Gettin' It Together

We have hit the seventh month of COVID-19 shutdowns. Everything seems to take extra effort and it is tempting to simply go dormant. That, coupled with civil unrest and political ugliness, makes practicing and performing a real challenge for musicians.

My professional musician colleagues have mostly found creative ways to do at least a few things to stay active as performers. Some are investing in equipment to make videos and doing short, online concerts. Some are auditioning online for prizes or future performances. Others have been doing outdoor concerts for very small audiences - porch concerts. One pianist colleague has paid a professional video service to record a high quality, full length recital, built a huge mailing list, made a beautiful website to promote the event and sell tickets. They have done everything including setting up encrypted payment with credit cards. (I shared that concert with LOVS students: loveandlossrecital.com ) My friend Carmelita had already purchased a ukelele and learned to play, so when COVID-19 hit she just started making YouTube videos under the banner “A Uke and a Lady.”

The prospects for us semi-professional and avocational singers look bleak for the 2020-21 season. Many church and community choirs have cancelled completely while others are hanging in there with online education and repertoire preparation in the hope that rehearsal and concert venues may return at some point.

In the meanwhile, LOVS is able to move forward with solo vocal work since we can work safely online or at a distance here in my living room. I want to encourage each singer (myself included) to use this time to dig into new repertoire, regular physical exercise and rigorous technical work. Our twice delayed 'Soup to Nuts’ recital and the workshop was a real success in August. Let’s look forward to the 2020-21 term with clear goals and a commitment to develop avenues through which we can reach others with our performances.

Gretchen and I are working on a video project for submission to a blog that will be published in January. Those of you who have heard her meditations on hymns know how wonderfully evocative and moving that combination of her writing and singing can be.

Michelle Liebl is making arrangements to do outdoor concerts for senior residences with an accompanist on an electronic keyboard. She will be doing selections from Broadway shows.

Amanda Leger-Harewood has been hard at work pre-recording church music for her church’s streamed services.

Susan Williams, Kathy Hering, Bonnie Oberg and Al Hawkins have been able to provide special music and song leading for church.

I want to challenge all of us to make our own opportunities to perform–even though large ensembles can’t function right now. It should be safe to prepare music with an accompanist in a larger room and perform in venues that have at least partially opened. Dean and I recently went for a drive and saw several eating establishments with bands performing outside. Of course, cold weather will soon be upon us, but let’s be ready with ideas and programming for opportunities that are manageable right now, even with the shutdowns.

Thanks, LJO