Sandy Siegel Miller writes:
During the past 10 days, there has been, in the background of our regular activities, a “soundtrack” of feedback about your experiences of recording your video of The Storm is Passing Over for our virtual choir. The “soundtrack” goes something like this:
Jonathan: “That’s great! Gosh, only 10 takes – that’s fantastic!” or,
“Yeah, 10 takes, that really is a lot – good for you for hanging in there and getting it done! Now you need to upload it; the instructions are in that big document….good luck, you’ll do fine!”
Or ….
Jonathan: “You’re being super hard on yourself – choral singers aren’t used to hearing themselves singing alone. Your voice is going to be blended with over 100 of your fellow singers and Paul is going to make us all sound great! Please send in your video, even if you don’t think it’s good enough.
And the occasional:
Jonathan: “Woo-hoo! Way to go! You rocked it – and all by yourself!!”
These are the sounds of success….and frustration….and lack of confidence….and determination…and, for 177 (as of today) of you, the sounds of exceeding your expectations and conquering a really hard task. It’s a great feeling, isn’t it? To stand in the doorway of a new challenge, with serious uncertainty of your ability to meet it, but with at least a little curiosity about whether you can – or maybe a part that rises up in you saying, “yeah, but what if I can?”
And whatever your motive, whatever it was that got you through the times that it didn’t work, or your voice sounded crumby, or you were oh-so-close but your earbud fell out in the final 3 measures, or you wanted to throw your uncooperative cellphone out the window…..whatever it was that got you through, how great does it feel, knowing that you DID IT!
And I wonder what you learned – about yourself, or about your willingness to ask for help, or about the unspoken limitations imposed on us older adults.
We’d love to hear your stories. You can write it down, or send a quick (60 seconds or less) video of you telling how it was. Send them in to info@soundsgoodchoir.org (and if you do record a video, please send it via WeTransfer.com, just as you did with your video). We hope we’ll have lots of stories from many of you!
The Rev. Dr. Sandy Siegel Miller is co-founder of Sounds Good Choir, NFP and Program Director of the Good Memories Choir.
I was scared…..to find out how little I really knew about technical stuff when it came to the recording on my phone. I just don’t opt for learning/trying out much video/cellphone wizardry. In my recently retired life (two and a half years in) I am still finding my post career work footing . And COVID19 ‘sheltering’ is challenging me, too. Plus….this task! A cell phone recording (and with a laptop recording playing in one ear?). Ugh! I tried it with the first ‘try out’ effort that was organized. I ‘stumbled about’ at first….so glad that I was doing this singing/recording alone. Once I got the video uploaded to the right place (‘thanks Megan’) I felt sooooooo relieved. I heard back that it was swell….and what I did was rather well liked. So……whew! I’m not quite the tech cave man that I thought I was. Then……. all of Sounds Good members were invited to record the song….me, again, included (woulda’ been glad to just stick with that first video effort and leave it at that…I would I would!!). But…okay…..I recorded it again….and this time without Megan’s help. I got it uploaded once more (good directions were given Jon/Megan/Sandy…..whomever else contributed there). But, I dare to say…..a bit ‘fuddy-duddy’ like, “I don’t want to do it again!” The tech n’ recording world is NOT my preferred venue! I just will be glad to ……’sing when the spirit says sing’ (and when Jon directs me/us to)……and have my sweet, aging compatriots huddled vocally close to help me with their warm and friendly company as we deliver the goods (ooopses and all!!). That’s when I am at my best…..when I am part of that group of happy, stumbling, fellow n’ sister singers.—Jim Lavin
I will always think of the Pandemic 2020 whenever I hear “The Storm is Passing Over” that is for sure. Every pandemic should have a theme song, do you agree?
On day 1, after the 5th take, I realized I was singing the wrong words to the 4th line. I gave up for the day. On day 2, one mishap after another occurred but I kept with it. On what I hoped was the last line of the final take, my husband came into the house, slammed the door, and started cheering for me. I tried 3 more takes but things kept going wrong so I sent in the one with the cheers and hoped Paul could just remove the final measures. Judith Grubner
Good for you Jim Lavin for following through.
And good for you brother David who accomplished the ZOOMtask with JOY ( no, not joy with pleasure, but JOY THE TALENTED BEAUTIFUL WIFE!)
I, Max, am a devoted TECHNIDOLT, who was not up to the task, (tho gave it a try for a couple hours)
Don’t take it personally. I tried ordering on line an item from Amazon. I thought I had it nailed, but what was delivered to my door in the California desert was the item pictured next to the one I thought I’d ordered!! Hopeless.
I regularly play my CD recording All Voices and sing along my alto part. I find it quite satisfying to hear myself as part of the group’s blend of characters while I picture all of you in my minds eye.
If a CD is available for the 4 SUMMER ROCKS songs, I’d love to join the chorus/es.
Singing together is FUN. Alone, not so much.
Mondays and Tuesdays were always my favorite days. Singing with JON and Sandy SOUNDS GOOD and GOOD MEMORIES provided a residual high that lasted throughout those days.
I’m looking forward to receiving sheet music and CD if possible for my “sing at home
SUMMER ROCKS pleasure
I will of course chime in to the on line rehearsals to continue lovingly learn and vocalize and practice with Jenuinely joyful JONATHAN as long as he continues to do BIG HAPPY FACE. LITTLE SCRUNCHY FACE and sings Happy Birthday finales so I will know to go wash my hands!
Looking forward to watching you brave skillful zoomers. 😍👏🎶🎼👍💕💐
The recording I sent in was the first complete one I was able to make without being interrupted by the coughing residual from a long recovery from respiratory illness, so, imperfect as I knew it was, I sent it on, relying on Jonathan’s reassurances that whatever the synthesizer of the total sound wanted to cut, he could, and there would be plenty of other better renderings to compensate. The recording, though, was only the target of days of concentrated attention to dimensions of the printed music I usually leave to our conductors to coach–like the dynamics, or feel I do not get enough exposure to in live practice sessions, like how the voice parts work harmonically with each other, for which our online consultation sessions with our wonderful pianist Amy Wurtz proved hearteningly enlightening. In sum, being thrown back on myself with the resources Jonathan put at our disposal was a learning experience that more than justified the musical work it provoked and the learning involved in the catch-as-catch-can technology we had to navigate, for which, as well, having the consultation provided, sustained my motivation to solve some of its problems myself. I’m looking forward hopefully to continuing to learn, cough less, and maybe sound better–if not perfectly “good,” going forward. This challenge was a positive focusing highlight in three months of confinement in uncertainty.
Recording an audio which was, a few years ago, to say the least a stretch. Just recording a telefoon answering device, can create stress at first. Then however, things start to ease and you just do it. A homework assignment to record/film yourself teaching a yoga class for credit……………….O boy, a total different experience. For sure when you don’t have the right technical equipment. Being attached to a microphone and an electrcle cable. (How long ago was this?) Ha ,Ha. Walking around doing adjustments and talking. Later recording a class just with voice, I heard a few weeks ago, that someone is still using my first tape ever from 1998 (Remember a tape, no CD)
Now Jonathan asking for taping your voice singing, Ooooohhhhh Nooooo. I thought, I never will do that. Then the bravery sets in, the encouragement from other choir members. My own mind talking to me. Come on, stretch yourself just try it, you don’t have to send it in. With that in mind I took the first attempt. That I laughed and cried at the same time after hearing that first take, terrible, so sad. Pour little me, trying so hard and coming out this bad. No body wants to hear that. After that first take, I had to wait and think again, what to do with tat? It was so embarrassing. What does it take to get a better voice.
I don’t remember how many times I taped it again and again. I think I got used to the way I sound and just let go of all of the thoughts. This is it, this is you, if you like it or not. You are a part of the whole choir. Do your part and let it go. So waiting for the deadline on the last day, I gave myself one more change to get it all together and, let it go. The technology is a whole other part to learn with all the changes happening. But I did it and that is it.
The challenge accomplished, I am looking forward to the final product and I sure will share with friends/family in Holland, Switzerland, Australia and of course the USA.
Thank you for the challenge. I keep on growing.
Marianne
Lucky for me, my daughter Julia flew me to Arizona where all of my 3 children live. I spent an hour writing all the directions from the email about what to do which took me 40 minutes. Then my daughter helped me make sure that I could do the recording. I had my computer set up on 3 books on a counter while I sat on a chair. I wanted to give up but I did that when I was home in Illinois and our church choir made a recording which was only sound.
I tried 4 times before I got it right (it still wasn’t the greatest). I went to send it following the directions but the site looked nothing like my notes and I wasn’t getting anywhere. Julia took over with her magic touch and got it sent in 2 minutes.
I’m so glad that I was able to do it and can’t wait to hear the final version. Thanks for getting me to step out of my comfort zone.
I’ll get back to Illinois when the churches are open, even on a limited basis. The Catholic church opened here on Mother’s Day. People could only attend if they made a reservation because they are limited to 72 families at a service. People must wear masks and sanitize their hands when they enter and leave church. I’ve been able to attend some daily masses too where no reservation is needed because there aren’t that many interested in attending.
I still keep social distancing and wearing my mask wherever I go.
I was very interested in learning how these virtual concerts were being produced. I didn’t expect to have a lot of problems–21 pages of instruction seemed sufficient! I started making a recording and that’s when things got tough! I didn’t like the quality of my voice. I kept making minor rhythmic mistakeds because I hadn’t memorized the rests, a couple of times I stumbled on a word or two. Oy Veh! After quite a few takes I became very frustrated. Finally I decided to do one more take and send it in! No matter what! That is what I did and I had no problem with the transmission of the video! Still not thrilled with how i sounded, but I’m glad i participated.
At first, I told myself, “I’m not doing that!” It’s too complicated and it’s meant for the real singers, not me with my non-singer voice. During the last rehearsal Jonathan walked through a “how-to” on the technology, and suddenly I wanted to contribute to the project, to be in the number, no matter what I sound like. I hoped if I sounded too weak and tinny, someone would fix it. It took at least 10 tries to get a decent video without barking dogs or lawnmowers in the background. I’m grateful for that quiet spirit who gave me the oomph to join in.