COVID-19 directs bands’ changes

Warm spotlights illuminate dozens of CSC Community Band members and glint off their smooth, metallic instruments. With six feet between them in the Memorial Hall Auditorium, the musicians don face masks. Some have to slide their mask down their neck so that they can play, and others opt to cram them into pockets. 

About half and hour passes and all the musicians stop playing, redress their masks, and leave the auditorium. They have to leave to allow the H-VAC system to filter fresh air into the large room. This is one of the  added procedures COVID-19 has prompted from CSC band programs.

The Community and Jazz Bands, Wind Symphony, and several solo musicians prep for an upcoming year of recitals, albeit with updated rules and procedures to adhere to health guidelines. 

Along with the standard practices of mask-wearing and social distancing, band members clear the stage for 15 minutes every half hour when practicing to allow the H-VAC system to filter in fresh air.

Band members also place special covers over their breath-powered instruments to reduce the amount of air releasing into the room.

Director of Band and Brass Studies Dr. John Wojcik said that the additional band protocals came from studies that were sponsored by many music associations across the nation.

Wojcik is a member of one of these groups, the College Band Director’s National Association (CBDNA).

“Over the summer, we had at least three zoom sessions with the CBDNA,” Wojcik said, “with probably 200 to 300 band directors in those sessions. We went over these studies very carefully.”

According to Wojcik, these studies were conducted by aerosol scientists from several credible universities.

Wojcik was concerned this summer that band enrollment would dwindle because pandemic concerns.

“It’d be understandable for community members and students to take a semester off,” he said. “I’ve seen no loss of numbers whatsoever, though. I think what that shows is we all have this need for face-to-face interaction.”

Wojcik said that only one musician, an individual with elderly family,  didn’t come back to this semester due to COVID-19 concerns. 

Wojcik said that only one major concert is cancelled this year.

“Normally we come back after Thanksgiving and we have a holiday concert where several of our ensembles are featured, and unfortunately that is cancelled because of the shortened semester.”

Sophomore Levi Otten of Pilger, a member of the Community Band, said the adjustments haven’t been too difficult to adjust to, but taking breaks during practices was a bit inconvenient.

“I kind of like to get it done in one shot,” he chuckled.

Wojcik explained that even if classes switched to an online format, virtual concerts could take place.

“(Musicians) would send me a copy of their part and I would put all of the parts together,” he said. “But that’s an extremely time-consuming effort.”