Pandemic slows down local bands: This is how amateur musicians deal with the situation

The stages are closed, the rehearsal rooms orphaned: the hard lockdown made it impossible to make music together or even to perform.

How do the numerous amateur musicians deal with the situation?

Did you find alternatives?

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen

- "We were already on the back burner last year, and we haven't rehearsed at all since November - we're getting really hot," reports Willi Streicher, drummer of the band "Next to nothing".

Usually the four members come together once a week in their rehearsal room in the former Lenggries barracks to jam or work on pieces of music.

That is missing, as is the friendly meeting.

"The weekly band rehearsal has been sacred for years," says Streicher.

“We are really suffering and hope that we can play together again soon.

After all, there is a little “house music” with singer Elisabeth Danzer and “Point 11” bandmate, bassist Peter Koller.

They meet irregularly in pairs to make music together.

They just play “nice things,” says Danzer, who then also picks up the guitar strings.

It is comparatively easy for her to relentlessly abstain from rehearsals, because she diligently uses her YouTube channel, on which she presents songs that she has written herself.

“So I'm self-sufficient,” says Danzer.

In the past year alone, she recorded seven tracks with her cell phone and is very enthusiastic about the technical quality.

“Making music is simply good for the soul”, the well-known Isarwinkler musician is sure of that.

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Elisabeth Danzer (left) and Sonja Schroth are “s'Elysion” together.

“No stream in the world can replace making music together,” says Schroth.

© Peschel-Findeisen

Sonja Schroth says that too.

Elisabeth Danzer plays with her in a different formation called "s'Elysion".

“No stream in the world can replace making music together,” says the 50-year-old from Penzberg, who also works as a music teacher in Lenggries and has been the female reinforcement in the “d'Housemusi” trio for some time.

Corona hit them hard because the band had a well-filled calendar.

"We put together a great two-hour program, and we have to work hard for a lot during the break," regrets Sonja Schroth.

Is virtual rehearsal not an option?

“You can forget the three of you.

Too much falls by the wayside. ”She assumes that it will not be the same as it was before Corona for a long time.

“Performing in front of a masked audience is not that easy.

If you don't see the reactions on the faces, you get a lot more insecure. ”But she is also creative, has recorded some of her songs in the home recording studio and hopes that one day maybe a CD will be made of them.

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The band “Next to nothing” with (from left) Dieter Ritschl, Alex Ohly, Helmut Weichinger and Willi Streicher.

© TH

Sepp "Bodo" ​​Kloiber from Gaißach is also not a fan of virtual life.

Still, he has given guitar lessons online.

And he found a couple of loopholes that allowed him to play in front of people even in lockdown.

"I was allowed to play in families three times on private invitations, that was completely legitimate," says Kloiber.

“I can also sometimes play in church, at devotions and at funerals.” The 56-year-old sees that many music colleagues “sag in mood” without their beloved hobby.

Instead of his regular appearances, “Bodo” now plays and sings for himself at home and tries out everything that he likes from jazz, pop and classical music.

In contrast, the formation “Mountain Lake Vista” deals with the unfamiliar location.

The five musicians have upgraded their technology and now have equipment with which they can record live via video chat and recording software and give each other feedback.

“At least that's a bit of a band feeling,” explains guitarist and singer Tobias Gmach - even if it can't replace tinkering and discussing things together.

For over a year the band has been waiting to present their album “Wayfarer” at a “release” concert.

Two scheduled dates fell victim to Corona, as did the other appearances.

After all, there are around 20 a year.

Now six new songs have already been added through the weekly virtual rehearsals, the title “Three Rivers” will soon be available on the popular streaming portals.

By the way: There is great hope, even if it is currently imponderable: “Mountain Lake Vista” is still planning to play its album for the first time in front of an audience on May 2nd at the Kramerwirt in Arzbach.

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