Music department marches through the pandemic
Sustaining the district’s music and performing arts programs provides a particular challenge as they include projected voices and wind instruments, not to mention packed audiences.
Music Teacher Ms. Alyssa Williams has 12 students during Band this semester. She said the band class has two alternative rooms to help with social distancing, one being in the auditorium and the other being outside.
When playing their instruments, the students have to use disposable split masks that they have made these their noses covered but still allow them to put their mouths on the instruments, she added.
According to the Milton Area School District’s Health and Safety Plan, the Pennsylvania Department of Education developed Instruments Cleaning Protocols for sharing instruments to help keep students safe.
Ms. Williams also said she keeps the students social distanced by setting up the chairs spaced out before the students get to the class.
Ms. Williams said the band students get a ten-minute mask break during the middle of class. “We just stand on the front lawn,” she added.
According to Ms. Williams, most of the band events were cancelled. They have been allowed to play at four football games. According to Music Teacher Mr. Eric Bergmueller, on Oct. 30 the band will be playing “Nightmare Before Christmas” in the parking lot for the pregame.
The biggest con of having the Covid-19 rules in band class is the limitation of music making, Ms. Williams said. “The difference between the restrictions of band and choir are more or less the same,” she added.
Mr. Bergmueller has 28 students in Choir this semester. Mr. Bergmueller said they have two alternate areas where they either have to sing with their masks on in the auditorium or outside spaced out without masks.
In the auditorium the chairs are measured by tape, he added. He said the students get a ten-minute mask break in the middle of the block.
Mr. Bergmueller added this year the District Choir festival will be virtual, and instead of Region choir, eligible singers will be going from District to States.
Mr. Bergmueller said his least favorite part of the COVID-19 rules is not being able to see the kids’ faces and that it is hard to hear the quiet students.
He also added that singing in a mask is very uncomfortable, and it is hard for him to be his sarcastic self. He is not able to show that he is joking like he always does with the students, he explained.
He also said he can’t help the guitar students by moving their fingers for them to get them on the right strings, he said. His advice for the COVID-19 rules is that “we all need a little patience,” he added.
A fall play and spring musical are planned, according to Drama Club Advisor Mr. Stephen Aguirre, who is also ESL Aide/Translator at the high school.
“For the Fall, we are doing a virtual and abridged version of Romeo and Juliet,” he said. It will be filmed at the school after hours, and he said he plans to have it completed before Christmas break.
Mr. Aguirre said that the musical he has planned is The Addams Family, which had been under way when the pandemic halted the production. “We will re-audition roles vacated by members of the class 2020. We are hoping to do the show in April,” he added.
