With the latest pandemic crisis, most of us are feeling the effects of isolation. If we are teetering on the edge of hopeless monotony, our children are most likely in the same boat, but they do not have the life experience to process these feelings through a mature adult lens. By creating normalcy and adapting our weekly activities to accommodate these extreme conditions, we can send a message of perseverance and flexibility to our children as well as form a bit of a shelter for their tender rendering of current events.
Many choir directors and music teachers are turning to online classes and rehearsals, and I think this is wonderful! Both of my daughters have had online violin classes this week, and while in-person time cannot be exactly replicated, I am very grateful we have the technology to connect in this way.
Choral/group classes pose a small challenge compared to one-on-one classes, but I believe they can work. I wonder what it could look like to stagger rehearsal times and work with smaller groups on harmony and part singing. If you have the time, could you subdivide 20-30 minute segments to spend focused time on challenging parts with specific groups? Providing an emailed flow sheet to parents could really make this possible and viable.
Another project to try with online directing might be to give children the opportunity to take turns “leading” a warm up time. Very rarely would a children’s choir director be able to have such a captive audience, and it might create the perfect atmosphere to allow children to step up and take ownership of some of the directing elements. Chances are a parent will be at least within earshot to help maintain focus.
While these rehearsals are uncharted territory for most of us, I believe they will only help us grow. One of the main reasons children’s choirs need to survive is because we are teaching our children that together is better. Even if we have had to cancel concerts and performances, and we don’t know when we will be back up and running, the best message we can send our children is that we still cultivate, we still enjoy our efforts, and we still sing! During this crisis, we need to be a community, and this connection time of singing together even over the internet will perpetuate the hope of coming through even these lonely times as a stronger and unified people.
Please let me know what you are doing to make these rehearsals happen. Are you using Zoom? What has been a surprise or a fun activity that has worked for your group? Keep singing!
Come Sing Together 