By: Ariana Rojak, Laila Schwin, Aiden Nelson, and Alisha Bains
October 21, 2020
With the current state of the world amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many events have been put on hold for a considerable amount of time. The Brooklyn marching band was no exception to this.
However, with thought and multiple conversations, the marching band returned, most notably for the recent October 9th parade.
Excited to hear the music once again, Mr. Sullivan, BHS’s band teacher and marching band advisor, answered some questions on how the band has changed since the pandemic and what we will see in the future.
Q: How is social distancing being enforced for marching band events?
A: “We flipped the room to give us more options for rehearsing inside, while being socially-distanced. To give you an idea of what that entailed, we marked every seat in the auditorium with tape, measuring in all directions along the way, to ensure everyone is meeting the requirements from the county board of health. This took us from over 1,000 available seats in the auditorium down to just over 150. Many of these things were quite new to our students and challenging at times, but in true Brooklyn Marching Band fashion, we rolled with it and moved forward.”
Q: What band events are currently going on?
A: “Due to the regulations from the OHSAA and the state, marching bands are not permitted to travel to ANY events. Because of this, we were unable to attend any of the away games as a guest band. In the past, we’ve performed at various marching band festivals throughout the area: The Medina Band Show, the North Royalton Parade of Bands, the Parma Marching Band Spectacular, etc. These were all major moments in our season, an opportunity to see other bands and highlight our own. All of this year’s performances have been at Brooklyn Memorial Stadium. And although this is not ideal, we’ve been lucky to play and perform. Many band programs never had band camp. We did. Nationwide, many students missed out on an entire season or even a final season of the activities they love. But, Mr. Verba did an outstanding job of putting together a schedule providing us the opportunity to perform in the midst of all the instability and unknowns this season. With the help and support of Dr. Caleris and Mr. Hare, we were able to add events to supplement some of our missed away performances. We held a Playoff Parade on October 9th, and we’re hosting our annual Instant Replay Skull Session on Wednesday, October 28th, before we cap off the season on the 30th against Fairport Harbor.”
Q: What are your goals for the band this year?
A: “Regardless of the situation or scenario, our goals are always the same. We’re going to move forward and keep playing. We have a long tradition of excellence in Brooklyn, and we plan to uphold that tradition and carry on. It may be difficult at times. It may be challenging. Things might look a little different. For instance, if we can’t fit on stage for a performance, we’ll take it to the field house. If we can’t accommodate an entire audience on concert night, we’ll split it up into multiple nights. The music entertainment industry has taken a huge hit during this pandemic. It may not be exactly the same, but you need to start somewhere. Adapting and moving forward is essential to the survival of the arts.”
Q: How does having to wear masks directly affect the band while they are playing and marching?
A: “The actual requirements from the state dictate that each student is to wear their mask when necessary during rehearsals, transitions, and performances. If a student is exerting themselves physically or playing an instrument, they may take down their mask, while maintaining six-foot social distancing. It is absolutely necessary for students to be more sensitive to and aware of these precautions. It is a challenge when something new is established. We introduced the requirements and moved on. Our students are doing an awesome job of being proactive and thoughtful. For the portions of our show in which the students are not playing, marching or dancing, we ask that they keep the masks up, unless it begins to affect them physically. Just like everyone else, we are adapting and getting better each day at each rehearsal.”
Q: Is the band smaller this year due to the virus?
A: “The virus has had an effect on participation in activities across the board. We’re somewhat smaller than we have been over the last five years or so, but our band students have stepped up as leaders; the student leadership core of the group is very strong, and the parent and community support has not diminished. When I started teaching in Brooklyn in 1999, there were 34 kids in the marching band. Our numbers are still well beyond that, and the future is looking bright.”
Despite the potential risks and the changes made for social distancing, we are glad that the marching band is back and playing for us, and it seems that everyone in the band is excited, too.
Our only hope is that the next performance or parade will be even better than the last one(s).
March on!
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 