Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Keeping in time with CDC safety guidelines, Justyne Klocke is one of many students who are perfecting the art of making music while masked.
In a normal year, band and choir students would be putting the final touches on their holiday program. As with all things 2020, we can expect some deviation from the norm.
Due in part to the cautious restart at New Rockford Sheyenne school this fall, music students didn't begin practicing until October.
Music Program Director Annette Hovey says that it took some time and creative thinking in order to implement the necessary protocols required to slow the spread of COVID-19. "There are specialized parts available to modify instruments, but they are expensive," Hovey says.
Hovey and her students opted for ingenuity. "This has been a new challenge for them," says Hovey, "but we are slowing working on how to combat breathing and sound issues while wearing a mask."
In addition to spacing out and regularly sanitizing seats, students are doing everything they can to eliminate the escape of air particles from their instruments. Other than flutists, all instrumentalists wear a disposable mask with a hole cut in for their mouthpiece. Choir students wear masks while singing.
Flutes use a second bandana to catch the air escaping at the mouthpiece.
Woodwinds and brass instrumentalists also cover the body of their instrument with a bandana so any particles of air coming from the sound holes do not escape. All bells are covered with two layers of fabric.
Hovey says that none of the students completely enjoy making music with the protocols in place, but are keeping in mind that this is temporary.
Since music started back up at the end of October, all groups have been working on music for a Christmas concert. This includes the high school choir and band, junior high choir and band, for their mouthpiece. Choir students wear masks while singing.
Flutes use a second bandana to catch the air escaping at the mouthpiece.
Woodwinds and brass instrumentalists also cover the body of their instrument with a bandana so any particles of air coming from the sound holes do not escape. All bells are covered with two layers of fabric.
Hovey says that none of the students completely enjoy making music with the protocols in place, but are keeping in mind that this is temporary.
Since music started back up at the end of October, all groups have been working on music for a Christmas concert. This includes the high school choir and band, junior high choir and band, and the fifth and sixth-grade bands.
Hovey says that while she had hoped to have a live Christmas concert, the Governor's mask mandate just does not allow for it.
In an effort to still bring holiday cheer to the community, Hovey and her students have come up with an alternative option for a concert.
Band and choir students began video recording all of their concert selections last week.
Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts director Elliott Schwab agreed to record and edit the videos, which are recorded at the First Lutheran Church.
Once completed, the concert video will be posted on the NR-S YouTube page. Stay tuned for updates.
Music students will also be working in small ensembles to video record Christmas Carols, which will be shared with residents of the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd.
Looking ahead, Hovey says she will continue to plan for a "normal" spring schedule with festivals and concerts.
"We will be working with the rest of our region schools to plan out festivals that work within the guidelines set forth by NDHSAA and our school officials," she adds.
Elementary students grade K-5 will are also making preparations. On Monday, Decemeber 21, students will perform a holiday concert to be live streamed on the school's Facebook page at 2 p.m.
