Virtual Choir: To Sing Together, Individually

Indra Kusuma Wardani

doi:10.24821/ijcas.v9i2.8226

Virtual Choir: To Sing Together, Individually

Indra Kusuma Wardani

Abstract

The pandemic has forced choir practitioners and enthusiasts to shift from in-person rehearsal and performance to online and virtual choir performance. The virtual choir is seen as an alternative to choir activity during the pandemic. However, it also generates another concern related to its inclination to reduce the role of the conductor, singers, and social interaction in achieving musical targets and enhance the so-called social skills, empathy. The study employs two conductors in an in-depth interview to understand the condition and dynamics of online rehearsal and virtual choir performance. The exploration of the data emphasized three important themes: (1) the role of virtual choir to choir continuity, (2) the impact of virtual choir technology in reducing individuals’ role, and (3) the absence of in-person social interaction in empathy enhancement.

Paduan Suara Virtual: Bernyanyi bersama, seorang diri

Abstrak

Pandemi memaksa praktisi dan penggemar paduan suara untuk beralih dari latihan dan penampilan live menjadi skema latihan online dan pertunjukan virtual. Paduan suara virtual dipandang sebagai alternatif untuk tetap menjalankan aktivitas paduan suara di kala pandemi. Namun, paduan suara virtual juga memunculkan keprihatikan dan perhatian khusus terkait kecenderungan untuk mereduksi peran konduktor, penyanyi, dan interaksi sosial dalam mencapai target musikal dan juga peningkatan keterampilan sosial, salah satunya empati. Penelitian ini berupa wawancara terfokus pada dua konduktor paduan suara yang bertujuan untuk menggali pemahaman terkait kondisi dan dinamika latihan daring dan pertunjukan paduan suara virtual. Hasil ekspolasi data dan analisis menunjukkan tiga tema penting yakni (1) peran paduan suara virtual untuk keberlanjutan aktivitas paduan suara, (2) dampak teknologi yang digunakan dalam paduan suara virtual terhadap reduksi peran humanis, dan (3) ketiadaan interaksi interpersonal secara langsung dan dampaknya terhadap peningkatan empati.

Keywords

choir, virtual choir, empathy | paduan suara, paduan suara virtual, empati

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24821/ijcas.v9i2.8226