268 THUNDERING HERD CAN’T The Thundering Herd plays music safely with specialized masks. As the Department of Music prepared for students to return in fall 2020, department leadership brainstormed how the instrumentalists would rehearse and perform to safely comply with COVID-19 guidelines. Associate professor of music Cynthia Carrell set her vision toward creating a mask that would allow students to play instruments in a safe environment. Carrell said, initially, everyone in the professional community agreed it was not safe to play at all. However, Carrell found that she could create a bell cover for the instrument, so the students’ droplets would be stopped but the sound would not suffer. Carrell enlisted help and hand made bell covers for every instrument that required it. “I had fabric and instructions made for everybody, and they made them and sent them in,” Carrell said. “Then, I used the Cricut to make labels for them.” Along with the cover, Carrell also created specialized masks for the instrumentalists that had an opening wide enough for the student to use the mouthpiece. The students were required to wear the mask at all times, as it was designed to minimize droplets from traveling when the students moved the instrument to and from their mouth. There was a learning curve to adjust to using the mask and following safety guidelines during rehearsals, explained junior mellophone player Erin Fouss. “Normally, you wouldn’t think twice about emptying the spit from your instrument right where you are,” Fouss said. “Now, we have to go away from the ensemble to do this to prevent any transfer of the disease if it is present.” Additionally, the masks inhibited the normal deep breath musicians were accustomed to, and condensation became a problem. However, the players powered through these setbacks. “We all wish that our circumstances were more normal, but the band has been following the guidelines willingly and well in an effort to stay together on campus,” junior percussionist Maddie Hale said. In an attempt to both reward the band for their diligence in following COVID-19 guidelines and provide the campus with positive energy, the Thundering Herd Marching Band put on socially distanced stand-and-play performances for several weeks on the Front Lawn. “The role that the band plays on campus is that of school spirit, pumping up the crowd as well as creating a positive atmosphere on campus,” Thundering Herd Director Eric Colgrove said. “We hope that our performances might make things still feel normal, or at least some sense of normal on campus.” Sophomore flute player Abi Schliffka said times like these encouraged people to renew their spirits through music. “Even though the masks are not the most attractive or heat-resistant attire, God still blessed us with the privilege of coming together and being a part of something so rewarding and life changing,” Schliffka said. “COVID-19 may have the power to change how the music department runs rehearsals, but it does not have the power to silence it completely.” story by Darcy Sanford and Zach Bishop MASK THE MUSIC
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