The Southern Virginia University Band Adapts Amid Virus Restrictions
Students participating in band at Southern Virginia University have experienced several changes this semester to accommodate safe practices during the pandemic, including filtering their instruments, observing social distancing, and shortening rehearsal times.
Professor Heather Dobbins, director of the University band, says, “All I really care about is that my students are alive and are fulfilled socially.”
Dobbins has been working at Southern Virginia University for the past five years and has been the band director for the past three years. She observed that the students of Southern Virginia University “desperately want to have those [emotional and social] bonds.” Her number one priority for this semester is to make sure they have the chance to experience that in band.
“The biggest thing we have to worry about is the aerosol production,” Dobbins explains. Aerosol refers to the small liquid droplets that created when we exhale in any way. In attempts to reduce the production of aerosol, the University band has made many changes, including, wearing masks during rehearsals, and spreading the band out so that there are 6 feet between any two people and 12 feet in the front or back of any two people.
Addiontally, the bells of the instruments have been covered with merv-13 filters and pantyhose, puppy pads are used on the ground for the brass section to empty their saliva, and students are using Zoom in class so that Dobbins doesn’t have to speak loudly and exhale more droplets.
All of this has been implemented because Professor Dobbins participated in many webinars and joined a variety of Facebook groups in preparation for this semester. “We can only do so much without not being able to play anything whatsoever. We are as caught up as we can do,” Dobbins says.
Band members have expressed their acceptance of the changes and understanding as to their necessity. Carolyn Levitt (‘22), a flute player and assistant of Professor Dobbins says, “Band has been going great — in fact, some things are better than before! Each member has been given the opportunity to stretch themselves and be accountable for their individual musicianship.”
This semester, there are chamber groups within the ensemble, less music and shorter rehearsal times. Trumpet player Spencer Dennis (‘22) comments, “I have noticed that the repertoire is fairly easy, but Dobbins consistently rises above the monotony and provides the students with the joyful opportunity to learn and grow.”
“It isn’t about playing the hardest pieces and really pushing students that way,” Dobbins explains. “It is about how we can fill that emotional need that they get out of their musical ensembles.”
