This is an entry to how-are-you-spending-your-quarantine-100-hive-contest hosted by 
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. The situation in the United States is getting worse with every passing day. It is now the epicenter for COVID-19, leading the world in confirmed cases. There aren't that many confirmed cases in California but that is largely due to the lack of available tests. Personally I estimate the numbers to be 4 or 5 times higher than the reported sum. A state wide stay-at-home order was issued Thursday night, effectively shutting down all non-essential businesses and forcing all residents to self-quarantine.
My neighborhood
I live in the suburbs to the East of Los Angeles. I haven't left the block since I've gotten here due to the stay-at-home order but despite that there are still visible changes to the neighborhood.
Tables are taped off and closed
Public restrooms are cleaned daily and resupplied for homeless or people who need toilet paper...
Playgound is taped off and closed. Despite these restrictions there are still people letting their kids play on the playground during the day.
My Family
The state-wide shutdown has drastically changed everyone's everyday life. My mom and my brother are both music teachers and with the enforcement of self-isolation both are unable to carry on their private teaching. They have now both switched to online lessons and are adjusting their curriculum to properly facilitate online work. Many people are losing jobs and with a record 3.28 million unemployed workers in the United States, they are extremely lucky to still have students to teach.
My mom's setup. Her eyesight isn't the best so we gave her a TV instead of a screen. There are two cameras, one pointed at her hands so her students can observe her playing and a webcam facing her.
My brother teaching with his setup.
Being tech proficient, my brother has adjusted extremely well to online lessons. He is currently working on creating an online document that contains tutorial videos and sheet music for his students. Giving his students a huge resource to utilize at home.
Marking practice assignments for his students.
My Quarantine life
I just recently got out of my RV quarantine and now I'm quarantined at home. I'm busy taking classes and private lessons online via zoom, finishing up my credits so I can graduate on schedule. But without performances and rehearsals, I'm left with quite a bit of free time. I'm getting back into practicing and my fingers are starting to feel normal again. I'm currently working on Bach Suite 4 and Paganini Caprice 24 for a recording session next month. Despite playing violin pieces on a daily basis, Paganini 24 is extremely difficult and is a fucking rough time. I'm currently working on technical fluidity but variation 6 is just a mess of noise.
I've been trying to practice independent control for my thumb and 3rd finger to get this passage in tune but its going to need a bit more time.
My room and also where I practice
Besides practicing and doing homework, I'm currently working on a project for this summer and for the foreseeable future. Los Angeles lacks a chamber music society and I would like to start one. I've just submitted a project proposal to Juilliard for a grant so hopefully that comes through. I'm also working on a application to apply for a grant through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture. I'm extremely excited for this project and I'm hoping to secure enough funding these next few years to actually get it running.
My battlestation
Final note
The United States government just signed a 2.2 trillion relief package that includes a $1,200 fund for all adults in the United States. Students that are currently enrolled in schools do not qualify for the fund and on top of that our loan interests do not stop either. It is an extremely frustrating time to be a student in the states and I hope that our government wakes up to the problems developing in the country.
Hope everyone's enjoying their quarantine