New hobby to replace choir? *sobs*

August 5, 2020 1:04 PM

I need a new hobby come September

Choir is not going to be back on this September and I'm going to need a new hobby to fill that void. It should :

- Involve a group activity or teamwork (ie: meetings that can take place over zoom)
- Involve some intensive individual work at home throughout the week
- Would be great if it involves creative expression, or involves music ie: a music study group
- If there is some kind of seasonal goal at the end (ie: to replace the performances) that would be ideal. Like a big creative group project etc?
- Be accessible online in Canada

Things I'm interested in: book clubs, knitting, classical music, art history, plants, cooking, cocktails, feminism/women/new moon clubs, business management & marketing. Things i'm not really interested in: online courses (I want social contact), video games, coding.

Please help me not go out of my mind with depression and isolation come September!

posted by winterportage to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (9 answers total)

I know from caroling many years ago every December with a bunch of friends how very void-filling and emotionally soothing singing with other people is. I hope your choir will be back soon! Meanwhile, can you join a virtual choir...?

https://www.timeout.com/news/you-can-now-sing-along-with-strangers-in-these-virtual-choirs-032420

https://blog.chorusconnection.com/virtual-choirs-in-2020
posted by Don Pepino at 1:42 PM on August 5, 2020 [4 favorites]

What about a writing group?

(I'm also completely unable to avoid suggesting bicycling whenever someone wants a new passtime because of my Zeal of the Converted problem, despite the fact that it doesn't tick all your boxes. But! Still! I love it and can't stop sharing.)

But yes, a fiction / prose / poetry workshop group might be fun, and could tick many of your boxes (though not the music part, I don't guess).
posted by uberchet at 2:05 PM on August 5, 2020

What Uberchet said about bicycling. It is such a fantastic group activity that can also be done solo. Downsides: weather dependent, expensive to get started.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 3:34 PM on August 5, 2020

What about doing a MeFi book group? I'd be in.
posted by theora55 at 4:17 PM on August 5, 2020 [1 favorite]

I don't have an answer but just wanted to say that I feel you so hard. I had a video chat with some members of my community chorus just yesterday and also yesterday the director of my classical group proposed a small, distanced women's ensemble for the fall, to try out some choral new music with a "spatial" quality. I miss it so much and will be following answers here closely.

I'd also be up for a book group. Or maybe we can invent a group that would view video and discuss choral repertoire together?
posted by rekrap at 4:41 PM on August 5, 2020 [2 favorites]

And Choir!Choir!Choir! is good.
posted by theora55 at 5:33 PM on August 5, 2020

How about voice lessons, or piano lessons if you have a keyboard? Bonus: supports out of work private music teacher(s).

(I feel you, my music groups have cancelled all meetings/concerts through January. I'm taking a practice hiatus... )
posted by Red Desk at 10:30 PM on August 5, 2020

What about tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons? Level of creative expression depends drastically on the game and the group, but can be basically collaborative storytelling/improv. You can definitely get into research and character development in between sessions.
posted by zeptoweasel at 9:16 AM on August 6, 2020

Whaaaat, did you see this?!? https://www.metafilter.com/189279/Singing-together-separately

I thought of you instantly. Maybe something like it exists where you are?
posted by Don Pepino at 1:36 PM on November 2, 2020