Page 18 - ChorTeach vol14-1.indd

Choir Practices That I Plan to Use

After the Pandemic

Adan Fernandez
California Lutheran University, Chaffee College

Glendale, California

(Used with permission of the author)

This past year has been extremely difficult for the choral Our choirs learned how to perform the music. With ev-

community since many of us, both directors and choristers, eryone’s face looking into a camera, it became impossible
have been let go or have dropped out, reduced in hours, or to hide insecurities and distracting quirks as we sang. I com-
simply reduced to just getting by. We have had to redefi ne mend all singers who were able to take part in virtual choirs
our jobs in order to stay relevant to our churches, schools, for this reason. It takes courage to put one’s self out there
and communities. in this way and then to judge one’s own video. The choir
It should be no surprise that adapting to new technology videos forced us to connect with our music as communica-
was absolutely critical to not only keeping our programs tive partners. Our videos connected with people around the
going but also for maintaining our employment status. We world and will continue to do so, something of a surprise
have learned about virtual choirs, editing, plug-ins, com- for some of the singers.
munity, prayers, practice tracks, and about connecting with Editing future videos will also provide directors a deeper
our choirs outside of the rehearsal. There is nothing good understanding of how they need to shape their rehearsals.
about Covid but, for me, adapting my choirs to the social When I edit my singers in Logic, I see exactly how their
distancing strategies has introduced methods of working breath is functioning, where the tone is not supported and
that I will keep throughout my career after the pandemic. on pitch, etc. These factors teach us, as directors, how to be
clearer in our instructions regarding consonants, releases,
and breath. Every single note lets us learn more about our
Virtual Choirs singers in a way that hearing an entire ensemble regularly
Thousands of virtual choirs were created during Covid. does not.
My choirs recorded about fourteen virtual recordings; my
university recorded about twelve. Virtual recordings are

time consuming and frustrating but offer many possibilities Rehearsal Tracks
for growth of the choir members. For example, many in my I will continue to use rehearsal tracks. During Covid, I
choir were forced to actually learn their parts as opposed had to make several rehearsal tracks on my MIDI keyboard
to relying on their section leaders or persons they usually and Logic Pro software. I started very plainly but then used
sang next to. more plugins like Spitfire Audio for orchestral instruments

ChorTeach Volume 14 • Issue 1 18 www.acda.org/publications