Editor’s
Corner:
MIDI MADNESS LEADS TO HARMONY
I can’t always sit in front of a computer; life beckons
me. I thought I’d found a truly low-tech activity that would enrich my
soul during my leisure hours. I joined an a cappella choir. That means
we sing in four-part harmony without any musical accompaniment.
The first night I showed up for practice, the choirmaster whipped out
a Casio keyboard so that he could give us our notes and play our parts
for us. Well, lots of people have these keyboards, I’m still safe from
computers here. Or at least so I thought.
Next, I signed a list that was passed around that requested my e-mail
address. That week I started to get e-mails from the choir president
about various outings he likes to arrange for the group. Movies together
on New Year’s Eve, dinners, skating parties in Central Park. A very
social group this choir is!
About my third rehearsal the choirmaster said that we all need to
rehearse our parts on our own at home. In the past they distributed
cassette tapes for members to practice with. "But now that so many
of us have e-mail," he announced, "we’re going to send you
your parts in MIDI files via e-mail."
Okay, I said, mail ‘em over. They came. And you know what I’m
doing now? I’m sitting at my computer playing these MIDI files and
practicing my part. Can you imagine it? Anytime I have a free moment at
my desk I can click on my MIDI files and sing along with my computer.
It’s a real bonding experience, one I’ve never had before with my
machine.
When we have our next concert I’ll e-mail you the audio files. Want
to get on my list?
