The RVCC has adapted and will continue to adapt to the ever-changing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Spring and Fall of 2020, the RVCC adapted by having virtual and outdoors rehearsals, and creating virtual concerts on Youtube. We are very proud of our singers keeping the music alive in their hearts, sharing their beautiful singing, and being a shining light of hope and inspiration for the whole world to see.

In this page below, it details the RVCC’s Fall 2020 operating plan.

Going forward to the Spring 2021 semester, the RVCC is planning on having more outdoor rehearsals and less virtual rehearsals. Although we will continue to assess the situation, make necessary changes to keep safety in mind, and will be updating this page for the Spring 2021 semester.

Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir

Fall 2020 Covid-19 Operating Plan

Hello to the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir!

Let’s get ready to SING!  The Covid-19 Fall plan for the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir is in motion.  We are looking forward to a unique, engaging, and new year of singing together!

As our choir organization plans for the upcoming year, please know that safety is our number one priority. As you may or may not know, the air flow required for singing puts singing in a “super-spreader” category for the coronavirus. The primary consideration this year will be the safety of our singers, volunteers, and staff.

Within the guidelines for safety, our next highest priority is to continue our choral program tradition with the same values and objectives we have operated under for over 3o years - to meet musical goals of excellence and to also provide a sense of community for our choristers. 

Children who love to sing have a voice to be heard and nurtured, and we will be working creatively to help bring out the very best in our young singers in this unique time. Our goal is to provide an encouraging and uplifting music program that can nurture friendships and continue to develop personal growth through music.

The plans for the Fall 2020 season of the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir are outlined below. These plans have been developed along with extensive research, continuing consultation with medical professionals, and current social distancing protocols. The top priorities are the responsibility to provide a safe environment while meeting musical goals of excellence and providing a place of community, connection, and friendships. As always, we will be continually re-evaluating as the pandemic situation may change. We feel the following plans are as realistic and safe as possible as we plan ahead for this semester. However, please keep in mind these plans may be subject to change or modification.

How will the RVCC Rehearse?

• The rehearsal schedule will be a combination of Video/Zoom rehearsals on Mondays and outdoor in-person rehearsals that will be held on alternating Saturday afternoons.

• We will have a total of 17 rehearsals – 12 Video/Zoom rehearsals + 5 outdoor, in-person rehearsals.

• The RVCC Fall Semester will run from Mid-August through Mid-November.

Schedule for Video/ZOOM Rehearsals on Mondays:

A/B Choir - 4:00-4:30

B+ Choir - 5:00-5:30

C Choir Sopranos - 6:00-6:45

C Choir Altos - 7:00-7:45

Schedule for Outdoor Saturday Rehearsals: (TBA)

Each choir will be divided into smaller groups of approx. 25 choristers at one time. Specific small group schedules will be announced once all choristers have registered. Saturday rehearsals will be in the afternoons every other Saturday (5 total). Your specific 30 minute rehearsal time will most likely be sometime between 1:00 – 5:00pm.

How will you make sure the outdoor rehearsals are safe?

• Outdoor rehearsals will be in groups of approx. 25 choristers

• Choristers will stand 8-10 feet apart

• Choristers will have their temperature checked using a touchless scan thermometer when they check in for rehearsal

• All choristers, staff, volunteers, and family members present at rehearsals will be required to wear a mask*. 

*Please note - If you or your child is unable to wear a mask for the duration of the 30 minute outdoor rehearsal due to a medical condition or any reason, you can contact Ms. Davidson. All choristers will be required to wear a mask to attend rehearsal. The only exception to this will be special circumstances pre-approved by Ms. Davidson where alternative safety measures can be taken (ex. extra distance apart, placement in front row, wearing a face shield).

• Outdoor rehearsal length is 30 minutes to limit time of contact

• Outdoor in-person rehearsals will be spaced 2 weeks apart from each other to prevent any possible outbreak from additional spreading

• Any chorister who is experiencing symptoms, has a family member experiencing symptoms, has traveled to any “hot-spot” areas recently, or who has been in contact with anyone exposed to Covid-19 will be asked to remain at home.

• All outdoor rehearsals will be live-streamed so those unable to attend in-person can watch and participate from home.

What is the location of the outdoor rehearsals?

• We will be rehearsing in a large grassy area with clearly marked spots for students to stand to keep their social distance.

• Our regular choir home is Bethel Baptist Church in Salem, VA. For our outdoor rehearsals, we plan to rehearse right down the road at the American Legion Outdoor Pavilion - 710 Apperson Dr, Salem, VA 24153.

Will there be a performance?

• Each outdoor rehearsal group of approximately 25 choristers will be singing for their families at an outdoor Parent Recital (planned for October 24) in formal costume.  Social distancing and masks will be required.

• The RVCC 34th annual Holiday Concert, “Songs of the Season” will be a Virtual Concert, with a YouTube release date of December 13. 

What devices/technology are needed to participate in virtual rehearsals?

1. Access to standard device for watching and participating in online video rehearsals - this can be a computer, laptop, Chromebook, tablet, iPad, or mobile phone.

2. Internet access.

3. Headphones or earbuds.

4. A second additional device (mobile phone) will be needed on your one audio recording day. (You will need 2 separate devices at the same time on this one day – ex. a laptop AND mobile phone, OR 2 different mobile phones.)

What is the plan for social interaction for the choristers?

• Once a month in September and October we will have a Monday Zoom “rehearsal” dedicated to games and fun for all choir groups!

• The Saturday rehearsals will be a chance for our choristers to see one another and have some fun interaction!

• The Fall Retreat Committee will be sending home a special treat and craft/game with each chorister after one of our Saturday rehearsals for some extra fun!

• We will be creating a private Facebook Group for all 2020-2021 RVCC Choir Members. This is place where you can find handouts, information, calendar dates, video links, and also will give us on online community for choristers/families to post and chat online in a safe private group.

Why can't we have weekly socially distanced rehearsals indoors?

According to the latest research, the Covid-19 virus spreads from person to person through droplets in the air.  These droplets come from the lungs when a person coughs or sneezes.  They also come from the mouth and nose when a person talks in a loud voice and especially when a person sings.  These droplets can immediately land in the nose or mouth of any person 6 feet away, and they also float in the air and can easily be inhaled much farther away as well, especially indoors.  The risk of spreading the virus outdoors is much lower because air movement helps to carry the droplets away and keeps them from lingering and being concentrated.

 Masks decrease (but do not eliminate) the droplets that a person exhales towards others.  They do NOT limit the amount that a person inhales themselves.  By combining masks for all AND standing 8-10 feet apart AND singing outdoors, we are decreasing the risk of a large number of droplets from an asymptomatic infected chorister (with no symptoms) being inhaled by another chorister.  This is the best way to keep everyone as safe as possible while still experiencing the joy of singing together.

Will there be music folders for the choristers?

• Yes!  RVCC music and warm-up folders will be handed out on August 15 at an outdoor location. 

• Practice CD’s will be provided as a digital download.

Will you be having the RVCC Little Singers Class?

• Yes! Find out all about the Little Singers Class plans here!

Virtual Holiday Concert “Songs of the Season”

In addition to the outdoor parent recital performance planned for our choristers, the RVCC 34th annual Holiday Concert, “Songs of the Season” will be produced as a Virtual Concert, with a YouTube release date of December 13, 2020. To create the virtual concert, each choir will record 2-3 songs. Video and audio recordings are taken separately and each choristers tracks are edited together.  We will walk you through all the steps in clear detail at the time of recording!

• ABB+ Virtual Concert ZOOM Video Recording Day – Sunday, November 8th (end of semester)

• C Choir Virtual Concert ZOOM Video Recording Day – Sunday, November 15th (end of semester)

• Virtual Holiday Concert LIVE YouTube release date – December 13th, 2020

A note about Voice Recording for the Virtual Concert:

Audio recordings:  We heard from several singers and parents about the anxiety our choristers felt when asked to record their singing on their own for concert songs and send it in.  We have a new idea that we think will help our choristers to feel more comfortable and will give them more of the “choir feel” while recording their voice.  Voice recordings will be recorded during a live Zoom chat as a group.  Like before, choristers will need 2 devices; 1 for listening and watching with headphones/earbuds on, and a second device to record the voice.  Everyone will be muted on the Zoom call so we can’t hear each other live, but choristers can record their own voice at the same time, “All for one and one for All!” Voices will be recorded individually to send in, but we will be recording simultaneously under my live leadership to help our choristers feel more comfortable.   We are hoping that this plan for recording individual tracks will cut down on the stress level for our choristers.

Video recordings: Just like for the spring concert, the video will be recorded on a Zoom call with choristers dressed in their formal choir costume.

C Choir Only for the Virtual Concert: 

The Concert Choir, will additionally have an extra opportunity for a live recording experience in small groups of 25. We plan for each small group of the C Choir to record one song in-person with a video recording in an outside open field to pair with the sound.  We’ll be using a drone to capture some beautiful video footage for a very special addition to our Holiday Virtual Concert!

Other Information about the 2020-2021 RVCC Year:

Tuition:

Like all arts organizations, the RVCC is working very hard to remain strong both musically and financially during this time of cancelled concerts, decreased donations, and lower numbers of new choristers able to join. Additionally, the alternate planning and implementation of the Covid-19 operating plan for the RVCC requires an increased workload for our directors and and comes with a whole new set of expenses to operate in this different form. The RVCC is tuition and community sponsored.  We rely on both tuition and donations to keep our organization running strong. 

After much consideration, consulting with 5 other nearby Children’s Choirs, and talking with current choir families, we have decided to keep the standard tuition price the same as previous choir years. This is the best way to allow our choir to continue operating and help ensure that the RVCC will be around for years to come.

However, we do understand that many choristers and their families have experienced financial strain due to the pandemic and current situations this year. We also know this year will look different and won't be exactly the same as what we are all used to in the RVCC. For these reasons, we are offering an optional discounted tuition for choir families who feel they may need it. This discounted tuition rate of $100 off the standard tuition prices will be available for all our current RVCC members and new members who auditioned this May, as needed. You can fill out the discounted tuition inquiry form online with the link below and Ms. Davidson will be in contact with you about the discounted tuition coupon code. (You must be registered for the 2020-2021 choir year before submitting your discounted tuition request.)

Requests for discounted tuition are due by August 1st. Please note, within the RVCC operating budget we have a limited number of discounted tuition coupons available and we are not able to offer the discounted tuition for every family. If you ARE able to pay the full regular tuition rate it will truly help to keep the choir program operating and also provide help for families who are unable to pay the full amount.

Discounted Tuition Inquiry Form – childrenschoir.com/discounted-tuition-inquiry-form

If your family needs more than a $100 discount towards tuition, please fill out a scholarship application. You can apply for a choir tuition scholarship by printing and filling out the form found on our website here -  childrenschoir.com/forms. Scholarship applications are due by July 24th, 2020.

School Tour and Fall Retreat: 

Due to the many precautions and restrictions during this time, the Fall Retreat and School Tour are cancelled for this year.

Spring Semester: 

The Spring semester will be a work in progress as time goes on. It is difficult to plan too much ahead as so many things remain unknown about 2021. Hopefully, conditions may improve, and we will slowly be able to have more and more in-person rehearsals. The Spring semester would most likely run from February – May (instead of January – April) to allow for better weather for more outdoor rehearsals towards the Spring. For now, we can plan on a Spring semester that looks similar to the Fall semester, but can hope for more in-person rehearsals and performances in the future. We are hoping to be able to have our 34th Annual Spring Concert in May 2021 at a large outdoor concert venue, if possible.