Reflections from a Digital Community Singing Group

• Posted 8/10/22
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The Impact of Virtual Singalongs

SoundReach Choir is a group comprised of teens and adults with a variety of developmental disabilities directed by board-certified music therapists and music therapy interns. For more than 20 years SoundReach choir has provided opportunities for individuals to interact with others in their community as they rehearse and put on a concert for two seasons each year. Concerts have been attended by family, friends, roommates, staff members, and others in the greater community. The singers in the SoundReach choir are extremely enthusiastic and are always ready for the new season to start!  

Understandably, the singers were very disappointed when our spring rehearsal and concert season was yet another event that had to be canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only that, recent research has shown that COVID-19 spreads particularly easily in group singing settings, so at the time of this blog, the ability to return to regular SoundReach rehearsal seasons is very limited.  

With this knowledge in hand, there was a wish to find a way to keep that community thriving and singing together while we couldn’t be together in person. Out of this desire came “SoundReach Singalongs.”

It began with just 5 singers participating in a two-week trial over an online video conferencing platform. Staff and family at the singers’ residences were key in coordinating the use of the video medium. The director prepared a list of songs from the most recent concert in fall 2019 and encouraged participants to join in. However, they were asked to keep their computer microphones muted unless otherwise directed. The singers were provided opportunities to sing “solos” when they were the only ones unmuted aside from the director. The director also facilitated social interaction between the singers by encouraging them to respond to questions related to the theme of the songs. The singers were thrilled to interact with their friends and everyone engaged in the 30-minute session with enthusiasm. The second trial session was equally positive.  

This paved the way for the weekly “Singalongs” to continue. In 6 weeks, 11 singers participated, including both regular SoundReach members and people completely new to the group! Each week songs were chosen around the theme of a recent concert, and the singers got to vote on the next week’s theme. They sang songs by the Beatles, Disney songs, songs about the sunshine, and songs about travel. They answered “Would you rather…?” questions and shared stories from past experiences. They sang familiar songs and learned new songs.  

All around, the experience was a positive break in the uncertainty and monotony brought by COVID-19. Family members stated, “M. really enjoyed the pick-me-up [SoundReach Singalong] provided,” and “E. really enjoyed it…Thanks for your continued involvement and support.” In addition, ALL weekly singers said they wanted to continue “SoundReach Singalongs” in the future! It may not be the same SoundReach Choir as before COVID-19, but the experience of singing together in this form can clearly still build positive connections within the community in the midst of the unknowns.  

Do you know someone who may be interested in participating in a SoundReach Singalong? Contact Music Therapy Services of West Music at musictherapyservices@westmusic.com for upcoming session dates and registration information.