2 minute read
The “Lockdown Choir
PERFORMING & CREATIVE ARTS
Despite the obvious challenges presented by working from home, and the inability to perform in musical ensembles as usual, KAA Choir and Upper Voices continue to thrive through lockdown.
Advertisement
Both ensembles have rehearsed once a week via Google Meet since the start of lockdown, and we’ve even welcomed some new members. However, there are certainly several challenges that we have overcome, including singing in unison despite internet delays, managing microphone etiquette, setting up backing tracks and practising warm ups from our living rooms, much to the chagrin of our neighbours!
Once we became familiar with the routines of online rehearsals, and following the success of many a YouTube viral video from other choirs and ensembles, we decided to set ourselves the ultimate challenge of making a remote choir recording and video. We selected the song ‘When Will My Life Begin?’ from the Disney animated film Tangled, and updated the lyrics to reflect our current situation, changing the title to ‘When Will My Life Return?’
The process for making recordings is anything but straightforward. Firstly, students learn the song in their online rehearsals. I then create a guide vocal and backing track for them to practise with. Then, students record themselves singing and email this to me. Using the music software Logic Pro, I combine these recordings and make sure that they are in time with each other to create a virtual choir. After editing, students record video clips of themselves performing their parts. These are superimposed over the recording and synced up to create a proper music video.
Since the success of ‘When Will My Life Return?’, the KAA Lockdown Choir (as we are now called) has continued to create virtual recordings, including a performance of ‘Something Inside So Strong’ by Labi Siffre to mark the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Most recently, we have worked on a performance of ‘Mr Blue Sky’ by the Electric Light Orchestra for the KAA end of year assembly video. We very much look forward to performing these songs together in person at the earliest opportunity!
‘When Will My Life Return?’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA0lyPN2a4M&t=1690s
‘Something Inside So Strong’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9me_QQC-ro0
‘Mr Blue Sky’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz-EAkXnGhI
