As with any performing ensemble, the band program at Luther has been impacted greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic. After reviewing guidelines from reputable organizations and research studies, the bands and music department adopted some fundamental yet unique guidelines to ensure safety for all of our students. They include:

• Masks worn when not actively playing (wind/brass instruments)
• Use of instrument bell covers
• 6-feet spacing between students
• Water pads for brass instruments
• A limit of 30-minute rehearsal times
• Buffer time to allow for room to settle during transitions

Our students always remain flexible and show remarkable perseverance during this time. Though our rehearsal/performance time together is greatly abbreviated, it has been exciting to be together making music with one another, and continuing the great musical tradition here at Luther College.

Exploring New Topics During Online Learning

During a virtual “Circuit Breaker” following Thanksgiving break, I decided to utilize our time together in a different way. Moving to an online-learning format, I decided to take the time to address a number of topics: anti-racism discussions, underrepresented composer explorations, and invite guest artists to speak to our students.

Anti-Racism Work

Luther College took a stand against racial injustice and policy brutality following the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020. As someone who was living in Minneapolis when this public murder took place, I began this important work, personally, and wanted to provide an opportunity, or space, for my students to begin/continue that work for themselves.

At the beginning of the semester I made a public pledge to my students and offered an open forum for them to speak openly, freely, and passionately about their reaction to this horrific event. For many students, this was the first opportunity for them to have such a discussion with their peers. Others have been actively working to end discrimination and social injustice in our community. These are the preliminary steps we can take as a small group within the institution to begin conversations that will hopefully radiate across other fields. We have also discussed starting a Luther College Bands Book Club where we will focus on anti-racism literature. While shifting to an online platform is not ideal, I’m grateful for the time we had together to discuss this very important topic.

Underrepresented Composers

As a conductor, selecting and programming music for my students to spend weeks, if not months, rehearsing is one of the most important responsibilities of my job. Given the recent world events and overall environment we find ourselves in early 2021, I strive to be better when making this ever-so-important decision.

I pledge to put forth compositions that provide opportunities for musical growth, rigor, exploration, which includes a wide-variety of cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, sexualities, opinions, etc. During the online Circuit Breaker, we spent a few sessions discussing and presenting information on underrepresented composers writing for the wind/band ensemble. Students were able to work in small groups and present to other attendees. I enjoyed having the opportunity to work with a number of students in this new setting, and even learned a great deal myself from their presentations.

Meet the Composer: Roger Zare

I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of composers during my time as an undergraduate and graduate student. Those interactions have provided me with a greater understanding of how music is composed and perhaps what composers look for when visiting/working with ensembles.

At Luther, we were fortunate enough to welcome Dr. Roger Zare for one of our virtual meetings. The Luther College Concert Band performed his Mare Tranquillitatis as part of our November 8, 2020 performance in the CFL. During our time together, we were able to discuss Dr. Zare’s compositional process, career as a composer and educator, as well as how he connects his interest in science with music. Students were able to submit questions prior to our meeting and in real time.

The Real World with Jon Lampley

A dear friend of mine, Jon Lampley, agreed to join us for an evening which I titled “The Real World.” Jon is a musician living and working in New York City and has performed and toured with a number of ensembles, including O.A.R. and Huntertones (Jon is a co-founder). Currently, you can see Jon performing with Jon Batiste and Stay Human, the house band for Stephen Colbert’s late-night talk show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Jon’s experience as a performer in the city, touring with multiple groups worldwide, knowledge of the industry, and real-life stories kept all of us engaged and provided a unique perspective for our students. We were truly lucky to have both of these amazing artists and performers visit with us.

Moving Forward

As we transition back to an in-person format, the goal is to get all of our ensembles, including bands, rehearsing and performing as soon as possible. I am excited for our ensembles to feature a wide variety of composers, perform new works by both established and emerging artists, while also focusing on what makes the band medium so important, powerful, and special across the globe, and especially at Luther College.