Band at Timberline – New Look, Same Great Sound

The Instrumental Music team at Timberline knew it was going to be a challenge. But thanks to some innovative problem solving, band students are still getting the same great experience.

Chairs are spaced out. Sanitizer is used frequently. Maybe the most noticeable changes are the covers on instruments.

“The woodwinds are the people who really have to do the most, they cover up the entire instrument, says Marty McDonald, Instrumental Music Teacher at Timberline. “It was a learning curve, it took all of us awhile to get used to that.”

Even though the instruments have a new look, the band still sounds excellent.

“I thought it would be really muffled and it would be hard to play, people would get confused and lost in the music,” says 9th Grader Luke Hayes. “But the coverings don’t muffle the sound as much as I thought.”

Instructors are also teaching several sessions of online students. The biggest challenge has been the lack of playing time together. However that also brings more time for individual sessions.

“We’ve seen a lot of personal growth with the students. They are getting a little more one-on-one time with the directors,” says McDonald.

Check out the video tab associated with this story to hear from several students about their experiences this year.