Preaching to the Choir

When I had a break during my work, I would text my neighbor:  Walk?  We live in a high-rise apartment on the beach in Santa Monica, so the refuge of the sea is outside our front door.

But Barbara was never available on Wednesdays because she had Gospel Chorus.  A class given by the Emeritus College, a curriculum of free classes for 'senior' students.  I was always jealous that she was singing her heart out.

Then I found myself with a diminished workload.  After a period of panic, I realized that not having work was the same as being on vacation and I'm a great vacationer! Also, I now had time to sign up for the Gospel Choir! For the last year, the class has consistently been my favorite time of the week.

Question: "Nita, I didn't know you sing?"
Answer:   "I don't and I actually don't have a very good voice, but we didn't have to audition, which is why I can do it."

Question:  "Aren't you Jewish?"
Answer:    "Yes I am, and so are about 12-15 of the 90 members.  Singing from your heart and soul with a love of God transcends religion."

Our instructor, William Bryant is awe inspiring.  He was brought up on Gospel, then sang back-up for Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, was one of The Platters, and has a voice that brings tears to my eyes every week.  He took over the class from his mother several years ago and is truly the real thing.  An angel, a saint, a blessing in our lives.

I don't know how he does it, but he gets us to sound absolutely heavenly.  Four part harmonies, original melodies, moving soloists (there are several extraordinary voices in the class), and our performances at Senior Centers and Nursing Homes are without exception exciting and uplifting for the audience.

And then class was suspended until further notice:  Covid 19.

Like most schools in the country, Emeritus began to offer their classes online and so the choir attempted to do the same.
Unlike most people my age, I have been working on Zoom and Webex for 10 years so getting onto the platform and work with others is a daily occurrence.

"Now remember, we are old people, not known for our technical prowess," I told myself so as to muster up the patience that would be needed.

But it didn't work.  Thirty-five minutes into a 2 hour class:

"Barbara is trying to get in and all she sees is a green circle with a phone inside, what do I tell her to do.?'

"Why can't I hear the other sopranos?"

"How do I turn my video on?"

"How come I only see two people?"

"Could you please mute yourself when you are talking on the phone!"

"What does it mean..........?"

Our saintly teacher thoroughly answered every question, never asked someone to help another off-line, thereby using all of our time, and everyone else of course had to weigh in on what he or she was seeing, doing, not understanding.  What place on each computer you find the chat, mute. Fine, I could deal with that, let's help each other through these times.  But in this group of people, everyone talks and no one listens so sure enough 5 minutes later another person asked the exact question!!!  And William would answer it fully again.  Now 45 minutes into class and we haven't even sung a warm-up note!

Fed up, I was about to slam the computer shut, but instead walked away from my dining room table to my go-to source of comfort......the kitchen (of course).  As I was opening the refrigerator, I looked back to my computer screen.  

I saw a screen full of my classmates.  They had managed to get onto to Zoom.  They were curious, helpful, excited to see each other.  They were committed to the class and passionate about singing.  Many lived alone.  They were asking about each other, sharing how they were shopping, exercising, singing.  Tips on where to buy disinfectant, how to make masks.  Offer to drop off some lemon bars to a birthday 'girl'. 

And they looked vital and so healthy!  

Gospel music is about reaching out from your heart and soul, which is what I have loved about this class.  And even in this remote, clumsy form, it is still serving me.