Music and the Mask

In preparation for their upcoming performances, Oct. 9, Color Guard and Marching band practiced outside the school and adjusted to new COVID-19 guidelines.

by Avalon Nielsen, Reporter
October 7, 2020

Outside under the warm sun, musical harmonies fill the open air from a bright white tent. Students congregate to sing a cappella, blow into brass, and wave flags in preparation for the Color Guard and Marching Band concert Friday Oct. 9 at 7pm. The concerts will all be live-streamed. The link will be posted Friday morning to the Rock Canyon website.

Julia McDonald ‘22 practices for Color Guard Sept. 16 to perfect her routine but has to social distance and wear a face mask. It can take a long time to get used to the masks, and many students find it hard to practice with them. “Playing with them and exercising while we’re wearing them is really weird and hard,” McDonald said.
Many new changes are occurring due to “COVID-19;” This white DIA-looking tent is set up at schools throughout Douglas County so that music students can perform without their masks on. Sept. 15 It is a large and accessible option for students and teachers alike.
Choir students use the tent as a practice space during second period Sept. 22 so that they don’t have to worry about social distancing within the confines of the school. They made sure to be separated and at a safe distance (six feet).
Percussion students play their instruments in the tent while maintaining social distancing Sept. 15. “It’s what it takes to make us safe, even though it’s really hard to build the community,” Cassidy Dobler ‘22 said. Dobler plays the clarinet.
Mr. Fruits takes students’ temperatures before percussion practice Sept. 15 in the staff parking lot. Fruits took the temperatures and recorded any symptoms of the virus from all of the percussion students to ensure all students’ safety.