THE BAND KEEPS MARCHING, DESPITE COVID BY BRAND ON BARRET T
O
ver the past year, every aspect of The end of October closed the book on high school has been shaped by marching season, and a new month began conthe pandemic. From the learning cert season. Several changes had to be made in environment itself to the stadiums this environment, as well. Similar to the marchfrom which the Bears crush their opponents, ing band season, though this separation was nothing has escaped the pandemic’s grasp. largely due to the hybrid schedule of the high One of the most prestigious institutions at the school at the time, each of the four bands, inhigh school, the North Royalton High School Marching cluding freshman, concert, symphonic, and wind ensemBand, is no exception. Everything from the shape of the ble, were split into two groups: an A-K band and an L-Z block band to the horns of the trumpets were adapted band. The bands also moved from the former band room and reworked to fit these new circumstances. to larger areas, though this was also motivated in part The first by construction major example on that side of of this reworkthe building. One ing notably ocband in particucurred during lar, the symphonthe marching ic band, altered band season, between Gym 1 as the schedule and the Performfor NRHS Band ing Arts Center Camp was aldepending on the tered so that schedules of the no groups of choir and Wind more than ten Ensemble. Alband members though the school met at the same is no longer split spot simultain half through a neously. This hybrid schedule, change meant the bands continthat only seue to use the gyms Even though marching band ended back in October, the flip folder niors and freshand Performing still has its uses - mostly for the upcoming Band-a-Rama. men attended Arts Center in orevery day, while der to maximize sophomores and juniors came every other day. As the the space between performers to keep the virus at bay. school year began, the band was again split into vari- Many band members are extremely glad these various schedules. The A-L band would attend Wednesday ous changes were implemented, and while they did dull practices first, followed by the M-Z band. Addition- various aspects of the season and separated them from ally, the block band formations needed a rework to friends for a decent chunk of the year, they ultimately alproperly uphold COVID protocols. Instead of having lowed for both a marching season and a concert season. everyone shoulder to shoulder, marchers were instead As a result of these policies, both band night at the staorganized into groups of four each that had similar dium and the symphonic band performance at the conmarching patterns and were spaced out from one an- cert created a long-awaited reunion. Despite having been other. These changes made the season a success, com- separated for months, the two halves of the band came plete with several performances and even a night for together and harmonized as if they had been together, the band to shine alone. continuing this tradition of excellence since day one.
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