Virtual Rehearsals

We were missing several choir members last week due to vacations and out-of-town engagements. So our usual 12-voice choir was about 6 voices strong. Rehearsal attendance fluctuates week-to-week throughout the year due to a number of things: travel schedules, work obligations, holidays, and general life events that just happen. But this was the first time I recall that nearly half of the choir was missing on a particularly Sunday. I was concerned it would be a struggle….

However, I was pleasantly surprised. Our 6 voices were strong and united during the service. There was a noted improvement in the Communion Hymn from the prior week as well. I made sure to acknowledge the improvement to the choir members because it demonstrated to me that they had been practicing at home.

I think I was most surprised that 2 of my choir members, who were out of town and traveling in Greece, reached out to see if they could participate in rehearsal remotely via video conference. It just made me happy that they didn’t want to miss a rehearsal. They set aside time during their trip and it means a lot when you see this type of effort and commitment to the group. So of course I said yes, and we connected using a smartphone and a laptop with internet connection.

Virtual rehearsals are not ideal, but they can be highly effective. I have participated in several concerts where the primary means of rehearsing was done remotely via video conferencing. Even choral arrangements with 30 voices can be rehearsed effectively via video conference. It’s just a tool to keep in mind when you have choir members who aren’t always able to be at rehearsal. Virtual rehearsal is an extremely valuable tool when distance makes in-person rehearsals infeasible.

It was a good week and I’m already looking forward to hearing the choir’s progress with the Patriarchal Anaphora in Plagal First.