Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, closed-room rehearsals aren’t feasible. Luther College’s choir opted to rehearse in a pool instead of cancelling all practices. The choir are using an empty Decorah Municipal Pool for rehearsals, as KCRG details:
“I was driving past the city pool trying to contemplate where we were going to rehearse outdoors,” Mark Potvin, instructor of music and conductor at Luther College, said. “I noticed they were draining the pool so I called our friends at Decorah Park and Rec and said ‘Hey any chance that once that pool is empty we can start using it for choir rehearsals?’ and without a second thought they said absolutely, no problem.”
The outdoor pool is easily accessible for the college due to its location next to campus.
Luther College’s COVID-19 precautions include using outdoor venues and having conductors and singers wear face coverings at all times. The conductor uses a personal amplification device to be heard by all the choir members.
Additionally, singers are spread out 7.5 to 12 feet and some of the larger choir ensembles are split into smaller groups during rehearsal.
Image via KCRG
Newest 2 Comments
ya
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
Singing is complicated as studies suggest distances of at least 4.5-5m (15-18 ft) may be required to social distance when singing - eg: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/cho-advice-religious-gatherings.aspx "The only COVID-Safe singing that is permitted is a solo singer distanced at least five metres away from other people and not directly above the audience."(despite claiming 7.5 to 12 foot distances apart, those people look rather closer than that to me, within "their own height" distance - so less than 6 feet - from the nearest other people)
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)