Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2021-04-30 19:20
Matt,
As I stated earlier, many of our smaller towns are nearly totally back to "normal" - small bands have been meeting indoors again, etc. Most Wyoming churches have maintained singing throughout the pandemic (minus the original "15 days to flatten the curve" phase), and believe it or not - most church "orchestras"/bands/whatever have continued playing throughout, as our state's mandate never prohibited such things. Mask mandates and distancing mandates were strictly followed by the churches, though. Not a single infection has been traced to any of the local churches throughout the pandemic. I mention this only as it is an interesting point to me - that music was allowed to continue normally, and (at least locally) there was absolutely no negative impact.
"It is March of 2021, and I feel sorry for those people living like it is still March of 2020" is a comment I hear echoed in the smaller communities.
As per your concern about a drop in music students, etc. I'll echo a belief I've stated elsewhere: The best way to get kids interested in band, is to let them see/hear a band playing live, up close. It is one of the reasons I like the idea of small groups busking in public, playing at non-age-restricted venues (cafes and such), and why I so enjoy the various outdoor community bands, etc. which pop up in various communities performing publicly in band shells and gazebos - free public performances. In my case, it was the high school marching band - which marched by my house every day performing practice drills - filling my four-year-old eyes and ears with wonder and excitement.
While I do fear the impacts COVID policy will have on band in the short term, I believe that as younger children are once again exposed to live music in public places, that we might see a reversal.
That isn't to say there aren't numerous other societal factors working against music programs in the US, but I think the COVID ones are something which might be overcome. My main fear is in wondering whether these same policies will now be utilized willy-nilly for any new sniffle or sneeze. THAT (in my opinion) would kill many of the arts and performance venues, etc.
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
[Edit: corrected dates]
Post Edited (2021-04-30 19:47)
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