I am privileged to be working with my former music service colleagues again, looking at what they are all doing to continue offering musical opportunities to children and young people in crazy times.

Of course, many if them are offering online tuition but don’t underestimate the efforts and strain that many music service heads have been through to clear all the hurdles, particularly those which are still part of local authorities.

I imagine many people, at least briefly, imagined that lock down would be a slightly easier time (there would be plenty to be working on). Some people I have spoken to have taken a month to get approval to use Zoom. Others have simply been told no, the safeguarding risks are too great.

Those services that are independent may have been able to take decisions about online platforms more quickly but are grappling with real fears about lost revenues (for most, comfortably into six figures a term), whether and when to furlough staff and the uncertainty of how long it’s all going to carry on.

In spite of this, many music service heads and management teams are thinking strategically in terms of their hastily developed online offers becoming long-term features of their mainstream offer when the country eventually returns to some sort of normal.

They all worry about their services and about how this whole situation will turn out. Paramount is their concern for the teachers and tutors who make the services so great.

While I am thanking my lucky stars that I left music service management before CV19 took hold in the UK, it is exciting to learn how music services are responding and staying positive. My admiration for my colleagues is renewed and increased. I wish them all success in meeting their challenges and with the return to a new normality.