HUNTER musician and business owner Matt Purcell fears artistically-minded youth have been forgotten in the debate about the economic ramifications of COVID-19.
Since the beginning of the pandemic Purcell's The Green Room school, based in Warners Bay and Medowie, has seen enrolments decrease between 35 and 40 per cent as parents tighten their budgets.
The Green Room offers music and academic tuition, plus life coaching for young people.
Purcell holds a certificate VI in mental health and is a graduate from the Life Coaching Academy. He's concerned the next generation of the music industry will be negatively affected as opportunities for live performance diminish in the era of social distancing.
"If people can't play sport, people complain about not being able to play sport and I see it as big a comparison to music," Purcell said.
"Kids aren't allowed to gig anymore and they can't perform and the same for drama people and dancers. They're all restricted to an online platform which is massively saturated and they're competing with the world then, they're not competing locally.
"It really changes the whole mindset of even giving it a crack. That's my fear that youth will be so discouraged to pursue music now."
While many music tuition schools like The Green Room and Newcastle's National Music Academy have pivoted to an online model, Purcell said some instruments like drums and piano are difficult to be taught virtually. Extracurricular activities are also often the first to get cut by cash-strapped parents.
Purcell said The Green Room would be reducing fees by 20 per cent and offering a free first lesson and payment plans to help maintain student enrolments.
