By: Jalen Bullock and Allissa Lozano
The pandemic has affected mostly every activity possible, this includes the work of the Ranger Marching Band. This year students anticipated a year full of music, activities, traveling and of course marching, but that has all sadly been cancelled. The Ranger Marching Band now takes all its excitement to the world wide web.
The Western Band Association (WBA) has canceled the seasons of in person marching band, their statement on their website states, “After countless hours of scenario planning, we have determined that at this time we cannot safely host any of our regularly scheduled events this season.”
This, of course, would leave students worried about the upcoming marching season.
Band Director Jordan Ray say that “The biggest issue is keeping as many kids in band as possible and see how we can help them over this digital platform.
Being online creates an issue, as he is a band teacher and is unable to hear the students play their instruments. Mr Ray says that “Even if we have to have smaller groups, I think kids would much rather have smaller in person groups than playing by themselves.”
“Regardless if whether it is a band kid, choir kid, drama kid, or a dance kid I just encourage all of our students to stay involved.” -Ray
Dolan Morris, ‘23, a returning tuba played says that, “I was very irritated…the marching band was so much fun and the fact that I couldn’t do it this year was irritating.”
Prior to COVID-19 the 2019-2020 the Ranger Marching Band was able to take trips all around the Central Valley and even got to take a 3 day trip to Six Flags.
2020 Drum Major Jacquelin Marquez ‘21 explains, “I was looking forward to the excitement of my last practice, concert, and eventually my last run.” As this is Marquez’s Senior year she doesn’t get to experience the excitement of having a last real in person experience in band.
“It’s super sad knowing I’ve probably already performed my last performance and didn’t know it.” – Marquez
Marquez explains how the screen performance will work, “We are taking videos of ourselves playing that will be turned into digital performances for marching band and dance force.”
Submitting videos is nothing new for the band as in the previous year students have been submitting videos of “playing tests” via google classroom. Marquez feels that with that practice, “We got really lucky with the experience we had.”
Ranger Band will be working hard to get out a performance that can be watched by everyone. They will be creating a YouTube Channel where their final project will be shown as well as on the Official Redwood Instagram.
Despite the distance learning the band is making the best of the situation and doing what they love to do, sharing their love for music.
Tags: arts and entertainment, band, covid-19