Helpful Resources

Sing Ireland sends a message of support and solidarity to all of the singing groups, choirs and conductors/music directors who are currently working in isolation and can’t meet physically. The lives of so many have been drastically changed over the past weeks with the spread of Coronavirus (Covid 19) across the world. Our first thoughts, however, are with the family and friends of those who may be directly impacted by the virus. We know the considerable worry and upset this must be causing and our best wishes and thoughts are with all those affected.

Below there are various resources and information on research.

Useful Resources for Singing Groups and Musicians

A webinar was held looking at the future of group singing in Ireland. A recording and various resources can be found HERE

‘PLANNING FOR YOUR SINGING GROUP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES’ is a document by Sing Ireland to assist you in planning for a return looking at your structure and goals

‘SUGGESTIONS TO IRISH CHOIRS AND SINGING GROUPS’ lays out the recommendations by NPHET and the Government alongside further suggestions and recommendations from Sing Ireland.

The European Choral Association-Europa Cantat have compiled together all of their material and resources relating to COVID-19 on their website HERE. They have also compiled information on singing with masks HERE on page 13.

Sing Ireland has various useful for choirs, singers and conductors HERE including videos of warm ups.The Association of British Choral Directors have published a research paper on the impact of the COVID 19 virus on choral activity in the UK, prepared by Professor Martin Ashley, an ABCD trustee, provides a survey of research into the current thinking about how choirs and conductors might resume rehearsing and performing in the future. HERE

American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) released guidance and a statement of support for choral singing and study during the COVID-19 pandemic on June 15. HERE

Freiburg University of Music have published Risk assessment of coronavirus infection in the field of music – latest update 17 July 2020 HERE

A number of performing arts organizations have joined forces to commission a study on the effects of COVID-19 on the return to the rehearsal hall. HERE

A UK study will explore whether singing and the playing of woodwind and brass instruments produces more respiratory particles than speaking HERE

VIRTUAL REHEARSALS

Taking your Choir Rehearsals Online – Advice for getting set up and organised to host a virtual choir session by Chorus Connection Blog.

ZOOM – Online video calling software. It is free to sign up to Zooms Basic plan and is proving quite popular with virtual music lessons and virtual choir sessions due to the quality of the video call and the ability to host up to 100 people for free.

ACapella App - A useful app with basic and premium user options. Basic features allow you collaborate with up to 9 musicians, with a built in metronome and an option to record multiple users’ audio and video tracks, and sync them to create one unique track.
There are many youtube videos describing how to use the app. How To Use The Acapella App - 2020 Edition

Virtual Choir 101- Shows you how to use available free software that can achieve very good results with little effort.

ONLINE RESOURCES

The Big Covid Survival Choral Doc – A comprehensive list of online resources for musicians and choral groups created by Lauren Peithmann.

MakingMusic.org - Covid19 Staying Connected - Some great ideas for keeping your music groups motivated and connected during Covid19.

CCDA Cantate (Spring 2020) The magazine of the California Choral Directors' Association - This Issue has lots of articles for choral professionals to get inspiration from during the Covid-19 crisis, from taking your virtual choir online to ideas for content it is well worth a read and up-to-date published on 27th March 2020.

ChoralClarity.com - Free Sight-Reading Factory Distance Learning Ideas

10 Things Singers can do at home AND 10 Things Conductors can do at home

5 Ideas for Keeping Your Choir connected during the pandemic

Link to guidelines for rehearsals with adult choirs (Norway) here

Zoom tutorial for conductors with Jim Daus here

dohrey.me interactive music teaching tool created by MatchMySound (a company in Estonia)

Smartmusic: Practicing Chorus Music

Youtube Tutorials for Online Rehearsals:

Zoom in "Music Mode" by RAMA Vocal Center / The Royal Academy of Music

Zoom tutorial for choral conductors, technical session (1/2) by RAMA Vocal Center (DK) and VChN (CH)

Zoom tutorial for choral conductors, musical session (2/2) by RAMA Vocal Center (DK) and VChN (CH)

COVID-19: Free Zoom Tutorials and Chat Sessions for Composers by Sound and Music

COPYRIGHT AND PUBLISHING DURING PANDEMIC:

Copyright laws are still in place despite the pandemic. It is so important to know the content you're sharing online is not in breach of copyright laws.

The following publishing companies have made a statement on their copyright during the pandemic with some restrictions on distributing their material temporarily eased during the global pandemic.

GIA Publications statement on permissions during the pandemic

Hal Leonard's Distance Learning FAQ for Educators

JW Pepper statement on sharing music digitally

Copyright can be a confusing topic for many amateur choirs. Sing Ireland have put together some resources to help you become more familiar with Irish Copyright Law and to point you in the right direction for finding out more information in relation to your performance licensing and copyright queries. SING IRELAND COPYRIGHT RESOURCES FOR GROUP SINGING

CANCELLED EVENTS:

What to do when your choral concert gets cancelled – Blog by Chorus Connection

What can you do to prepare for Covid-19- Blog by Chorus Connection

Irish and UK Festival and Event Cancellation List – Journal of Music are keeping a rolling list of cancelled events in Ireland and the UK.

MUSICIANS’ FINANCIAL RELIEF

Civic Theatre Artist Emergency Relief Fund (Applications for grants of up to €500)

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (all PAYE and Self-Employed can apply)

COVID-19 ADVICE FOR IRISH COMMUNITY/CHARITY ORGANISATIONS

Create – Ireland – Updates from the national development agency for collaborative arts, Create.

The Wheel – Practical advice for Irish voluntary, community, charitable and social enterprises.

ISACS – Irish Street Arts Circus and Spectacle Network have helpful tips on Covid-19

For more Sing Ireland Resources for Group Singing click HERE

OFFICIAL COVID-19 ADVICE

HSE: http://www.hse.ie

HSE Covid-19 Posters and Resources for putting up in your locality or sharing online.

NHS: http://www.nhs.uk or PHS https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/

Here are informative videos from webinars held by choral organisations around the world

The National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Chorus America, Barbershop Harmony Society, and Performing Arts Medical Association (PAMA) presented a webinar about the near term future of singing as we seek fact based solutions in protecting our singers, teachers, and conductors during this time.

COVID-19 & the Future of Choral Singing:

In conversation with Professor Raina MacIntyre

Presented by Gondwana Choirs and UNSW Sydney

A free webinar for the Australian choral community, in conversation with a panel of experts.

Following on from the COVID seminar, 'Back to choir: positive and practical next steps', was a free webinar aimed at providing practical information which will assist Austrailian conductors to be prepared for stepping back into rehearsals, considering all precautions and modifications, supporting mental health and other important issues.

Chaired by Sam Allchurch and featuring a panel of experts including Lyn Williams AM, Artistic Director, Gondwana Choirs, Paul Holley, Associate Director, Voices of Birralee, Dr Wei Jiang, soprano in the Sydney Chamber Choir, Dr Megan Kalucy, Senior Lecturer, Lead, Undergraduate Psychiatry Education at UNSW, Dr Melanie Wroth, and Brett Weymark: Artistic & Music Director, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Leaders will share promising projects and technologies that keep us connected and singing. Their goal is to share inspiration, vision, and creative, practical solutions for the field.

Panellists:

Martin Ashley – Editor-in-chief, ABCD Choral Singing Research

Esmeralda Conde Ruiz – composer and choral director

Ben Selby – Director of Music Publishing, OUP

Daniel Spreadbury – Dorico Product Marketing Manager, Steinberg

Chair:

Mark Sproson – choral director, arranger and music technologist