Now that choir students are now in class in person, the resources that they use is limited. But they are still able to make this year exciting and entertaining, even though the first few months of virtual learning were such a struggle and ruined the chance of singing. 

 “It really didn’t provide us that authentic choir experience that we wanted in person,” Sophomore Adithi Nythruva said about the experience of attending the choir class in person. 

During virtual learning, choir students struggle to properly practice during the meeting. One of the difficulties that they faced was not being able to sing properly. When trying to sing, the audios from the computers would be sounding at different times, thus ruining the experience of singing.  

“We couldn’t really sing,” Sophomore Allison Toback said. 

However, Flipgrid was a helpful resource for these students to use in order for Jameson Staley, choir instructor, to hear them sing clearly. But they did not sing during an online meeting since the audio of the computer would make it sound off. 

Another difficulty that they faced was having no access to a piano, a resource the choir students need. Google Meet would stall which would cause the pitch to sound off tune. 

As junior, Hannah Jester commented, “On the online one [Google Meet], it would stall and then you couldn’t hear the pitch.” 

Since the return to classes in person, Choir students were able to relieve the experience. They are now able to sing and listen clearly, with the assistance of Staley making accommodations to sing outside, social distancing and respecting health relations. 

Unfortunately, choir students have a limited amount of resources to use now that they are in person. Practice rooms are closed and choir students are no longer allowed to touch the piano. The use of the piano is an important resource for the choir students for it helps them with their pitch. They’re not allowed to touch the piano, only Staley is allowed. Toback purposes that Staley creates an audio with the piano pitch that choir students have access for.  

“It would really help if he [Staley] made like a piano voice, and post them.” Toback recommended. Nythruva, Jester, and Melissa Morazn (junior) agreed with Toback. 

It is undetermined whether a choir concert will be happening on December 7, depending on how the current situation is going. If the concert is happening, Staley is planning on probably having this concert outside and have the students social distance, as well as the audience.