Welcome to all new and returning students & parents to the 2020-2021 Tiger Band Program!
[Students – after reading this, please CLICK HERE to complete a basic information form.]
My name is Richard Weaver, and I am the Band Director at A.I. duPont High School. Jessica Burton is our Associate Band Director who also serves as our Band Front Advisor. As we begin our journey into this school year, it remains unlike any school year we have experienced in the past. While we are all eager to jump back in and do what we do best, we must face the safety protocols placed upon us due to the coronavirus pandemic. We do not have all of the answers at this time and planning will change with the environment. We just want to keep you in the loop and let you know where we are right now. Students, let’s use this opportunity to be creative and do things outside of what we usually do. Let us work together to plan and design a positive experience for ourselves this year!
First off, extracurricular activities will have to follow the guidance of the Red Clay Consolidated School District and DIAA (Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association). Marching Band is being grouped with athletics in our school district. At this time, no athletic practices are permitted to take place. This also means that no extracurricular marching band practices are to be held at this time. We will not be having a summer marching band camp this year. Please keep in mind that this could change as the district restrictions evolve. DIAA is not permitting athletic competitions during the fall (which includes football). They proposed that three shortened seasons may possibly begin in December, with the “Fall” sports season starting in February. You can read the article here. I am hoping that if football begins at that time, then marching bands would also be permitted to do so and perform at games. Unfortunately for us, most of the parades in which we participate have also been canceled this year. Please remember that these steps have been taken with the safety of the overall public in mind.
Music teachers have been following the NFHS Aerosol Study to get recommendations for how to proceed with singing and playing wind instruments once students return to school buildings for in-person classes. There is A LOT of information listed at the above link. [Feel free to watch all the videos, look at the detailed PDF, or just skim the 1-page recommendations.] Thankfully, AIHS has a large band room and we should be able to follow the distancing suggestions from the study mentioned above. We will most likely have two sections of band this year. One for the playing members and one for the band fronts. If class sizes are required to be reduced even more, then we would split the percussionists and wind players into different areas if possible. Of course, this is all dependent on what is possible within our school’s master schedule. Due to low student enrollment, Jazz Band will not be offered as a class during the school day. When extracurricular activities are permitted, we can explore the option of creating a jazz band after school.
All band students who play a musical instrument should be enrolled in Marching/Concert Band (0817-1). All students who are returning Band Fronts from last year should also be enrolled in a class (The schedule will either list Marching/Concert Band (0817-2) or it may be listed as Jazz Band (0820-1) for the time being. Once schools approach Hybrid or In-Person learning, we will have marching band practice one night per week if the district decides that it can safely occur (the band typically practices on Monday evenings). At that point, we can discuss how to audition and include new Band Fronts, and any students who wish to begin learning a musical instrument.
*If a student has a scheduling conflict this year and cannot enroll in band class (or band front class), they may still participate in marching band after school once we are allowed to do so.
Students will begin school remotely on September 8, 2020. For band class, we plan to have students practice instrumental music (or dance choreography) at home if they are able to do so. We will do our best to make sure that students can borrow a school-owned instrument (or band front equipment) if needed. Percussionists can practice with drumsticks and a practice pad. We will also focus on other aspects of music. Examples could include music appreciation, theory, show design, rhythmic studies, analysis, and connecting to other disciplines. Students will even create video lessons to teach others how to play their instrument or use band front equipment. We may also focus on smaller group ensembles and/or solo pieces. We will hopefully learn more about what technology we will have access to in the coming week. As usual, I will include students in our planning processes as much as possible.
Best Regards,
Richard Weaver
Band Director – A.I. duPont High School