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Can an orchestra play in isolation? Can a choir harmonize without hearing others’ parts? Playing music, specifically in an ensemble is incredibly hard to do over Zoom. “The hardest part is the lack of togetherness, we can’t all hear each other playing together” says Ms. Neu, who runs Masterman’s music program and conducts the Middle School Band, High School Orchestra, and Jazz Band. This separation is definitely something that can be felt by any student or teacher in choir or orchestra. “We’re not actually truly communicating as an ensemble or as a group,” says Mr. Graef, Masterman’s woodwind teacher. Everyone on the meet is muted and is playing their instrument into the silence. “You can’t effectively play together no matter how good everyone's connection is.” Students then record themselves playing and that recording is combined with everyone else's in order to simulate playing together. However, this brings up the problem that not everyone may play at the same exact tempo or pitch. “If you play a melody, someone else is going to play it a little bit different and someone else is gonna play it a little bit different.”
Music in a virtual setting also brings up an issue of self-confidence. When in-person, students can sit in the back and play what they can and trust that other,
more experienced and confident students will cover them. With the new system of sending in a recording of yourself, there’s nowhere to hide. Masterman students, many of whom are perfectionists, do not want to submit something unless it is perfect. Gwen Kapusinski, who sings in both the high school choir and in Sweet 16 says, “I am the kind of person that will watch the video over and over and like to find something wrong with it” (Gwen Kapusinski 9-3). Because of this, ensemble teachers struggle to convince their students to send in recordings. “What I've had to do is be a cheerleading committee for some of the kids,” says Ms. Neu. Self-assessment is a concept that is exponentially more important in a virtual setting. This is because teachers cannot give feedback in real time like they can in a classroom. Students can practice for hours, but at the end of the day there is a feeling of “I hope I'm playing my part right”. But, students would only know if they played their part correctly after their teacher reviewed their video and gave them feedback. This process is slow and can take a few days. This hinders one’s ability to play more difficult pieces and expand their knowledge. “We are working on a tune that is way easier and still struggling to do it.” says Mr. Graef.
Photo courtesy of Ms. Neu
While the system may not be perfect, it is the best way to make it seem like everyone is making music together in 2020. And there have been good things to come out of virtual music: “I know that some of the older kids in the sections have taken leadership in the section,” says Ms. Neu. According to her, there is still a possibility in the future to play together in-person; “There is a possibility that maybe we could do some sort of outdoor thing on the patio or the roof or the parking lot. Just making sure that everyone is spread out”. She goes on to say that while these tentative plans are yet to be approved, “sports [starting up again] is maybe opening the door for this”. However, in light of the cancelation of most reopening plans throughout the school district, it is unlikely that music will be able to return in the near future.
Lastly, a very popular activity for many at Masterman is the school musical that happens in the spring, and will be affected by COVID-19 this year. Many remember it as being the last thing they did as a group before the city went into lockdown. The same sort of event would not be possible this year, but there are definitely plans to do something or the same genre. “Whatever we do it will likely be a virtual musical. I love putting together videos, this might be the biggest one I’ll do. It still has not been decided” says Ms. Neu. There are a few options for what it will actually look like. It may be a whole show that is choreographed and practiced one scene at a time, then students send in videos and it is all compiled together. Or, it could be scenes from a show, or a few different shows. Or, it could be something else entirely, for instance a showcase of different choreographed dances, cut together to form a single video. While we do not know exactly what this year's musical will look like, we do know that people are excited for it. “I’m gonna do it no matter what, it would be cool to see how it will turn out.” Gwen adds.
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