Page 43 - Virtual Benedetti Sessions Coverage Book

“I’ve already cancelled concerts that were three months away. If everything returns, it’s
going to be a little bit of a nightmare trying to see what we can schedule back in.”

While not being on the road constantly is a new scenario for Nicola, only having herself for
company is not.

“I’m used to that, because all year round I’m travelling all over the place on my own, so I’m
used to this type of environment.

“I don’t have a routine of seeing family every weekend or anything like that. The lockdown
has, strangely, not been all that revelatory, and I feel part of the reason for that is because I’m
used to just working wherever it is I’m working.

“My life is so not routine already, and because of that there is not much that has felt totally
different or a real shock to the system.”

Taking a breath at the start of the lockdown only lasted a week or so before Nicola decided to
double down on her work for The Benedetti Foundation, her music education charity.

“I thought I would have space during this time and then I made decisions to not have space,”
she said. “I’ve always wanted to massively make the most of the foundation’s online activity
and make sure we’re as present there as possible.

“Within a very short space of time, we kicked into super gear and by the second week of the
lockdown we had a lot of online activity, with big plans for the coming months.

“So much of our remit has been about reaching and inspiring those who otherwise wouldn’t
have a high-quality music education, and the fact everything online is free and can be

accessed allows that to be possible.

“I feel we have to do much better as a community of musicians who are dedicated to the

educating of young people to make the information not just available but easily accessible
and to make people aware of its presence.

“Sometimes the most amazing things are out there but if no one knows then who cares if they
are there? So we need to do the best we can about that.”

As well as daily and varied classes with a number of Benedetti-approved tutors, there has also
been regular “Ask Nicky” live Q&A sessions as part of the foundation’s new online content.

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