Daffern Helena, Balmer Kelly, Brereton Jude
AudioLab, Department of Electronic Engineering, York Centre for Singing Science, University of York, York, United Kingdom.
In2Voice, York, United Kingdom.
Front Psychol. 2021 Feb 18;12:624474. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624474. eCollection 2021.
The Covid-19 induced United Kingdom-wide lockdown in 2020 saw choirs face a unique situation of trying to continue without being able to meet in-person. Live networked simultaneous music-making for large groups of singers is not possible, so other "virtual choir" activities were explored. A cross sectional online survey of 3948 choir members and facilitators from across the United Kingdom was conducted, with qualitative analysis of open text questions, to investigate which virtual choir solutions have been employed, how choir members and facilitators experience these in comparison to an "in-person" choir, and whether the limitations and opportunities of virtual choir solutions shed light on the value of the experience of group singing as a whole. Three virtual choir models were employed: Multi-track, whereby individuals record a solo which is mixed into a choral soundtrack; Live streamed, where individuals take part in sessions streamed live over social media; Live tele-conferencing, for spoken interaction and/or singing using tele-conferencing software. Six themes were identified in the open text responses: Participation Practicalities, encompassing reactions to logistics of virtual models; Choir Continuity, reflecting the responsibility felt to maintain choir activities somehow; Wellbeing, with lockdown highlighting to many the importance of in-person choirs to their sense of wellbeing; Social Aspects, reflecting a sense of community and social identity; Musical Elements, whereby the value of musical experience shifted with the virtual models; Co-creation through Singing, with an overwhelming sense of loss of the embodied experience of singing together in real-time, which is unattainable from existing virtual choir models. The experiences, activities and reflections of choir singers during lockdown present a unique perspective to understand what makes group singing a meaningful experience for many. Co-creation through Singing needs further investigation to understand the impact of its absence on virtual choirs being able re-create the benefits of in-person choirs.
2020年，新冠疫情导致英国全境封锁，合唱团面临着一种独特的情况：无法进行面对面聚会，却仍要努力继续活动。对于大批歌手来说，实时网络同步音乐制作是不可能的，因此人们探索了其他“虚拟合唱团”活动。研究人员对来自英国各地的3948名合唱团成员和指挥进行了横断面在线调查，并对开放式问题进行了定性分析，以调查采用了哪些虚拟合唱团解决方案，与“面对面”合唱团相比，合唱团成员和指挥如何体验这些解决方案，以及虚拟合唱团解决方案的局限性和机遇是否能揭示集体演唱体验的整体价值。采用了三种虚拟合唱团模式：多轨模式，即个人录制独唱，然后混合成合唱音轨；直播模式，即个人通过社交媒体参加直播课程；实时电话会议模式，即使用电话会议软件进行语音互动和/或演唱。在开放式文本回复中确定了六个主题：参与的实际情况，包括对虚拟模式后勤安排的反应；合唱团的连续性，反映了在某种程度上维持合唱团活动的责任感；幸福感，封锁让许多人意识到面对面合唱团对他们幸福感的重要性；社会层面，反映了一种社区感和社会认同感；音乐元素，随着虚拟模式的出现，音乐体验的价值发生了变化；通过歌唱进行共同创作，人们强烈感受到实时一起演唱的具体体验的缺失，而这是现有虚拟合唱团模式无法实现的。封锁期间合唱团歌手的经历、活动和思考为理解是什么让集体演唱对许多人来说成为一种有意义的体验提供了独特视角。通过歌唱进行共同创作需要进一步研究，以了解其缺失对虚拟合唱团能否重现面对面合唱团益处的影响。
