During the pandemic, sure you’ve listened to pre-recorded music, but live bands and orchestras? Lots of musicians have been affected by Covid. Even here at Wayland Middle School, musicians have been affected by the pandemic.
Trumpet player Gavin Lloyd says that the masks are “annoying to put on and switch.” The trumpet players have masks with a hole in the front and a magnetic clip to close them. But in the end, the sound is getting better and it’s not that bad. Sometimes masks get on people’s nerves, but percussionist Jack Sweetland would beg to differ. The percussion group has been affected the least amount by the pandemic except for the fact that they can’t be as close. He also stated that “It [the music] sounds kinda odd.” The masks can make it harder for the sound to come out evenly and from up on the stage it sounds different.
Trombone player Luke McNamara stated that there was some difference but not too much change, although he said that the mouthpiece was harder with masks. Luke did say that from his spot it didn’t sound too bad.
Coming from a couple rows forward, Saxophone player Zoe Haseltine expresses that the percussion is too loud. The setup has been changed and they are not sitting in a normal concert band formation. She also mentioned the band sounding better without the masks, which I would agree with.
A column over, a clarinet player, Elizabeth Gruber says the masks are “a pain” and once again, the percussion is too loud. Some other instruments are farther and aren’t affected by the drums and symbols, but from right up close, boy are those things loud! She also mentioned band director, Rebecca Pagano, who the students refer to as Ms. Pagano, was too hard to see, because of the odd way they need to set up.
Meanwhile Flutist, Adele Rothschild made it clear that the cafeteria seats were “gross” and the sound wasn’t great. WIth the odd setups, masks are just one challenge faced by the 6th grade band.
Everyone knows the challenges the band is facing, but what about orchestra? They may not have mask issues but what about distancing?
Violin player Adele Whitty Made it clear that the orchestra had no problem with the masks, and that Zoom was the problem. Now that we do not use Zoom, the orchestra can practice easier without having to worry about as many problems as the band.
Violin player Kathy Francis told me that Zoom made a big difference in group progress and it was much easier in-person.
Cellist Mason Lange said they had fewer concerts and not as many people could come. He also expresses that Zoom was, once again, incredibly annoying and it was better in-person.
Viola player, Aidan Spelman, said that overall it was “not too bad”, and the instruments sounded okay, but the concerts were different and some sections were louder than others.
Bass player Grady Spence, said that Zoom was bad, especially hearing on Zoom because you could only hear yourself playing. He also said concerts were different from previous years.
Lots of people were affected by masks, but especially the band and the orchestra! Even though they are slightly impacted, they power through and their music sounds great.
