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Editor's note: This is part one of a two-part series on local music education throughout the pandemic.
As a new wave of COVID-19 cases began racing through the state in October, more school districts opted to shift to full virtual learning.
Elizabeth Sheehan, a senior at the Hollidaysburg Area High School, said in the school's current virtual model, music students join a live class and listen to the teacher's lesson, though all the students are muted.
She said they use a PDF of a musical piece and play along with a recording, then rate themselves on a scale of one to five. They then use the chat to ask questions and discuss ways to improve.
"I had to get used to teaching myself and finding where my weak points were," she said. "One teacher said it best -- it really is like college."
Though the students are not able to play together, Sheehan said she is happy to see everyone again after being separated by groups in the hybrid model.
Altoona Area elementary school music teacher Teri Myers recognized students' flexibility and fortitude throughout so much change.
"We're raising a generation of kids who know a resiliency we haven't seen in 60 years," she said.
Educational centers across the state first shut down on March 16 and didn't reopen for the rest of the school year. AASD music teachers and students made a rapid shift to Facebook Live instruction.
Myers highlighted one type of lesson she used, which she called "found sounds," where her students would create an instrument out of a household item, then use it to make music.
"It's just like anything right now -- how to deliver the very best you can with the things you have," she said.
The key limitation for teachers in a virtual setting is not being able to make music collectively. Myers said trying to sing or play together via Zoom is "hysterical."
She's adjusted either by herself playing or singing, or having volunteers play or sing.
Myers also created a virtual ensemble (students record themselves playing individually, then are combined into a cohesive video concert) with three students at Penn Lincoln Elementary and 15 students at Ebner Elementary.
As Myers found new ways to instruct virtually, Scott Pappal, AASD elementary band director, and his teammates -- Joshua Hillard, Anastazia Hall and Lisa Strayer -- were crafting a music education series.
Because of copyright laws, they wrote their own 10-week curriculum on each band and orchestra instrument, then distributed the lessons to students. In addition, the four made backing tracks for students to play along with.
"I was kind of running a production studio at my home in addition to being a teacher," Pappal said. "By the end, a lot of us were putting in 18- to 20-hour days."
Pappal expects this new round of virtual learning to be more synchronous than in the spring. He added that he would like to do a virtual ensemble and potentially feature virtual guest artists in his class.
Music educators have worked not only to keep students connected to music, but to connect them to the community.
Scott Sheehan, HAHS director of bands and music department chair, is preparing for what would normally be the holiday concert season.
"We still want to provide the community with great music," he said. "But the No. 1 concern is the safety of students and families."
Sheehan said he has a plan A and plan B for the students to still perform songs they've been working on for several weeks.
His plan A is to record in-person concerts without audiences and then share it. His plan B is to have each student prepare and record his or her favorite holiday tune, then create a series of solo clips which he called a "musical postcard."
Pappal, Myers and Sheehan don't believe anything can replace making music together. Still, teachers are "willing to do whatever it takes" to keep their students connected to music, Pappal said.
Myers said through all of the hardship, she sees a rebirth of the importance of music, particularly for children.
"We're getting to see more younger students perform in their living rooms," she said. "That's where those kids who have been playing for 10 years started out."
Myers added that the pandemic has brought teachers closer as well.
"The greatest resource we have is each other," she said.
COMING TUESDAY: Educators rework curriculum in wake of pandemic.