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Conducting During CO
Conducting During COVID: What is possible and how has the role of the conductor changed?
ID: What is possible and

tency and noise suppression for the This feedback might be infl uenced be a particular barrier for outfi tting
singers to be able to sing together by the work that the conductor has a volunteer ensemble or singers in a
audibly in real time. Conductors can done previously in-person with the program without suffi cient resourc-
instead run rehearsals where singers choir or challenges inherent in the es to provide these devices. Peer-to-
all mute their microphones and sing piece of music that would be dif- peer software also works best when
along with the piano or a recording ficult for most singers. It is helpful singers are geographically near one

at home without being able to hear to leave extra time to engage in a another, as the increase in distance
the other singers in the choir. The dialogue with the singers about between participants increases the
conductor can lead them through what is going well, what parts of the latency of the session. Jamulus, on
a vocal warm-up at the piano and piece present a problem or a chal- the other hand, uses a centralized
a piece or several pieces of music lenge, and what questions the sing- server, which can provide a better
that the choir sings together with ers have. Asking singers to submit average latency for more geograph-
a recording. This repertoire could recordings of themselves singing ically dispersed ensembles. While it
include shorter octavos or a larger between rehearsals would also help is possible to connect to these pro-
work, depending on the needs and the conductor provide more accu- grams over WiFi (and indeed, both
interests of the choir. The conduc- rate feedback about what they are authors have had success with sing-
tor can share their audio and their actually hearing in the recordings. ers in these circumstances), there is
screen in order to stream recordings a noticeable improvement in quali-
of the music and an image of the ty of audio and reduction in latency
score. Some conductors conduct Conducting Low-Latency if a participant can directly connect
along with the recordings to give Live-Remote Rehearsal/ to the internet via an ethernet ca-
visual cues to their singers. Shar- Performance ble.
ing a video with a scrolling musical JamKazam, JackTrip, Sound- The technical setup for using
score that accompanies the audio Jack, and Jamulus are some of any live-remote software will take
recording or using a tablet with a the specialized software designed longer and require more individu-
foot pedal for page-turning can free for low-latency, live-remote music al troubleshooting than with other
up the conductor’s hands for con- making. While most of these soft- methods, but once this is accom-
ducting or managing audio levels or ware have been around for some plished the role of the conductor
other technology. While neither the time, the pandemic sparked a sud- changes in some signifi cant ways
singers nor the conductor may be den interest in fi nding technological when running a live-remote re-
able to hear the ensemble, this can solutions to our physical isolation. hearsal on Jamulus. The authors
still provide connection for isolated Each piece of software described have both found Jamulus to be in-
singers and help them continue to above carries with it specifi c equip- credibly useful. (The Santa Clara
sing regularly. ment requirements and network University Chamber Singers were

Other conductors are running connection speeds, but when prop- the first university ensemble in the
more traditional rehearsals on vid- erly configured they can create an country to perform a live concert

eo conferences, where they are re- environment that allows live musi- after the pandemic started using
hearsing music for either a virtual cal collaboration for rehearsals and Jamulus and both the Shepherd
or live performance. Once again, performance (Table 1). University choirs and the DC-
it is challenging to rehearse with- Peer-to-peer software like Sound- based Six Degree Singers have been
out being able to hear the singers, Jack, JackTrip, and JamKazam all using Jamulus regularly in rehearsal
but the conductor can imagine require an audio interface and mi- environments.) Particular issues re-
what the singers might sound like crophone (although these can be lated to setup and technology needs
and provide verbal or gestural cues combined into one microphone as for Jamulus have been well docu-
based on what they might hear. in the popular Blue Yeti). This can mented by the Choral Composer/

66 CHORAL JOURNAL April 2021 Volume 61 Number 9