How do we keep singing together? I’ll look at some of the options.
It’s not only during a pandemic that we need to stay at home. There are times when we might be too ill to leave the house, or we need to stay home to care for someone.
Social isolation can be difficult at the best of times, but it’s even harder when we’re used to gathering regularly with a bunch of other people to make music. I’m sure many of you are missing your choirs right now.
In these times of seclusion, separation and retreat from the world, are there ways of continuing to make and enjoy music together?
Making Music has a useful resource here: COVID-19: staying connected
I’m going to run through some of the possibilities out there. But first, I’d like to ask you a question:
What kind of singing opportunities from home would you welcome that aren’t generally available at present?
For example:
- Would you like to be taught the harmony part to a new song each week and then be able to sing along with the other parts? Is a sound file OK, or would you prefer to see the teacher too?
- How about a “song of the week” dropping into your inbox to keep you entertained (a chance to listen to songs that you may not be familiar with)?
- Any other ideas you can think of?
joining an online sing-along
First of all, it’s important to note that there is currently no way of singing together at the same time using the internet. This probably won’t ever be possible due to the way that data is sent over the internet.It has to be limited to each person singing along with the singing leader. You might be able to see the other singers, but you won’t be able to hear them because of the inherent time delay between each person due to their internet connection.
If you’ve seen one of those videos with video thumbnails of individuals all singing together this will not have been recorded live. It’s what has become known as a '”virtual choir” (see below).
There are many choir leaders offering regular sing-alongs online. Many are using the Zoom platform, but also Facebook Live and others. You don’t need any special equipment (not even a video camera, although most computers and smart phones have them built in). You don’t even need a microphone because nobody else will be able to hear you! You just click on a web link for the session. You may be asked to download a small piece of software. It’s all very straightforward.
Here are some of the many offerings currently available:
- The Sofa Singers led by James Sills
- Stay in and Sing led by Dominic Stichbury
- Online singing sessions for big and little people led by Katie Rose
- Duet Yourself (on Facebook)
- Corona Virus Choir (on Facebook)
- Choir Choir Choir led by Nobu Adilman and Daveed Goldman (on Facebook)
- The Massive Singlet led by Stephen Taberner (Spooky Mens Chorale)
virtual choirs
These take their lead from Eric Whitacre’s various projects. The idea is that you learn a song, then record yourself singing it whilst listening to some kind of guide track to keep you in time and tune (a backing track or person teaching). You then email this into the organisers and they will edit it together with all the other submissions to make a “virtual choir” singing all the harmony parts at the same time.Here are some of the many offerings currently available:
- Stay at Home Choir (mostly classical music with scores)
- Pub Choir in Australia are running the occasional Couch Choir (on Facebook)
- Great British Home Chorus, led by Gareth Malone
get the family involved
What a great opportunity to get the whole family singing! Although I wrote this post about singing at Christmas, much of it can be applied now: 10 tips to get the whole family singingrope in the neighbours too
Bearing in mind that we need to stay at least 2 metres apart, why not have a garden music-making session with your neighbours? I’m sure you’ve seen all those people singing from their balconies in Italy. With the nicer weather, get your neighbours to join in with instruments, things they can bang, familiar songs, etc. Use your neighbourhood WhatsApp group to arrange a convenient time.other suggestions
I’m sure there are plenty of other singing opportunities out there during these stay-at-home times. Do leave a comment and let us know of any others.Get more posts like this delivered straight to your inbox!
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Chris Rowbury
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