{"id":212601,"date":"2020-09-03T16:13:18","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T20:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=212601"},"modified":"2020-09-11T13:54:07","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T17:54:07","slug":"garage-bands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2020\/09\/03\/garage-bands\/","title":{"rendered":"Garage Bands"},"content":{"rendered":"

After nearly six months of silence, the Red Hawk Deck is alive with a new sound \u2013 music. For musicians who have been singing or playing instruments in isolation all that time, the in-person rehearsals that began the first week of school in the parking garage made for a\u00a0 meaningful \u2013 and at times, emotional \u2013 start to the school year.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot having played music with another human being in six months and then finally playing with all my peers made me cry during the first piece we played,\u201d said Sabrina Isaac, a junior Clarinet Performance major, describing the feeling during Leonard Bernstein\u2019s \u201cMake Our Garden Grow\u201d from Candide<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe experience was quite overwhelming,\u201d said sophomore Music Education major Ryan Branco, a trumpeter with the Wind Symphony. \u201cIt\u2019s quite breathtaking to see how easy it is to pick up where you last left off.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that they did.<\/p>\n

The Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony and University Singers began rehearsals in the deck on August 27 and were greeted by College of the Arts Dean Daniel Gurskis and John J. Cali School of Music Director Anthony Mazzocchi, who explained that rehearsing in the garage, and other outdoor spaces, is part of a science-based effort to allow performance major students and ensembles \u2013 from music to dance to theater \u2013 to enjoy safe, socially distanced in-person practice and instruction. Many of the 8% of classes that are fully in-person this fall are in the performing arts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are doing this the right way,\u201d Mazzocchi said.<\/p>\n

The rehearsal for the University Singers on the 7th floor of the deck was set up so that Director of Choral Activities Heather Buchanan could conduct both those in the garage and those who opted to attend via Zoom.<\/p>\n

Buchanan noted that the singers needed to adjust to the acoustics of the deck, as well as the Amphitheater, and to singing while wearing masks, which are optional since singers are standing at least six feet apart and are outdoors. She called the experience \u201cbeautiful and strange.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexa Tammone, a senior Music Education major, said she would never forget that first rehearsal. \u201cThe comfort in knowing that I am still able to sing face-to-face and safely with the University Singers made me feel like some sense of normalcy could be achieved this year,\u201d she said. \u201cIt honestly felt like we had never missed a beat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maya Henry, a Music Performance major who had been in lockdown in her home state of New York since March, said \u201cI thought to myself that after the rehearsal \u2018I will never take any moment I have with anyone for granted\u2019 since the Choral Activities Program is my second home.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Mazzocchi reflected: \u201cSix months of silence turned into sound in the garage, and reminded us all why we do what we do here at the School and in our chosen careers. Even though I had a few words for our students, the music said it all, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

Story by staff writer Mary Barr Mann<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo Gallery<\/h2>\n
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\"instructor<\/figure>\n

\u201cIt was clear that the directors and the students fully grasped the magnitude of the moment \u2013 many were openly emotional. Six months of silence turned into sound in the garage, and reminded us all why we do what we do here at the school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013Anthony Mazzocchi, director, John J. Cali School of Music<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"student<\/figure>\n

Many students keep their masks on when they are not playing their instruments.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"students<\/figure>\n

\u201cFor safety, we have followed the science to the letter. This involves outdoor space, special masking and instrument-specific mitigation devices, shorter rehearsals, and more.\u201d \u2013Anthony Mazzocchi, director, John J. Cali School of Music<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"view<\/figure>\n

Thomas McCauley, director of University Bands, conducts. August 27, 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"floutist<\/figure>\n

Students say playing the first song was a moving experience, after having to rehearse solo for so long.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"conductor<\/figure>\n

College of the Arts Dean Daniel Gurskis greets music students at their first rehearsal in the parking garage.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"telephoto<\/figure>\n

Students said playing together again gave them a sense of normalcy \u2013<\/em> even if they were playing in the Red Hawk Deck.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"silhouette<\/figure>\n

Heather J. Buchanan, director of Choral Activities, leads the MSU Singers in a socially distanced rehearsal in the Red Hawk Deck, saying the experience was \u201cbeautiful and strange.\u201d August 27, 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"wide<\/figure>\n

\u201cChoir is about building community. Keeping everyone connected is crucial.\u201d \u2013Heather J. Buchanan, director of Choral Activities<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"choir<\/figure>\n

For Red Hawk Deck and other outdoor rehearsals, members of the MSU Singers have the option to wear masks \u2013 although face coverings are not required when outdoors and 6 feet (or more) distant from others.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"instructor<\/figure>\n

John J. Cali School of Music faculty member Steven W. Ryan provides piano accompaniment. August 27, 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"choir<\/figure>\n

Singers got used to the acoustics of the garage and to wearing masks while singing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"choir<\/figure>\n

Students say rehearsing together \u2013<\/em> even in the Red Hawk Deck \u2013<\/em> gave them a sense of normalcy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"View<\/figure>\n

Production Manager Phil Clifford worked overtime to ensure remote members of the MSU Singers could Zoom into the rehearsal on August 27, 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"close-up<\/figure>\n

Percussion class outside the Kasser Theater. September 1, 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>
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