants of concern and a changing health landscape continue to create challenges for us. We are doing everything we can to maintain a strong, vibrant, and happy musical community.
Music lessons will continue to be offered through the ToMA Online Academy. According to Ontario Government health protocols and bylaws, music lessons are specifically called out as being a high-risk activity. Naturally health and safety are the most important part of life right now, and we cannot guarantee this (which is why we are legally unable to reopen). The reasons are legion: sanitizing instruments is nearly impossible without destroying them, many programs (such as our vocal programs) are physically impossible to run due to PPE requirements by law - to say nothing of singing being found to be a large aerosol spreading vector. We also would be encountering too many different individuals who are unable to be vaccinated right now - particularly our students under 12.
The British Medical Journal has an extensive study regarding singing (something we all do in our lessons!) as a COVID-19 transmission vector, and an important chart to illustrate why we have to be extra-careful about singing. (Note: this study was done prior to the emergence of variants such as Delta.)
Chart illustrating risk of COVID-19 transmission based on vocal activity, courtesy BMJ (https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3223)
We understand everyone’s frustration about the situation; we are too. We miss our interaction with our students and their families. We miss the collegiality working side by side. We miss making memories together.
However, we have had a lot of remarkable successes since March 2020. Students have successfully auditioned for Arts programs such as Claude Watson, or post-secondary musical studies at University of Toronto and Berklee College of Music. Our Online Recitals have been a great way to share what we have accomplished. We have a huge variety of amazing programs, from our online choir, to digital music production, to international masterclasses. And most importantly: Our new home is underway, and will be ready to greet you with fresh, custom-built facilities for the best music lesson experience yet!
When life stopped last year, and everything was uncertain, we were there. When things felt hopeless and scary, we were there. When you needed inspiration, we were there. We aren't going anywhere. We will get back to normal as soon as it's safe to do so. In the meantime, we thank you for your patience, support and music!