Christopher Cayari
Virtual Choir Conference
Sponsored by Illinois ACDA - June 24-25, 2020 - Speaker: Dr. Christopher Cayari
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Keynote - Online Singing
Where we came from, where we are, and where we might go
June 24 2:30pm-3:30pm (Eastern) - 1:30pm-2:30pm (Central)
The COVID-19 outbreak forced schools and community groups to suspend meeting face to face, and our ability to gather in substantial sizes continues to be tentative. The quarantine and social distancing required us to think about how to continue choral singing when choirs are not allowed to meet in physical spaces. This keynote session discusses the history, current state, and potential futures of online singing and what choral directors could do now and in the future as we navigate online and hybrid singing situations. By exploring online music making dispositions and the skills/literacies needed to learn, create, and publishing music on the internet, choral directors can help keep their choirsters singing, explore new technologies, create exciting musical experiences, and foster communities. This session provides an overview of the benefits and drawbacks of online technologies, platforms, and media for choral singing as well as the prominent online singing practices like virtual choirs, online karaoke/lip syncing, multitracking, and publishing.
Jubilate Deo by Michael Praetorius
Learn how to create fun and easy rounds during this workshop!
Workshop - Using free and mobile apps for online singing
Solos, Rounds, and Partner Singing
June 24 4:00pm-5:00pm (Eastern) - 3:00pm-4:00pm (Central)
Do you want to keep your choirsters singing, but do not have the time or resources to create a massive project like a virtual choir? This workshop will walk you through three easy to use, free mobile apps that you can incorporate into your classroom or rehearsal time to encourage solo and collaborative singing. We will explore how to use phones and tablets for solo work, collaborating through apps to sing duets, and learn some basics about multitracking for ensemble work. For this session, please download Acapella (iOS) / Acapella Maker (Android) apps (please download before the session). Come ready to sing! By the end of the session you will have at least three products that you can use as inspiration for your groups. We will even try to collaborate with each other and make music together through these apps.
Note about headphones: You will want to have corded headphones with a microphone. Here are some that I have enjoyed using in my videos. At this time, Bluetooth creates latency (audio-video sync issues). However, you can use cords with your Bluetooth device if available. iPhone users, don't forget your headphones adapter
“#CommissionsEarned”.
Workshop - Multitracking and Virtual Singing
Collaborations, Collectives, and Clones, oh my!
June 25 10:00am-11:00am (Eastern) - 9:00am-10:00am (Central)
Part singing is what makes choral singing so much fun. In this session, we will explore ways you and your students can sing choral and small ensemble music from a distance with the help of technology. We will continue our exploration of the Acapella (iOS) / Acapella Maker (Android) apps (please download before the session) as well as be introduced to Soundtrap, an website that provides a Digital Audio Workstation. During the session, you will practice using both resources to create virtual duets, quartets, and choirs. You will create your own one-person ensemble of clones and work with others to try making a 2-4 person ensemble collaboration!
Sesere Eeye, traditional (Torres Strait Islands)
Learn how to multitrack choral songs during this workshop!
Panel - Perspectives of Participating in and Creating Virtual Choirs
with Dr. Matthew Clauhs, David Wesley Francois, and Melody Myers. Facilitated by Dr. Christopher Cayari
June 25 4:00pm-5:00pm (Eastern) - 3:00pm-4:00pm (Central)
This panel will feature a conversation gives attendees various perspectives of what it is like to participate and create virtual choirs like Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir. This discussion forum will be broken up into two sections. The first will be a discussion facilitated by Dr. Christopher Cayari, a researcher and music educator who has been researching online music making for over a decade. Joining him will be Dr. Matthew Clauhs who has expertise in sound and audio design and has guided many music education students in compiling virtual choirs; David Wesley Francois, a YouTube creator with over 20 million views who has been creating virtual choirs for over five years; and Melody Myers, an opera-trained singer who made her virtual choir debut as the soloist in Eric Whitacre’s first virtual choir, Lux Aurumque. They will discuss topics like creating one-person choirs, recruiting for online groups, file submission and management, mixing techniques, collaborating with sound engineers, and lessons learned from creating their projects. After the facilitated discussion, attendees will have an open forum to ask the panelists questions.