Students are seated further apart, instruments in hand, but until playing time, masks stay on. 

As the coronavirus continues to affect the SHS community, band procedures at SHS have changed to fit the Marion County Guidelines.

 Procedures include standing six feet apart in drumline, according to SHS band director David Copeland. SHS band students must follow procedures about wearing masks when not using their mouths to play instruments, and to not touch others equipment. Sophomore JT Ferguson revealed to the journal what practices look like as of now. 

“We’re trying to stay social distanced so we can stay open as long as we can,” Ferguson said. “So we can stay safe and hopefully practice until winter.” 

The band has also changed their concerts. According to Copeland, the concerts will be held in the stadium instead of the auditorium. The band’s Fall concert is planned to take place at the stadium on Sept. 17. 

Along with concerts, games that the marching band plays at have been altered too. Due to the coronavirus, the band’s games have been altered to fit the limit of people in social gatherings. Sophomore trombone player William Honey plays at games, but says that players can no longer stay as long as the band did in previous years. 

“We can’t stay for the games anymore,” Honey said. “We used to have to, but now we can’t because it has to be 250 people.” 

With a limit of 250 people in the football stadium, the game tickets are pre-ordered and the game is streamed for the people who were not able to purchase tickets.  Band students have mixed opinions about the changes in games and seating arrangements in class. Certain guidelines have been difficult for band members, like tenor saxophone player and head Drum Major, senior Julia Dye. She says that remembering when to wear a mask has been challenging.

“(It was annoying) having to wear masks everywhere, and then as soon as you are able to get outside you can take them off,” Dye said. “But having to remember to keep your mask on and with you, and when you can wear it and when you can’t is really annoying.”

Although some members of the band may find the guidelines annoying, many pf say they understand why they need to follow them. 

“It makes sense, we need to stay healthy,” Ferguson said. “We need to stay safe, we shouldn’t really be in close contact with each other. If it’s a serious deal like the Marion County Health Department is saying it is… we need to stay safe.”