News & Notes #4
October 1, 2021
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"Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound."
-- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
What a beautiful autumn sound happening every Tuesday at First Parish Church! We hope you all are enjoying it as much as we are. We are sounding better and better each week. Thanks to your patience and good Mystic community spirit, rehearsals continue to run smoothly. Thanks to everyone who volunteered to move chairs and help with set-up and break-down. We are a smaller chorus this season, which means it matters a great deal when everyone pitches in just a little!
Your season producers,
Gale & Michal
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NEWSFLASH I’ve created two new videos to help learn GLORY TO GOD, a learnable piece that simply requires practice outside of rehearsal. In the first video, “Nick's Guide to Reading Melodies," I show the simplest way to approach reading intervals. The second video is your part phrase by phrase. The challenge is finding the pitches from the previous phrases.
ANOTHER NEWSFLASH I’m thrilled that this week we’ll be joined by Donnell Patterson on piano and vocalist Nthabi Thakadu to work on Together, I Need You To Survive, Pata Pata, Every Day is a Day of Thanksgiving and a simple song that Nthabi will sing as a solo with us repeating the phrase, “It is well with our soul.”
In addition we will continue working on Glory To God, And Peace On Earth and Kol HaNeshama. I love how the music is coming together. It’s actually a joy to be working with a smaller chorus again. It reminds me of the old days when the Mystic was about fifty singers.
I have started scheduling solo auditions for Kol HaNeshama, Together, Every Day Is a D’ o’ T, and the quartet on Hinei Ma Tovu. If you haven’t already, contact me to schedule a Zoom audition - nick@mysticchorale.org.
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Many thanks to ALL the volunteers who have been making our rehearsals go so smoothly!
We need your help!
Can you arrive at 6:45 & give us 15 minutes to do one of the following easy but important volunteer jobs:
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Tables & Chairs: We need 2-3 people to help set up a few tables and chairs each week. Time commitment: 15 minutes/week, 6:45-7:00.
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Yellow Paper Patrol: We need 1-2 people to place the yellow paper on seats & pick them up at the end of the night. Time commitment: 15 minutes/week, 6:45-7:00.
Can you help?
Thank you!
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1. THIS WEEK! Pre-rehearsal workshop with Jai:
Stay Strong and Healthy through Embodied Singing
6:30pm, 45 min workshop outdoors in the Vestry courtyard
This movement and voice exploration welcomes all capacities/capabilities where we will:
- honor each other and ourselves wherever we are
- lighten up and make play TOGETHER
- get in touch with the structures that support the breath and vocalizing
- free the flow of energy, breath, self, and community
- let go of fear and anxiety
- ground and stay connected with open-hearted presence
- find the power of our voice
Chairs are available. Bring mat or blanket if you want to sit on the ground. Bring water.
2. Wash Yer Mask?
YES - we should all wash our black singer's mask periodically. You may hand wash, or put it in the gentle cycle, but LINE DRY ONLY. Allow yourself 24-48 hours for your mask to dry. It's 3 layers of thick fabric and takes a long time! Do it today, while you're thinking of it!
3. Sectionals this week, in the Vestry:
Basses: Thurs, Oct 7, 6:30-7:25
Tenors: Thurs, Oct 7, 7:30-8:25
4. SAVE THE DATE - Music Reading Workshop with Nick:
October 12 from 6:30 to 7:20 in the Sanctuary.
Music Reading Session with Nick Page. For new music readers and those eager to improve their skills Nick will break down the basics of reading both rhythms and melodies.
5. Follow Mystic on Social Media!
Are you on Facebook or Instagram? Follow Mystic & share our content to expand our reach & impact!
and see some great rehearsal photos from last week!
Pss't... Notice our Insta content is a little out of date? We're looking for an Instagram coordinator - could it be you? Just a few minutes a week! Contact Linda (Admin@MysticChorale.org) for more info.
5. Mask purchase:
If you haven't purchased a black singer's mask last yet, or would like another, you may do so online, HERE, or bring exact change ($10) next week. If you forget your mask, we will have extra white masks available.
6. Please Remember to observe distancing when using the bathrooms. We will not be having a break so use the restrooms as needed. Bathrooms are on the main floor, through the Vestry and on the right.
7. No eating is permitted anywhere in the building. This is in keeping with best practices for safety.
And, as always: Practice, listen, keep singing, have fun, and BE MAGNIFICENT!
If you have any questions, please reach out to the producers:
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Live streamed rehearsals are getting better each week.
Paula is running the camera and working the chat. (THANK YOU PAULA!) Questions, comments and suggestions can be posted in the chat during rehearsal or during the week sent to Paula at Fundraising@mysticchorale.org
Streaming starts at 7:15 pm and ends at 9:40 pm.
At 7:15 the camera watches singers arrive and interviews a few until Nick starts the rehearsal at 7:30. Questions for Nick will usually be answered by him on camera. Paula may type Nick’s answer in the chat. She will answer or find an answer to all remaining questions. The 10 minutes between the end of the rehearsal and sign off is for any final questions & to say good night!
Please sign in using the YouTube chat!
We'd love to know who's out there on the livestream each week. Please enter your full name in the chat so we know you're there. The chat box is in the lower right on most computer screens. Tablets and phones work differently, and you may or may not be able to access the chat with those devices.
Note: If you do not have a YouTube account, you may be prompted to set up a YouTube "channel" before you can chat. If you already have a gmail account, it's one very quick step. If you do not have a Google account, there may be more steps involved. This is optional. If you can't type in the chat, please email Paula to let us know you're there.
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Weekly Health Attestation |
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Each week at sign-in, we will ask you to affirm that you do not answer yes to any of the following four questions.
- Have you tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days?
- Have you been in close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with a person infectious with COVID in the last 10 days?
- Do you have COVID symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal symptoms, new loss of taste or smell, muscle aches or any other signs of illness?
- Have you recently traveled to a very high risk area, CDC-rated level 5? We ask that you have a negative COVID test five days after your last exposure before returning to rehearsal. Thank you.
If you answer "Yes" to any of these, please do not attend rehearsal in person.
Instead, you can tune into the Livestream. See the yellow box below for the Livestream link and instructions.
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Instructions for Virtual Singers & those who will join from home |
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A Mighty Mystic Welcome to our virtual singers!!
We are so glad you are joining us, and look forward to having you there "with us" in the rehearsal hall!
What you will need:
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A computer, laptop, tablet or phone. We recommend whatever device you have that has best speakers. (Laptop is usually better than tablet or phone. Or, plug into external speakers, if you have them).
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A place to sit and sing comfortably. We suggest an upright chair, similar to what you would find at rehearsal. A soft chair or couch is not as conducive to good singing.
How to tune into the Livestream:
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At 7:15 on Tuesday, click the video preview below, and you'll be with us!
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The Livestream link will also be posted on the website, HERE.
When you arrive in the Livestream:
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Type your name into the Chat to let us know you're there and say hello.
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If you don't have a YouTube account, you may be prompted to set up a YouTube channel. This is a simple one-step process, just follow the prompts. If you don't have any Google account, you may be prompted to set one up. These are entirely optional, please don't worry if you decide not to take these steps. The only downside it that you won't be able to participate in the chat.
LIVESTREAM VIDEOS: Miss a Livestream? No problem!
Video Recordings of each rehearsal will be posted on the website, HERE. |
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Join the Livestream:
Click the Video Preview below...
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Next Rehearsal: Tuesday, October 5
Tune in at 7:15 for special content
just for Livestreamers!
Rehearsal begins at 7:30
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SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!
We can't wait to see you and sing together again!!
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