Choir Directors urge government to rethink singing restrictions

[teamsaint]

Had our first sing for 5.5 months this afternoon, socially distanced,outdoors with 30 of our singing group - great to sing some harmonies again and great to see them all again!

Very good news.

Although singing is apparently going to be too dangerous to be allowed in socially distanced football stadiums.
As for the ban on congregations singing.......I suppose it is too much to hope that people will take things into their own hands and defy some of the nonsense that we / they are being subjected to.

[Andrew Butler]

I have had the whole wretched business up to the top of my head. I'm furloughed from church until congregational singing is allowed (or until the furlough scheme ends, when I would be redundant) I doubt my choir will sing again and I've completely lost heart. Thanks, those who have subjected us to this!

[W.Kearns]

[QUOTE=Andrew Butler;805990]I have had the whole wretched business up to the top of my head. I'm furloughed from church until congregational singing is allowed (or until the furlough scheme ends, when I would be redundant) I doubt my choir will sing again and I've completely lost heart. /QUOTE]

Andrew, what you write is so sad, and all too easy to believe. You have my utmost sympathy (for what that's worth) and I hope your church values your work properly. The 'singing restrictions' show every sign of having been put together by non-singers who have scant appreciation of the benefits that singing brings.

[cloughie]

[QUOTE=W.Kearns;806031]

I have had the whole wretched business up to the top of my head. I'm furloughed from church until congregational singing is allowed (or until the furlough scheme ends, when I would be redundant) I doubt my choir will sing again and I've completely lost heart. /QUOTE]

Andrew, what you write is so sad, and all too easy to believe. You have my utmost sympathy (for what that's worth) and I hope your church values your work properly. The 'singing restrictions' show every sign of having been put together by non-singers who have scant appreciation of the benefits that singing brings.

I think that is a good assessment - I think that there is a total lack of appreciation of just how many people have been affected over the Last few months - the attached was 2017 - Probably many more now. The ‘virtual’ stuff just does not work - on your own you can learn a part, become word perfect and sing like a robin or whatever birdsong fits your range but there is absolutely no substitute for getting together with your singing colleagues and creating the sound!

https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/news/number-uk-choirs-time-high/

[gurnemanz]

I have had the whole wretched business up to the top of my head. I'm furloughed from church until congregational singing is allowed (or until the furlough scheme ends, when I would be redundant) I doubt my choir will sing again and I've completely lost heart. Thanks, those who have subjected us to this!

Very sad to read this but I fear it is a realistic assessment. I really feel for those for whom singing is a source of income. I am Chair of our local choir with about 50 members. The local Methodist Church where we rehearse would almost certainly not be large enough practicably to accommodate all of those with 360 degree social distancing and even if we could meet I'm not sure how enjoyable the experience would be under the prescribed conditions. Many members are in the vulnerable age range and may not wish to take any risk and I suspect we shall find ourselves being rather cautious about inviting people back while infection uncertainty persists.

I'm missing my hobby and the social life attached. My consolation is that, being into my 70s, I already have 40 years of choral singing in the bank, so to speak.

Some have suggested that we could reinstate going to the pub afterwards even though there has been no "before".