Every Monday choir director Peter Schuhmann invites the members of the mixed choir “my dear mr.
singing club “for rehearsal: digitally via modern media.
The 67-year-old couldn't have imagined that when he founded the choir in 1982 - and certainly not that he would one day mix songs on the computer.
Herrsching
- Schuhmann opened the Zoom meeting 20 minutes before it started at 8 p.m.
Together with tenor Daniel Scheerer, the Herrschinger tinkers with small technical bumps before the 22 participating choristers finally begin with the relaxation exercises.
They sing "Nu-Nu-Nu" and "Da-Da-Da" up and down the scale and use breathing exercises to prepare the lungs for 90 minutes of singing on the computer.
This is a remarkable offer from a man who has avoided technology whenever possible in the course of his musical career, he admits.
The same was true for studio recordings.
Schumann directed the Pierre-van-Hauwe-Musikschule in Inning for 28 years, also there a choir and of course the chaotic orchestra.
He was reluctant to use the smoothed product, he always preferred “vital singing”, he explains.
This is what he stands for to this day.
But special times require special measures.
Schuhmann is grateful for the digital opportunity after the pandemic lasted longer than he initially thought.
It became clear that one or the other was struggling with isolation in lockdown.
Music is good for the soul, says Schuhmann.
And he spoke to colleagues and sang in an online choir run by Bastian Pusch.
In May he transferred the version to his choir rehearsal with singers between the ages of 30 and 80 who usually train their vocal cords together in Laim.
Piano or guitar lessons also work on a computer, he is pleased.
And that although he can no longer see anything in one eye and only to a limited extent in the other.
The project fits in well with the music teacher's “educational credo”: “The task of lessons is to organize success and not to document failure.” He is now working with a professional producer program, with which he turns the pieces to be rehearsed into a polyphonic one Singing together.
The female parts sings partner and long-time choir member Moni Thurner, Schuhmann sings tenor and bass.
With the program, he superimposes the voices, and the choral singing is done.
If necessary, he can filter out individual accompanying voices in the rehearsal and play them for practice.
If the voices are in place, everyone sings to the polyphonic oeuvre.
Each for itself, because the participants are muted.
Live singing over the microphone is not possible due to the transmission delays, explains Schuhmann.
The choir also rehearsed “Satin Doll” and “Wishing You Were Here Again” online for the funeral of a singer who died in January.
In addition, the choir members sang their part into the cell phone and sent the result to the former music school director of Inning.
The grandpa, who had been freshly baked on Sunday, took numerous hours to coordinate the singing and, if necessary, increased the vocal volume.
The result will be heard at the funeral next week.
Of course not live, that's not allowed yet.
Schuhmann now speaks of a successful project when he thinks about online rehearsals.
And the wish has already arisen to meet alternately virtually and on site after Corona.
By the way: the choir still needs male voices.
More information at www.mydearmrsingingclub.de.
Michèle Kirner
