St. Mary Magdalene’s Choir have taken to Zoom for their weekly rehearsals. Director of Music David Thornton hosts the practices, preparing a programme of hymns and anthems for the choir to sing. Paradoxically, David has to mute the individual participants other than himself so that the singers can make music together. He accompanies each item on the piano and there is additional help from his wife Janet, a soprano in the choir, who can be heard in the background.
The social contact is good too, and there is laughter (“Oops! I’ve dropped my phone!” and “Why have you got a light bulb coming out of your head?” and so on…..)
Twelve choristers have taken part, though sometimes one or two may be missing because of technical problems. A few members of the choir have no internet access but at least one of those has a hymn book at home, and choir members keep in touch by telephone.
Virtual rehearsals are not the same as the real thing, but a good way of keeping together until the real thing becomes possible once more.
