The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the lives of students in a big way, whether it be the way we learn or the way we organize as a student body.  For the band students, there was an even bigger hurdle to jump; How could they safely play instruments while keeping the risk of infection as low as possible?  The band director Daniel Chesher was already prepared to make the impossible, possible for his students.  With his heart in the music, Chesher ordered every band student adaptive masks and instrument covers, and in no time, he had created a pandemic ready ensemble.

Now in the hands of Roseville band students, masks are being designed to be worn when playing instruments.  The masks are fashioned with holes for mouth pieces to be inserted and are made to be pandemic-friendly being composed with fabric that overlaps and creates a seal when instruments are not in use.  This eliminates the risk of infection between playing the instrument and then putting a mask back on, because this allows students to stay masked up.  Students also have access to instrument covers which stifle the aerosol effect of spit droplets when instruments are played.  These covers slip onto the end of the instrument to prevent exchange of bacteria, all while maintaining the sound produced when playing.

“The performer masks and instrument bell covers help the band students to play wind instruments in the band room. The masks and covers help to reduce the amount of aerosols produced when playing a wind instrument, which lowered the risk of spreading an airborne virus. Previously, we were only able to play outside on days when the weather was fair. We will use the masks and covers in band classes again when it is safe to return to school.”, band director Chesher said.

“The first couple times we used the masks it was really difficult to get the hang of them. It took practice, but once we got it, we were all excited to get back to playing our instruments with each other without having to go outside,”  sophomore Paige Guinn said.

Although the biggest priority this school year has been the overall safety of staff and students, it is always nice to see the passion put into keeping our preforming arts programs alive. Under these uncertain circumstances, Roseville’s band program has done just that while also upholding everyone’s health and safety. Now, it is safe to say band students are looking forward to what is in store in the upcoming trimesters thanks to this awesome revision on what band will look like going forward.