Rehearsals During COVID-19

When a highly contagious but invisible virus can bring the entire world to a virtual standstill, organizations come up with action plans to come together virtually.

As with many physical activities, practice and repetition are necessary to continue and even improve ones skills.  Music and singing are no different.  Instead of filling our risers and rehearsing as we’ve done for years, we are looking to technology to help us come together in new ways.

Our associate director, Erin Cook, emails daily vocal practice techniques from some of the country’s leading experts in the Barbershop community.  These can vary from proper breathing fundamentals to performance and visual aspects.  On Tuesday night she gives us a quick warm-up to prepare us for the evenings online rehearsal.

Our director, Mike Wallen, leads our weekly rehearsals through the Zoom Meeting platform.  He sends an agenda to all chorus members several days ahead and encourages practice at home.  Each rehearsal includes a theme that brings out a competitive nature in our members to outdo each other!

As we continue to learn new music, Zoom allows us to divide into our sections to work on part specific issues.  All members are encouraged to record vocal tracks and send by email to leadership for individual evaluation.  This leads to very detailed tips for improvement privately which happens less in the group rehearsals.

Another great activity introduced by our director was “COVID Tags”.  This gives members the chance to sing and record all four voice parts of a Barbershop tag.  He then combines each part so you have your own quartet.

Each weekly rehearsal typically ends with a video performance from the past.  Sometimes humorous, sometimes informative, sometimes touching, but always meaningful.  And isn’t life about meaning?

Thank you to everyone working safely and providing ways for us to continue and do what we enjoy.

Everyone Safely in Harmony,

The Virginians