The impact of COVID-19 and its necessary precautions have not precluded our performing arts students from doing what they do best. Our band, dance, drama, and chorus classes have adapted and continue to move forward with learning, creative expression, and the ability to entertain while remaining safe and healthy.
Director of Bands Christian Smith explained new practices for our student musicians, “We have altered our breathing exercises and warm up routines. We have all the students get in a large circle and face outward and away from everyone, so we don't push anything towards one another. We also have expanded our warm-up circle to get more distance between all of us, to help us stay safe.”
The GWA Marching Bulldog Band has been working hard to keep all members up and running during these COVID-19 days. Band students wear masks during all practices while learning their drill sets and anytime they are not playing their instruments. They wear face coverings in the stands during football games so they can cheer on the Bulldogs and reduce the risk of spreading germs to one another. Mr. Smith noted, “It has been a challenge to keep all the students in masks and maintain distance because they are such a family, but it has definitely been worth it to be able to continue coming to school and having in-person band classes as well as after-school marching band practices.”
During the fall semester, drama students will be trained in Oral Interpretation. Oral Interpretation is the performing of literature aloud to an audience with a single performer narrating and acting out all characters. This unique art form allows the students to continue developing characters and staging scenes while being able to safely practice social distancing. Teacher Paula Gerhardt said, “This also allows students to continue working on their performance independently if we ever need to resume distance learning.”
Ms. Gerhardt is working to grow our middle and upper school chorus programs, but COVID-19 has prompted her classes to hit the pause button on singing. She is hopeful about the return to normalcy, “Once we get COVID behind us, our goal is to grow our choral program and begin looking at singing at venues in New York City, entering competitions, and collaborating within our other arts programs.” Meanwhile, there is plenty to learn as students focus on music theory, rhythm, and song writing.
Dance classes are in full swing this semester. Dance teacher Genie Wiggins said, “The dancers have adapted well to the circumstances, wearing masks and social distancing as much as our stage will permit.” Students recently completed their first jazz and ballet units of the year. They used newly-acquired movement terms to create their very own dance compositions. Additionally, dance students are learning popular line dances (a great activity for social distancing!) and are in the process of creating their very own line dances. The advanced company classes are busy brainstorming ideas for their upcoming virtual Halloween performance, as video performances will be the norm in the months ahead.
Lower school music teacher Debbie Dyer is focusing on movement and rhythm in her classes. By using rhythm sticks, beat buddies, scarves, dance and bucket drumming, she is teaching music in new and exciting ways. By learning to speak rhymes and poems, her students are still deepening music proficiency and developing important listening skills. Mrs. Dyer is adopting a positive attitude about the changes in her class. “Students take their cues from us. It’s about our attitude and how we present these changes. If we say it’s not hard, it’s just new, then we can take the opportunity to find new ways to experience music.”
Mr. Smith summed up the way forward for our performing arts students, “We realize that the precautions and protocols we're taking are crucial and are well worth it - if it allows us to do what we love and perform our hearts out.”
