Page 14 - Fall 2020 Tags and Swipes

Tags and Swipes, Fall 2020

Farmington Valley Chorus

FVC is flocked. We’re gathering around our It will help make us better singers and we’re now
computers every week doing fun things “reading” music differently too. It was done in
like learning new music together in Zoom break-out rooms with members from the different
breakout rooms. We’re attempting “It’s a parts so we could all scratch our feathers together
Wonderful World” to remind ourselves every and no one was lost in the deep.
week how wonderful this world can be if we just
keep singing- virus be darned. We’re also doing All work and no play makes… no fun ( I know
refresher speed dating on some regional songs. the phrase ends with something about Jack but
there are no Jack’s in our chorus J) What would
Cathy keeps a chat room open on her computer FVC be without some fun? So other than the
every day at a certain time so anyone can fly in theory scavenger hunt, we did a Virtual Tag with
and vent or celebrate life’s mysteries any day. “ I Love To Sing Em” (thank you Angie
Sometimes there's lots of people chatting - Clark) with members sending in video and
sometimes there's no one, but for all times it's audio. Ieva, our producer for the event, split our
great to know she cares no matter what you bring entries up into groups. When the group was done
to the watering hole. singing the tag she put up a poll for us to guess
who we thought was singing. Great lesson in
Wednesday is Zoom night each week. Our virtual listening but tons of fun watching their videos
rehearsals include physical and vocal warm- after.
ups with Anna-Lisa’s oldies before we flock into
learning something. Our producer Laura is Taylor produced an eye opening, wing flapping
fantastic at coming up with easy, fun polls to talent show. People do some amazing things as
keep us focused. When we’re not in sectionals well as being fabulous singers; paper flowers so
she throws us into break rooms for 15 minute beautiful and real looking they just blew us all
chats so we can talk and laugh with other away; some amazing musical instrument
choristers we don’t usually flock to. performances… some more amusing than
amazing. Did you know Cheryl plays 5
We’ve had some coaches virtually coach - Kim instruments? Wow! We have painters and
Vaughn, Vicki Maybury, Laurel Strielkauskas, drawers, knitters, crocheters, cross-stitchers,
Anna-Lisa Glad, and Lynne Smith to name a few string artist (very cool) a juggler, a baton twirler
have used our contest package from last year to (still talented after all these years – no fire batons
visually show us how to improve. It’s been one of though) a Hu-Ki-Lau dancer (reliving our Hawaii
the benefits of this shutdown to actually see/hear adventure to International) guitar singers – solo,
what a judge sees/hears and is looking for. duet and even a family trio - and so much more.

We’ve even had some in-house coaches wade out We have played regular game-games like
into the water. Cathy did a fantastic showmanship Kahoots and “Never Have I Ever…” and couple
class and Sue and Linda have presented some of weeks ago Corinna organized a camp fire
music theory nights. Don’t you find when it’s one songs sing-along.
of your own squawking this theory stuff
somehow it’s easy (easier) to understand? Sue
even facilitated a theory scavenger hunt using our
new music to find root chords, key signatures,
octaves etc.

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North Atlantic Region 1 Sweet Adelines