Reaching out…
Thursday 2nd April 2020
“Not quite as good as being able to meet up and play together on a Thursday night but it is great to be able to see people’s faces, have a chat and a sing along, especially as we have now been in isolation for three weeks.”
Last night was our second Zoom session with nineteen members involved in singing and chatting. Whilst the quality of the music will never be great due to the equipment we are all using and the delays over the web everyone felt it was a worthwhile and fun hour and a quarter. The session is particular valuable for folk who are in isolation due to covid-19 (I refuse to dignify it with a capital letter) as we can see and directly speak to friends.
Our thoughts are particularly with,
Len who is in hospital with the virus although it is hoped he will be home again in next few days.
Jamie’s family where his wife Sarah and two of his children have had symptoms and been quite poorly.
Alan Havery who has been ill - not covid - but sounds as though he is up and about.
I also picked up that Darren has had some good news about tests he has been having… all well
And finally, a big thank you to Pauline’s daughter who is a doctor on the frontline and is separated from her baby who is being cared for by Pauline to allow her to treat the sick.
This last point is one where I think we should make a change to our Zoom session. A lot of people are taking up the applauding the NHS and public servants at 8pm on a Thursday. I would certainly like to show my appreciation as, I am sure would many of you. As such from next week our session will be from 6.30pm to 7.50pm to give folk chance to get to their windows or gardens and applaud.
Advice on equipment
Zoom appears to be able to work on virtually any equipment - phone, tablet PC. However, what has become apparent is that tablets and PCs give a better experience than phones. Also the quality of sound makes a difference so if you can connect your device by wire or Bluetooth to a speaker or headphones it will be better. The only slight problem with headphones is that you block out hearing your own playing (no bad thing some may say!) Anyway use what you can and experiment - it seems to work for everyone in one form or another.
Reaching out
We have found a way of keeping in touch and I would like to explore how we can help even more folk stay in touch.
Initially I would like to like to invite Dam Jammers to link into our sessions - Central Ukes already have their own session on Wednesdays.
In the near future I would like to open up another session to try to keep the Ukes of the North festival idea alive and invite groups from all over the region to take part - possibly finding a system which would enable to hear each other better.
Also Andy has suggested that we make a virtual performance to share with Covent House and other care homes we have played at. For this we need offers from folk to record a couple of songs through their phones / tablets (Darren, John, Alan Havery, Jamie, Pauline and Osher spring to mind… and anyone else). Then could Andy and or Darren put these clips together as a single film which we could then put on DVD). Please let me have ideas / thoughts.
I am also acutely aware of people like Maureen who do not have the technology to join in these events - if you would like to ring her please ask me for her phone number.
Song of the Week
I hope you have had a go at the challenging Song of the Week this week. The next is considerably simpler and will appear on Saturday 4th April - “The Hoochie Coochie Coo”
Keep safe
Have fun
Look after each other
Richard