Over the border here in Yorkshire the arts groups I belong to have been talking of ways to meet again. Zoom has been a good stop gap in keeping us in touch but it’s not the same as singing together or playing together or writing together or singing and playing together.
My Out of the Box choir has been discussing the possibility of a flash mob choir in a local park, socially distanced of course. The big stumbling block being that singing seems to be the worst thing you can do in public at the moment. We did wonder if we met in groups of six, sopranos, altos, tenors, basses, and hummed our way through a few numbers. We decided it wasn’t within the rules as far as we could tell, wasn’t fair on us and wasn’t fair on the local community if a mob suddenly turned up, however well intentioned the get together was. So we abandoned the idea earlier this week, in advance of Government restrictions on Calderdale, so we can perhaps be pleased we were in advance of the scientists with our thinking.
Similarly, my Pigeon Pluckers Ukulele Group were hoping to forgo Zoom for a week and meet in a park, singing once again being the stumbling block. We thought we might be able to meet in a private garden, all properly socially distanced. Perhaps we could play instrumental numbers without the need to sing? Then our thoughts were dashed as the new, tighter restrictions came in. That plan too went out the window.
I would hope that everyone wants to do all they can to beat this virus, so a few more weeks, months, hopefully not years, without returning to something nearing normality must be endured with patience. I for one would never want to endanger any community by my actions as part of a group.
What is a positive is that our arts groups are managing to hang on in there, we are looking for creative ways to continue to meet in the current situation and as such the bonds between us all are stronger.
RAY STEARN
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