COCHRANE— During the challenging experience of the COVID-19 pandemic music can warm the soul, act as an escape and bring people together.
A local business has turned to the virtual world to help those celebrate their special day with one important element - music.
Crystal Blanchard said Bright and Beaming Music has merged creativity with technology to offer by-donation, live birthday celebrations through the video-conferencing app Zoom. The idea was kickstarted after a similar Easter event found success Blanchard said. She added she was then featured in the magazine Today's Parent which presented her with international opportunities in offering her services.
"I usually guide a drumming like experience, but they would be using maybe mixing bowls and spoons, and then I would ask them to find something shaky and something scarf-like and it would be sort of like dance, rhythm and music experiences," explains Blanchard.
Themes are also brought into the mix, just like a normal birthday party. Blanchard said she has done an array of different themes from the television show Paw Patrol to Jungles, Robots and the famous movie Frozen.
"We've had aunts and uncles who don't have children but they'll dress their house up in a Frozen theme," Blanchard said.
She explained what makes her Zoom birthday parties exciting is that anyone can be present, virtually of course. For instance, grandparents, relatives or friends that may live in another province or Town and would not have had the opportunity to make it to their loved ones big day in the first place can now be a part of it through the online method.
"Some kids get so distracted like 'What's grandma doing and what's my cousin doing' and they're staring into the screen, and I almost always cry because I just find it really heartwarming," she said.
When it comes time to perform the most important song of the day the singer/songwriter said there tends to be a lag on Zoom so the chance to sing in unison does not always go to plan. She makes up for this by muting participants and doing a solo rendition of Happy Birthday on her guitar often joking with the group saying she can read lips and knows if they are just lip-syncing.
"Then we do a big crazy unmute and everybody shouts out Happy Birthday or sings the song individually," Blanchard chuckled. "There is some interactivity but I think what people really love is that sort of Brady Bunch looking squares of all of their family members."
Blanchard said requests have been continuos as people realize the COVID-19 public health measures will be in place for the forseeable future. She said bookings are made at a variety of different times including weeknights, weekends and afternoons and at times, are often being paired with the drive-by parades and first responder drive-bys.
"They're kind of making a big day of it so that all of these special, creative solutions are being utilized," Blanchard said.
The birthday parties generally run around half an hour for children six and under. Older kids tend to hang on a little longer and get into it. Blanchard explained she works with parents beforehand to find out what the birthday boy or girl really love and includes it in her offerings.
"People think I'll just be strumming the guitar and singing Kumbaya, but there is so much you can do and then because I incorporate that gross motor, kinesthetic learning style that kids of this age need and desire, it's a lot more active," Blanchard said. "When we try to get our loved ones together on Zoom without a guided experience, it's not tangible, but then when they're hearing music and seeing drumming and I'm dressed up as a superhero there's engagement. The more interaction we get, the more beautiful the experience is."
Prior to the pandemic Blanchard had partnered with Parent Link and has done weekly government-funded music programs for mixed ages. During COVID-19 she said Parent Link has contracted her and requested her to do an offering to bring people together again. She has also been in contact with one of the clients from Future Stars Daycare who was hoping for Blanchard's help in connecting the kids through a music offering because the kids are really missing each other.
"If people think the model fits and they can go on to my website and see my musical offerings in terms of live performances, and if it fits they can contact me."
Although Blanchard hasn't received any requests for anything other than birthdays, she says she wouldn't be opposed to the idea.
"I've done live performances for seniors, I've definitely never done a wedding in real so it would be a stretch," Blanchard laughed. "I'd be happy to help anybody especially since it's by donation offering."
