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News > Coronavirus News > St Swithun's Big Sing!

St Swithun's Big Sing!

Are you ready to take part in the first ever St Swithun's Big Sing?!
11 Jun 2020
Coronavirus News
Photo by MrLebies--2054284
Photo by MrLebies--2054284

Message from Mrs YiRu Hall, Director of Music

Are you ready to take part in the first ever St Swithun’s Big Sing?!
Over the past two months I am delighted that in spite of the lockdown, music at St Swithun’s has been able to continue via individual remote lessons, virtual choir performances,  a virtual concert and of course singing hymns in our virtual assemblies!  I thought it would be lovely for the whole school community to come together to make a recording of us singing a hymn, in order to do something together whilst being apart.  I have chosen the well-known hymn “Dear Lord and Father” so that as many members of the school community both past and present can participate and you will find at the bottom of this message a copy of the music and the accompaniment for you to listen to whilst singing and recording your part. The voices will all be edited together so don’t worry about singing loudly or making the odd slip - I am looking for enthusiasm above all else.
I hope you are all up to this challenge! Here are some further details to help you:
Things you'll need:
1. Music score and backing track (see bottom of this message)
2. Two devices (e.g. laptop to play the backing track and a phone to record on)
3. Earphones (you need to be able to hear the backing track when you're recording, but it must be inaudible on the recording you send to me) 
4. A quiet space in which you won't be disturbed (it doesn't matter if there's the odd 'off-stage' noise when you're recording though)
Step 1
Download the music score and backing track to your computer (see bottom of this message) and plug your earphones into the computer.
Step 2
Listen to the backing track through your earphones and get used to singing along by practising your part. 
The hymn begins with a short organ introduction to set the speed (just as it would in a cathedral service) and there's a slight slow down at the end of each final verse. Take care with the rhythm of the first few words ( the “Lord” should be slightly longer than the “and” which follows it)
Step 3
When you're ready to record, make sure that you press play on the backing track and record on your phone at exactly the same time. 
Wait for the organ introduction or count in and then start to sing.
NB have the backing track loud enough so that you can still hear it whilst singing at normal volume. This will ensure that voice and accompaniment remain together.  If you make a small slip, then it's fine to keep going as long as it hasn't stopped you.  For more serious mistakes, you'll need to start again.
Step 4
When you're happy with your recording, please email Mrs Parshall ( parshallj@stswithuns.com ) as an MP3 file.  Please state your connection with St Swithun's, i.e. Old Girl, former staff.
The deadline is 4.20pm on Monday June 22nd. This will allow Mrs Parshall time to edit all your contributions together, ready for the assembly the following week. This means you will have just over week to record yourself.  It looks complicated when it's all written down, but it's actually quite straightforward and you'll get the hang of it very quickly.  
I can’t wait to hear all our voices singing joyfully together.
Thank you all so much and Happy Recording! 
Music score 
Backing track


 

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