With the pandemic putting an end to lots of human activities that bring us joy, plenty of people have contracted a case of the blues, but at the University of Virginia some students are hoping to help with a new service based on an old idea – the singing telegram.
Before COVID-19 came to campus, UVA’s president played a role in organizing regular concerts for students, faculty and staff. Now, big gatherings are out, but his assistant – Matt Weber – says the biggest man on campus was unwilling to give up.
“President Jim Ryan has been a big believer that art is a way to build community, to allow people to stay engaged and as a way to sort of soothe the soul,” Weber explains.
Student Veronica Merril agrees and says a lot of souls need soothing.
“Right now we’re going through probably the toughest time in most of our lives, and I think music can help to uplift.”
So the two came up with a plan to offer musical care packages to anyone, anywhere through a website.
“It’s musiccarepackage.com with two Cs, and essentially you can just go on and there’s a form to fill out. You specify if you want a virtual or in-person performance. You tell us who to send it to and what song you’d like, and we will get that to the person you are sending it to within a week.”
In-person performances in Charlottesville – done at a safe distance – cost $30 while a virtual song is ten, proceeds going to the Charlottesville Artists Relief Fund and the student group Merrill heads – University Records. Those who volunteer to perform sing and play guitar, flute, violin and -- in Weber’s case – harmonica.
“Am I a trained musician in a particular school? No!" he admits. "Have I been playing the harmonica with my dad since age 11, mostly Bob Dylan songs, yes, yes! So if a random harmonica request comes in that someone wants, I’m your guy!”
And he’s hoping to offer serenades with another instrument perfectly suited to these awkward and distressing times.
“I am actively recruiting a tuba player, and my whole thinking was a tuba solo sent to you over e-mail is about what people would probably expect and need to get through the next eight months.”
So far, Merril has learned and delivered this old Irish ballad, and filled an order to perform a tune Bruce Springsteen made famous.
“I personally had to fill a request for the president of UVA. I was asked to sing him a rendition of Thunder Road, which is one of his favorite songs," she recalls. " I made it into a parody called Rugby Road, which is one of the main roads at UVA that is close to the house that he lives in here.”
And Weber delivered a fight song for a certain University of Michigan grad, concluding with this wish:
“Hopefully that brought you some joy, Sandy, and yes – I did just learn that, so anyone listening on NPR – forgive me! This is not tiny desk concert-ready!”
Virtual performances are available through Christmas, but the deadline to request a song in person is November 24th when students leave campus for the holidays.
***Editor's Note: The University of Virginia is a financial supporter of Radio IQ.
