Choir and using a tablet?

[John_Q_Sinner]

Hello,

I’ve recently joined the choir and wanted to know if anyone has used a tablet during their time in choir? I ask because a lot of the tablets these days are capable of fast speeds and loads of memory, and I think it would be handy to have everything at the touch of a button or a swipe of the finger for page turns. During Mass and practice I plan to dim the brightness, mute the sound, and turn off wifi so nothing comes through and no one is distracted.

What do you all think? Has anyone done this? If so what have been the pros and cons?

God Bless.

 

[Iheartcoffee]

I see no problem with it. It’s a tool to help you sing better.

I remember hearing a priest discuss the great help the iPad has been to him because rather than carrying around a ton of books and materials for various religious duties he can just take the ipad with him. He used to keep stacks of various missals, booklets, etc. in his car but now it’s all in one place.

 

[dshix]

Hello,

I’ve recently joined the choir and wanted to know if anyone has used a tablet during their time in choir? I ask because a lot of the tablets these days are capable of fast speeds and loads of memory, and I think it would be handy to have everything at the touch of a button or a swipe of the finger for page turns. During Mass and practice I plan to dim the brightness, mute the sound, and turn off wifi so nothing comes through and no one is distracted.

What do you all think? Has anyone done this? If so what have been the pros and cons?

God Bless.

It’s an interesting idea, and you aren’t the first.

There are a few things that might be a problem.

First and foremost, NOTES. Every choir member, without exception, should be able to make notes in his binder. It’s just necessary. This alone should be a good enough reason not to use a tablet.

Second, tablets do not serve a side, but still important function that binders can: directing sound. When choir members use binders and hold them properly, their voice is projected and directed by the shape of the binder in the direction that they are singing. This is a minor point but should still be taken into consideration.

Third, it could be distracting to the choir director, especially during practices, since the director can never know if you are actually looking at music or something else. (This is only a problem if you have somewhat… naughty members in the choir… )

These are just a few things that came to my mind. The first is the most important.

Hope this helps!

 

[OraLabora]

It’s an interesting idea, and you aren’t the first.

There are a few things that might be a problem.

First and foremost, NOTES. Every choir member, without exception, should be able to make notes in his binder. It’s just necessary. This alone should be a good enough reason not to use a tablet.

Second, tablets do not serve a side, but still important function that binders can: directing sound. When choir members use binders and hold them properly, their voice is projected and directed by the shape of the binder in the direction that they are singing. This is a minor point but should still be taken into consideration.

Third, it could be distracting to the choir director, especially during practices, since the director can never know if you are actually looking at music or something else. (This is only a problem if you have somewhat… naughty members in the choir… )

These are just a few things that came to my mind. The first is the most important.

Hope this helps!

I think the point about the notes is perhaps the most important one. My first choirmaster, who was also a Benedictine monk and choirmaster at the local abbey, always insisted that we have a pencil with us at practice to take notes so that we’d remember when we actually chanted at Mass. If anyone forgot his pencil he’d tear a strip out of him!

 

[drafdog]

The Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra is experimenting with large tablets. They have been specially designed for musicians. The orchestra’s librarian loads all of the music onto the tablet and the performer ‘turns’ pages at a touch. The music stands all have a strange, light blue glow during the concerts. See the link below.
bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20274007
As a musician, I’m not sure I’d like it, but there you are.

Reb Levi

 

[seagal]

As a choir member I think it’s a great idea. My biggest peeve is the rustling of papers in binders when things are supposed to be quiet so that would be eliminated. I’ve seen preachers on tv and even some of the congregation using tablets for their bibles.

 

[oldgraymare2]

The first thing I thought of when I saw this post–before I saw everyone else’s response–was having a pencil with me when I was in the choir.

We were always making notes on our sheet music copies.

I think that the use of a tablet would be an interesting idea.

 

[jryder]

youtube.com/watch?v=CsYQ1s8-GbM&feature=youtu.be

Amazing new Christmas song , talks about good values and forgiveness.

 

[pianistclare]

As a choir member I think it’s a great idea. My biggest peeve is the rustling of papers in binders when things are supposed to be quiet so that would be eliminated. I’ve seen preachers on tv and even some of the congregation using tablets for their bibles.

Paper noise is eliminated if you use page protectors.

 

[John_Q_Sinner]

It’s an interesting idea, and you aren’t the first.

There are a few things that might be a problem.

First and foremost, NOTES. Every choir member, without exception, should be able to make notes in his binder. It’s just necessary. This alone should be a good enough reason not to use a tablet.

Second, tablets do not serve a side, but still important function that binders can: directing sound. When choir members use binders and hold them properly, their voice is projected and directed by the shape of the binder in the direction that they are singing. This is a minor point but should still be taken into consideration.

Third, it could be distracting to the choir director, especially during practices, since the director can never know if you are actually looking at music or something else. (This is only a problem if you have somewhat… naughty members in the choir… )

These are just a few things that came to my mind. The first is the most important.

Hope this helps!

The notes thing was something I was worried about but I’ve been looking around and have found apps that will let me highlight, draw, and write a text on a PDF file which for the most part takes care what I would need. With the binder and projecting sound I though about getting a black portfolio case. This may help with projecting sound as well as for making sure others are not distracted.

Don’t worry our choir is full of angels.

 

[pianistclare]

The notes thing was something I was worried about but I’ve been looking around and have found apps that will let me highlight, draw, and write a text on a PDF file which for the most part takes care what I would need. With the binder and projecting sound I though about getting a black portfolio case. This may help with projecting sound as well as for making sure others are not distracted.

Don’t worry our choir is full of angels.

Nice! Ask the Choir director about providing the correct binders for everyone in the choir. The Church Music & Liturgy budget should cover this, for uniformity.

 

[JReducation]

Of course you can use a table, if the choir master has no objections. The newer ones allow you to make notes on the pages. We use them to pray the LOTH on the road. The one that I use allows you to make notes in the margins of the breviary. It’s just a Kindle Fire.

I should add that we don’t use them in chapel. The situation there is a little different from a choir. While praying the LOTH in chapel is a communal activity. Having a tablet for everyone is not in line with poverty. Having one or two in the house for someone who is going to be traveling by train, bus or plane is not cost prohibitive.

 

[Radmanna]

To build on the OP’s question, if it is okay to use an electronic device in the choir pit, then the next question could be: which device-application would benefit choir members.

Two electronic tools come to mind: (1) The first tool which is common since we’ve had tape recorders for a long time, is for choir members to record the choir when they are rehearsing for Mass performance, and then play back the recording at home as continued rehearsal prior to Mass. (2) The second one, which is pretty cool, is to have a piano keyboard application on your I-Pad or cell phone or widget or tablet.

The choir director may not have the time to provide each choir voice (tenor, alto …) with the starting note, for each song that is about to be sung at Mass. In those situations, a piano keyboard app, then provides two benefits: (2a) By having to physically find the note you’re looking for on the electronically-simulated keyboard . . . in order to peck the virtual piano key of the note you want to hear . . . you teach yourself the pitch-sound per piano key. (2b) Prior to the choir beginning their Sunday songs, it’s a big help, to hear how the pitch of that very first note is to sound, and to hear it several times to instill confidence on how the following notes are to sound . . . in relation to that very first note.

 

[John_Q_Sinner]

To build on the OP’s question, if it is okay to use an electronic device in the choir pit, then the next question could be: which device-application would benefit choir members.

Two electronic tools come to mind: (1) The first tool which is common since we’ve had tape recorders for a long time, is for choir members to record the choir when they are rehearsing for Mass performance, and then play back the recording at home as continued rehearsal prior to Mass. (2) The second one, which is pretty cool, is to have a piano keyboard application on your I-Pad or cell phone or widget or tablet.

The choir director may not have the time to provide each choir voice (tenor, alto …) with the starting note, for each song that is about to be sung at Mass. In those situations, a piano keyboard app, then provides two benefits: (2a) By having to physically find the note you’re looking for on the electronically-simulated keyboard . . . in order to peck the virtual piano key of the note you want to hear . . . you teach yourself the pitch-sound per piano key. (2b) Prior to the choir beginning their Sunday songs, it’s a big help, to hear how the pitch of that very first note is to sound, and to hear it several times to instill confidence on how the following notes are to sound . . . in relation to that very first note.

Bravo! These are some great ideas that I haven’t even thought of. While searching it looks like you can also find pitch pipe apps as well. Also a metronome would be a nice app to help you practice your timing.

Well I’ve been inspired by this thread and have ordered a tablet. I found a great deal on one and look forward to trying it out. I purchased a tablet that is an E-reader. I figured this was the best way to go since I’m looking for a device that specializes in mainly reading. I’m going to be ordering a black portfolio case as well. If I can remember to, I will start another thread and tell you how the tablet works out.

 

[Joannm]

World Library Publications actually makes a tablet cover that is designed to be used in liturgical settings, It has the same design as their liturgical binders that many parishes use. It is a bit expensive however. They come in all the liturgical colors.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

You might also want to consider if electronic copies are allowed by your copyright permissions agreements with the various publishers whose music you will be using on the tablet.

 

[John_Q_Sinner]

A little update. I’ve asked my choir director for permission to use a tablet. He said he is fine with it. He is looking forward to seeing how it will pan out.

World Library Publications actually makes a tablet cover that is designed to be used in liturgical settings, It has the same design as their liturgical binders that many parishes use. It is a bit expensive however. They come in all the liturgical colors.

Thank you very much for the recomendation. I will check these out.

You might also want to consider if electronic copies are allowed by your copyright permissions agreements with the various publishers whose music you will be using on the tablet.

Thank you. I will bring this up with my choir director. I’m not very knowledgeable on the ins and outs of copyright permissions. I know our director is against pirating and that he currently sends the scores to us via e-mail in PDF format. I assume a PDF would be considered an electronic copy?