When lockdown began last March, Joseph was sent scrambling for an alternative to in-person instruction. He had recently appeared on a Rahman-centered podcast called \u201cI Love ARR,\u201d hosted by an Australian friend named Chander Ramanathan, who uses Microsoft Teams for the production.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe COVID-19 situation \u2013 boom, it hit everyone,\u201d remembers Ramanathan. \u201cI had a call from Alphons saying \u2018Think of some options and let\u2019s get together.\u2019 I said there\u2019s nothing to think about, it\u2019s Microsoft Teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next day, the two met for a tutorial \u2013 and in no time, Joseph was confident enough to determine it was the way forward. They trained the faculty of nearly 40 people, created various channels for vocals, piano and more classes, added students as guest users, employed Microsoft Forms for evaluations and implemented it all \u2013 over a single weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother great feature is Live Event,\u201d says Joseph, unabashedly thrilled by the possibilities such technology has put at his fingertips.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecently I tried a Live Event, and more than 1,000 people attended. I was giving a starter session in music theory. Even for my existing students, I\u2019ve been doing it as a combined session where I do Indian music and Western music. I give that free, so the Crossroads students will have an edge in that musical knowledge. For me, this platform gives me a big office in my hands.\u201d<\/p>\n A newfound confidence![\"Music](\"https:\/\/3er1viui9wo30pkxh1v2nh4w-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/prod\/2020\/10\/Alphons-and-others-IMG_9809-scaled.jpg\")
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<\/strong>All over the world, music teachers are making an impact like never before. Music students are learning to collaborate and hone their skills in ways they never imagined. And music is bringing people together, at a time when that is so very needed.<\/p>\n