Routine #3: Digital Choir Prep

Hi, Singer. Are you reading this while taking a break between recording take 35 and 36 of the Hallelujah Chorus and you are more or less OVER IT? I know. Digital choirs are really hard. Singing by yourself in a room with no friends is exactly the kind of thing you were trying to avoid when you joined your choir in the first place.

But digital choirs are also are allowing choral music to still exist, and our choirs to stay alive, so you know what, I am TOTALLY INTO IT and am going to give it my best shot. And today, I’m going to bring you my best tips for making it as painless as possible, plus a warm-up that will put some basic technical blocks in place before you hit that red Record button. Ready?

Tips for a less terrible experience

• Way in advance, schedule your recording time. Make sure the people in your house understand that there will be a brief period when outside time or chess or reading are encouraged, thank you. I try to schedule a couple of 40-minute blocks even if I’m recording something short because I get to the point of diminishing returns REAL QUICK with this recording stuff and it’s often good to go away and come again another day.
• Also way in advance (like the morning of or night before), do the following prep – it can easily take up the whole time you scheduled for recording, so do it before you announce the beginning of THE SILENCE:
  • First, figure out where you will film and practice setting up. I’m not Steven Spielberg, so this means gathering a stool and ten board games and dictionaries to hold the phone up to face level (this is important!).

• Once you have it ready, TAKE A PICTURE of your set up. This will make it so much simpler the next time.
  • Next, charge your devices – your listening device for your click track, your recording device, and if you’re using cordless headphones, those too.
  • Finally, check your recording clothes. Recording time shouldn’t be hijacked by ironing time. Also, is your music in a Lisa Frank binder? Fix that. Or if it’s ok to sing with a Lisa Frank binder, send me the name of your choir right away and I will be auditioning next season.
• When it is recording time, TAKE THE TIME TO WARM UP. It is not wasting recording time – it is saving you time and heartache and vocal fatigue. Which brings me to:

The Warm-Up Routine

You know what? Despite the weirdness of the recording experience, these digital choirs are pretty magical when you see the whole thing all smooshed together. So do your best and good luck! And thanks for practicing.