By Bluffton school music teachers
This column is reprinted from the spring school newsletter.
Over 250 students were part of the vocal music program during 2020-2021.

Vocal
The high school symphonic choir (juniors and seniors), concert choir (freshmen and sophomores), and chamber choir (by audition) participated in virtual recordings of a fall, Christmas, chicken barbecue, and spring concert. 

Students from both the high school and middle schools also participated in a solo and ensemble contest, and all earned superior or excellent ratings. In June students will perform the musical Doctor Dolittle. The choirs from 6th-12th grades were very fortunate to have had many talented members. 

Bands
Despite the circumstances, the bands have had an amazing year. 

The 55-member marching band had a very successful season performing at half time of all three home football games as well as a few impromptu “send offs” for the football team for their away games.

 In March of 2020, the marching band was the last band to travel to Disney World before the pandemic hit. The 45-member concert band recorded concerts for the fall, at Christmas, the annual barbecue, and in the spring.

The group continues to grow musically each year. The 25-member pep band did not play for any basketball games, but had rehearsals and get-togethers each week throughout the season – music for music’s sake!

The 18-member jazz ensemble recorded music for the Christmas concert and the barbecue; they actually will be able to have the end-of-the-year concert in May.

The 36-member junior high band, as well as the 21-member 6th-grade band and 24-member 5th-grade band, recorded concerts in the fall, at Christmas, and  the barbecue.

Solo and ensemble contest
We had our own solo and ensemble contest in April, and the tory" in the students’ classrooms this year, rather than our actual music room.  This  presented  some challenges, but has also  helped us  to be creative with our lessons. Learning how to send plans to each classroom with interactive lessons or appropriate You Tube songs was the number 1 hurdle since pushing the piano around the halls was not an option. 

Thank you K-3 parents who sent in socks so students could wear them as gloves and be able to share instruments. Thank you teachers who had the students ready with chromebooks so they could access their Music Google Classroom when necessary.  Thank you students for your patience as Mrs. Basinger navigated through this new territory of technology.  

Strings
This year proved to be challenging for the string orchestras; however, we persevered and found new ways to learn and be successful. 

The 25-member junior high orchestra recorded a recruiting video for the 4th grade classes, which resulted in 42 new fourth string players. 

The orchestras continued to learn new notes, bow articulations, and different music genres. Virtual concerts included fall, Christmas, and barbecue concerts.

In lieu of field trips, these concerts were shared with residents of area nursing facilities. In May, the 6-12 orchestras will have a guest orchestra conductor adjudicate their songs and work with the orchestras on an additional song.

The orchestras look forward to future field trips and adjudicated events.