How My Accident and a Worldwide Pandemic Lead to a Eureka Moment

Covid19 changed all our lives In 2020. I had a double whammy. Just before New Years, I fell from a ladder and shattered my elbow…

Turns out the elbow is a complicated joint. More so when a surgeon literally screws up. He implanted one screw digging into the bone. Only I didn’t know that. Eight months of frustrated physical therapy trying to extend my arm with increasing pain. Finally I insisted on an MRI and learned I had done a magnificent job carving away my bone with that screw. Time for a different surgeon. Two months of consultations later and had a second surgery with a genius orthopedic surgeon—Dr. John Itamura, in case you need an elbow fixed right the first time. Or…just stay off ladders. That’s my new policy.

Now (gulp) just had to start from scratch and begin another year of therapy. Good thing we musicians are no strangers to daily practice.

Speaking of instruments and practice, I had been playing Beethoven’s Appassionatasonata before the accident. That one takes fingers. I thought an online concert would be a perfect goal for my hand therapy. By then, Covid had us all isolated. LA Youth Orchestra rehearsals? Now on Zoom, just like every other ensemble. Performances of my music? Canceled, just like every other composer. The wonderful house party that concluded my Stravinsky Vs. Schoenberg series? The last party I’ve had since, as all of you can probably relate.

Here’s something I didn’t expect. The healing process was making me hyper-sensitive to everyone else’s pain. I swear I could taste the loneliness in every email and phone call. Music has always been my emotional anchor. When things get heavy, I just play Bach or one of the other masters. Why not share that?

So I emailed my people on my list and invited them to start hanging out with me for an hour on Mondays on Zoom. No grand plan. I just started with some topic or piece, played piano and YouTube videos, then let everyone rip. Discussions from the beginning were really a blast. So many interesting reactions and tangents. That’s what happens when interesting people from all disciplines get the chance to chime in.

It was great being together again with my LA “regulars.” But it was open invitation and the net cast wide. Boston colleagues Noam, Mark, and Lisa from my Harvard days popped on. Mezzo soprano Rachel joined from New Zealand. Many new people appeared. Chuck from Chicago. Larry from St. Paul. Volker from Florida. Pat from Mexico. The amazing sisters Laura, Maria, and Linda. On and on. We all learn from each other and we’ve all become friends. I invited my musician friends as guests: soprano Hila Plitmann, pianist Daniel Vnukowski, guitarist and microtonal evangelist John Schneider, virtuoso accordionist Cory Pesaturo, and many more.

My hand and elbow gradually improved. I performed Zoom concerts. I resumed lectures exclusively on Zoom. I composed a new piece for my Artsong class and Rachel flew from New Zealand to premiere it with me. My colleagues Noam and Mark shared their music. Pat from Mexico brought in a respected archeologist who gave us the inside scoop on Conlon Nancarrow, the seclusive, mysterious 20th century composer who wrote for player piano and influenced Cage and Ligeti.

Of course it wasn’t the same as live concerts or live lectures. But it got all of us out of our isolated spaceships. For an hour or two each week, the inky black void dissolved. We were with friends.

Completely unexpected, gifts and letters began to arrive at my door. “Our Hangouts are getting me through the pandemic” or “This has helped me deal with my grief” or “The music we study has ignited my passion and inspired me to change the direction of my life.” I paraphrase, but this was really happening.

Only we hit walls as people wanted more interaction. Email chains were getting me dizzy. It was hard to keep up with requests to connect people or forward links. With everything virtual now, the worlds of my music, the LA Youth Orchestra, the Hangouts, and my talks, were all becoming a blur.

Then last summer I had a Eureka moment. Just integrate all I do around the community itself. A Classical Consortium. A group of music lovers who want to become expert listeners, who would enjoy meeting others equally passionate about the arts, and who want to be part of my music world and the amazing musicians I know. In other words, my ideal audience!

I had heard of Patreon. It’s a well-known platform where fans support artists and receive benefits on a tiered subscription model. I thought, ok, why not point it in both directions—towards me and towards all of you? To support my music AND transform and heal all you music lovers especially while we’re going through this challenging time.

I’ve spent the past five months working it out. Details in the next blog…

RUSSELL STEINBERG