Choir copes with singer’s masks

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Choir copes with singer’s masks

If there’s one activity that’s particularly ill-suited for a virtual format, it’s college choir. Now, with the return of students to campus, choir is back in a different fashion than previously. 

All practices now take place in Christ Chapel instead of McNamara Rehearsal Hall in order to space more effectively. 

“The acoustics of the chapel help,” Music Department Chairman and Orchestra Director James Holleman said. “It’s the best scenario we could have.” 

Because of the potentially high risk of transmitting the virus while singing, students take breaks halfway through practices to allow for the building’s ionization technology to clean and filter the air. Additionally, all participants are required to wear masks during practices. 

For singers, they can’t just wear any old mask, but “the singer’s mask,” created and sold by the Broadway Relief Project. According to Holleman, the music department found the product through the music community near the beginning of the pandemic. 

Based on its website description, this oversized mask is made of washable cotton muslin and features an “air flow window,” in order “to allow for greater air flow” while singers rehearse and perform. 

“It doesn’t touch my mouth. There’s resonance inside, so I can hear myself better,” Holleman said. “The masks also have a heavy-duty wire in them, so they adjust and come up under your chin better, so you don’t lose them while you’re singing.”

Not only do these masks provide better sound quality, but the increased space allows the singer to better pronounce words. While trying out one of the sample masks, chamber choir member Gabe Kramer noted that he was able to “properly place his consonants” with the new mask.

The music department has ordered these masks in bulk and will soon be available for students in the bookstore. Holleman said he originally intended to make the masks a requirement for college choir, but after receiving feedback from members, they will now be optional. Nevertheless, most studio singing lessons will require them.

The masks also cost less for students at Hillsdale than they do online. While the listed price for one of these masks is $23.50 on Broadway Relief Project’s website, a bulk discount rate and contribution from the Hillsdale Music Department has decreased the bookstore price to $13.50.

So far, students seem to be happy with how things are being handled. Sophomore College Choir member Sebastian Langenbach expressed support for the new masks. 

“I think they are a good idea,” he said. “The only downside is that they make you look like a platypus.”

In order to stay safe, however, Holleman says one preventative measure outweighs all others: the students must commit to being responsible outside of class. 

“If one person gets sick, it affects the whole group,” he said. “We need to be in this together.”