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Student Thoughts
ORCHESTRA “I don’t necessarily like being filmed playing the violin because the camera really takes away from live performance of [the] orchestra, but I do think it is important to restrict our audience numbers, and if that means restricting the number zero, that’s perfectly fine by me, as long as we keep people safe.” Grace Hansen, 11
January 2021 rustlernews.com
FINE ARTS FACE RESTRICTIONS by David Miller, Staff Writer Like all the arts, restriction of audience size and mask mandates are hurdles the CMR Drama Department faces. After those, the rest was left up to the discretion of teacher Chris Evans. He buckles down on the mask policy, keeping it strict with masks worn properly. Along with the school-wide slogan “gel in, gel out”, he practices distancing in every class activity with multiple seating charts and measured spaces. Evans is 100% supportive of the restrictions. Evans said, “It would devastate me if someone caught COVID from something I tried to do.” Some events have been cancelled to stay within the guidelines. The drama classroom isn’t large enough
DRAMA
to safely hold a class and, this year, the drama department has not had a live production. Many schools around the country have tried to perform shows with masks, but lost their productions last second from COVID and contact tracing. Evans doesn’t want to chance it at all. “If you guys aren’t safe, we aren’t doing it,” Evans said. Even with the restrictions, Evans strives to keep students engaged in theatre which he believes, “needs to happen,” by providing as many safe and distanced opportunities as possible. Evans wants the students to know that he is doing everything he can to keep giving opportunities and that he’s looking toward the future. Below: Drama students practice mirroring exercises. Photo by Marissa McMickle.
CHOIR “It’s a bit difficult just having to space out. You can’t hear people as well when you’re spaced. A mask is a bit wacky to sing through, but the special singing masks we have help. If we have to do that to keep it safe enough to do choir, I’d rather do that than not do choir at all.” Caden Bicsak, 12
Above: Alayna Roth plays holiday music on her cello. Photo by Marissa McMickle. The band department has been limited by the guidelines, but perseveres under troubling conditions. Many instruments have to use bell covers, and flute players specifically require face shields. Players must have their masks on unless playing. In class, students can only play for 30-45 minutes at a time. In a regular schedule, that would be nothing of a limitation, but with the extended periods, it leaves a hefty amount of time to be filled. “It’s getting very hard to keep enforcing it,” said band teacher Chris Kloker. “[The] kids are fatigued. I’m fatigued.”
Band was fortunate enough to perform in one concert this year before restrictions were made more severe, but their other events have been halted. There is significantly less pep band presence, no marching band at all, and the jazz band lost all of their extra performances such as performing at retirement homes. A big hit to both the music and drama department was the loss of a musical this year, which all departments focused a good chunk of the year on. The guidelines have had secondary effects as well. Limiting the play time for band students
BAND has caused Kloker to reluctantly select easier music for the kids to play. Kloker believes that these guidelines will negatively impact the program. In fact, he said he is already seeing their effects. Kloker does as much as he can with the kids in class. When not playing, the students spend time focusing on music theory. He encourages them to practice at home and reassures his students that “this too shall pass.”
