One of the challenges faced by choruses and quartets is how to organize coaching at a time that suits both the chorus or quartet and the coach. This is a particular challenge for those of us in the worldwide regions. Since the majority of international faculty and other top coaches are based in the U.S., coaching for groups based outside continental America usually involves costly travel expenses on top of coaching fees.

Of course, this also brings challenges for the coach. It may be possible to coach a chorus in a neighbouring state on their regular rehearsal night with only an overnight stay, and weekend coaching sessions may not require the coach to take any time out from their regular routine. However, if you are coaching a chorus or quartet in New Zealand, Australia, Sweden or the UK, there is by necessity a greater time commitment for the coach.

How can we use this age of technology to our advantage to find smart solutions to the coaching conundrum?

This was the problem faced by ENCORE! quartet from Region 31. ENCORE! (Tenor - Emma Duguid; Lead - Valerie Taylor; Baritone - Emma Riley; Bass - Debbie Chamberlayne) were in Nashville for the international convention. What better opportunity to fit in a little quartet coaching with master international faculty, Betty Clipman? Valerie is an approved candidate judge and had met Betty during her first trial scoring experience in Sweden in 2008. It is a whole lot easier to ask someone to coach you if you have actually met him or her before! Betty was gracious enough to squeeze in a coaching session on the Sunday before convention started, in between her all-day IBOD meeting and an evening reception. Well of course the quartet had a blast, as anyone who has had coaching with Betty will attest, and Betty apparently enjoyed the experience enough to offer to coach the quartet again. But ENCORE! is based in England. How could the quartet continue to benefit from Betty’s experience and evaluate progress without flying her over to the UK — something outside the financial reach of most quartets? How about using Skype?

What is Skype?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Skype is a web-based service that provides free voice and video communication (using technology known as VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol). After downloading the free Skype software and going through a simple registration process you can connect with other Skype users anywhere in the world. The beauty of Skype is that you both see and hear the person you are contacting using a video connection, and most laptops these days come equipped with built in cameras and microphones. Web-based communications (Skype to Skype) are totally free. There are charges if you want to use Skype to contact a cell phone or landline, but this is not something you would need to do to use Skype for coaching.

Valerie’s husband, David, soon had Betty equipped with the Skype software. The boundless possibilities of long distance coaching were opened up!

Back in the UK, ENCORE!’s first Skype coaching session with Betty worked like a dream. We were able to communicate effectively in both directions. Our worries about a time lag were unfounded and Betty was able to work on dynamics, tuning and facial expression. Yes, there was a slight delay, but ultimately Betty was able to hear us clearly and we were able to receive her coaching wisdom. Although the sound quality was obviously not quite the same as a live performance, Betty was still able to offer the quartet advice and encouragement. It was a resounding success!

Skype allows choruses and quartets to find time with a coach in a way that is affordable and convenient for both.

So what are the pros?

• For quartets and choruses outside Canada and the US, it can be difficult to gain access to many of the top International Faculty and coaches. Their weekends are booked up years in advance and the added travel costs are also an issue. Quartets in particular often have to try and book valuable time with coaches on the back of coaching sessions being arranged by choruses in the area. Skype allows choruses and quartets to find time with a coach in a way that is affordable and convenient for both.
• It is an excellent way for quartets and choruses to check progress after an initial face-to-face coaching session.
• It is less time-consuming for the coach who has the luxury of coaching from home at a time that suits both parties. ENCORE!’s coaching with Betty took place at 3 p.m. US time and 9 p.m. UK time, during ENCORE!’s normal rehearsal evening.
• It could relieve the financial burden for quartets and choruses who find it hard to source funds to pay for top coaches to come to them.
• The coach can give instant feedback and, as the coaching is so flexible, quartets may benefit from regular short coaching sessions rather than one face-to-face coaching session lasting three or more hours.

And what are the cons?

• It is not a substitute for face-to-face coaching and works best once you have had an initial face-to-face coaching session.
• Some dynamics and fine tuning can be lost. • Images can become distorted (pixilated), which is not ideal if work needs to be done on choreography or facial expressions.
• Some people may find the slight delay disconcerting. • While perfect for quartets, choruses will have to be disciplined so that they know when the coach is asking them to stop singing!

And finally, two technical tips — it is essential to have an up-to-date computer or laptop with a good microphone and it is recommended that your coach has good quality speakers. A high speed Internet connection is also vital.

ENCORE! quartet encourages you, if you haven’t already done so, to try coaching via Skype — it really is quite a revelation!

Find out more about Skype at www.skype.com.