and the band plays on- remotely

The band plays on - remotely

By: Julia Goslin 

JRN100 Stonehill News Staff Writer

April 21st, Hanover Ma- Hanover High School Band Director Matthew Harden has been conducting a virtual band with his students and alumni online. 

“I think it’s really hard on everyone not physically making music in the same space together, even though technology does allow us to do some interesting work together,” said Harden, whose school like all schools and nonessential businesses in Massachusetts shut down in March because of the coronavirus. All classes are now taught online until the end of the semester, which has presented a unique challenge for music teachers.

Harden said that it is harder to teach online and collaborate with music students as the sound heard over remote learning is not as true as the sound the students would get in the band room. 

In addition to the physical difficulties, the shutdown has also left students isolated. Harden said that many students would hang out in the music wing of Hanover High School, and they had formed a community there. 

He said he was also disappointed as the students had to miss their spring concert in late March. Harden said that some of his courses, such as music theory and AP music theory have adapted to the online format somewhat easier. 

“Other classes like music theory have adapted a bit better, but accomplishing tasks like listening to dictations and sight singing remain a challenge,” he said. 

Losing daily interactions has changed Harden’s approach to teaching his courses, as it is somewhat harder to get students to participate. His AP music theory course must adapt to this format somewhat rapidly as they have upcoming AP tests. 

“I think we are all still navigating this the best we can,” Harden said.

Many schools in both Massachusetts and other states have transitioned to online learning because of the COVID-19 virus. The virus is a respiratory illness that can be spread by people who are carriers and those who are symptomatic. Many schools have closed to keep teachers, substitutes, and staff members safe from the virus. As well as to keep students and their families safe as children are said to often be asymptomatic carriers of the illness. Schools both locally and in other states know that if they were to open they would not only be endangering students but their families as well. 

Stephen Hegarty is a history teacher at Hanover High School as well as a Stonehill graduate. Hegarty said that his classes lend themselves more readily to the online format. He teaches American History one and two as well as a psychology course.

Still, he said that the transition happened very quickly and teachers had to rethink their teaching materials, styles, and expectations.

On April 1st, 2020, Hanover Public Schools sent an email informing teachers that they would have to “develop a plan for each of their courses that would begin April 6th and go through the end of the school year.” he said. 

Like many schools across the state and the country Hanover Public Schools is now using a credit or no credit system for grading.

“There is now a scale to determine credit or no credit for the course. You can receive ‘Exceeds Expectations’ ‘Meets expectations’. ‘Partially meets expectations’ or ‘not meeting expectations’” Hegarty said. 

According to paperwork from Hanover High School teachers must provide a weekly agenda on the google classroom platform and students are expected to log on to the platform at least once a day. The general day schedule structure has also changed as different departments are required to have courses and communication time allotted on different days. Mondays & Wednesdays are for Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Business. Tuesdays and Thursdays for English, Social Studies, and Foreign Language.  Whereas Art, Music, and physical education only have Friday slots.

Harden said conducting band online has been a challenge but has also been rewarding. With online band Harden posts a piece online a week before the virtual band, students and alumni find their specific part and send in a video of them playing it, Harden then edits them together to create the virtual band video. So far the virtual band has posted three videos to Youtube, most recently students sent in their parts for Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa. The virtual band not only allows students to stay connected it also allows seniors to have more chances to perform with each other that may have otherwise been lost to the shutdown. 

“I think it is so important that everyone stays inside and stays safe. Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come and even after that "peak" we will need to remain home and distant to avoid the spread of this awful virus.” Hegarty said.