The Beat - Volume 18
Reasons to be Cheerful
In time, we are going to look back at 2020 as the year that brought great change into our world. Things may seem scary or hopeless at the moment, but take heart in the fact that so many of us are looking to make things better. To quote the late, great Sam Cooke, " It's been a long, a long time coming, but I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will."

As the Capital District moves into Phase 2, The Beat is moving to a once-a-week format. Expect to see it every Saturday in your mailbox. We planned for this newsletter to be temporary, so this means progress!
Have we mentioned that the Music Hall staff are big David Byrne fans? He's done another amazing project, this time creating a website called Reasons to be Cheerful. The goal: "Through stories of hope, rooted in evidence, Reasons to be Cheerful aims to inspire us all to be curious about how the world can be better, and to ask ourselves how we can be part of that change."
Come On, Let's Zoom!
Ha! Kenan Thompson and the rest of the Saturday Night Live crew illustrate exactly what every Zoom gathering is like.
This Is The Kind Of News We Need Right Now!
This joyful story, as told by comedian Seth Meyers , hearkens back to a time when you could gather with strangers - a time that, as we move into Phase 2, will eventually happen again!
Making the Best of a Bad Situation
Brazilian pianist Eliane Rodrigues is grace under pressure as she finds the humor in a difficult situation. When her piano breaks onstage, she still manages to perform. The show must go on!
Story Time For The Kids!
Did you see Trombone Shorty play at Tanglewood last year? It was a high energy performance that had the crowd up on their feet! In this video, the actor Angela Bassett reads about Trombone Shorty's experiences as a child growing up in New Orleans.
Dueling Banjos
Steve Martin and Kermit the Frog square off in a classic case of dueling banjos! Did you know comedian, actor, and author Steve Martin is a well-respected musician too? To see more, check out his NPR Tiny Desk Concert with the Steep Canyon Rangers.
Just for Fun!
Did you know there is a National Cowboy Museum ? It's in Oklahoma, and when they had to close due to the pandemic, they asked the Head of Security, Tim Send , to take over their Twitter account.

Their account quickly went viral due to his hilariously wholesome tweets. Filled with witty puns, educational trivia, and some honest mistakes anyone new to Twitter would make, he has gained a loving fan base.
Olive and Mabel Are Back!
Andrew Cotter is back for a company meeting with Olive and Mabel. The good news in that neither will be furloughed. Though Mabel gets a few negative notes, Olive gets praise from the home office. The message sent to her? "You're a good dog, yes you are! Who's a good dog? You're a good dog!"
We know this is hard, and if you need someone to listen, NYS has set up a Covid Emotional Support Helpline - call 1-844-863-9314,
available 8 AM - 10 PM, seven days a week.

Please share with us any links or videos that have made you laugh, entertained you, or provided a distraction. Please email them to karen@troymusichall.org and we may use them in
future volumes of The Beat. Thank you.