District 75 band directors travel around to make music with students
There was music in the air throughout Mundelein as fifth-grade band directors Carol Holck and Chelsea Hutchings took their teaching to students' driveways for some appropriate social distance band practice that brought smiles to all.
Struggling with a way to teach music virtually, and missing their whole-group rehearsals and spring concerts, Holck and Hutchings found a way to celebrate music with their students.
"Teaching music remotely is a huge challenge. It's nearly impossible to do any large ensemble rehearsals because of the delay/lag of the video and audio, and even if the delay wasn't an issue, it's hard to get a true sense of the tone (quality of the sound) with which students are playing," the pair said.
"We really missed our band students, and though we had been able to connect with them in small groups over Google Meets, it just wasn't the same. We were collaborating one day, and Carol came up with the idea of driving through the neighborhoods and playing 'social distancing duets' with the kids," Hutchings said.
Realizing their upcoming POPs concert would have been held on May 12, they decided on that day to bring music to their students.
Driving around neighborhoods in their conspicuously decorated van, Holck and Hutchings honked their horn outside of students' houses to call them out for practice. The Driveway Duets brought music and joy to the neighborhoods, and sometimes even an audience.
When the day was done, the teachers had visited 60 houses, playing a few tunes at each stop.
Students and their parents thoroughly enjoyed the event, with smiles and laughter joining the music at each house.
Alto saxophonist Ryan Fletcher was among the students who participated.
"Ryan was thrilled and proud to be playing his saxophone in the front yard with a few neighbors for an audience," Ryan's dad, Kevin Fletcher, said. "It really brought a smile to his face (and mom's and dad's too)!"
"Thank you for showing all our kids so much socially distant love," said Tracy Ouimet, mother of fifth-grade percussionist Sean Ouimet. "It was much appreciated by you both."
Sonja Kaufman, mother of fifth-grade trumpeter Isabelle Kaufman, echoed those sentiments. "This was such a treat to watch. Thank you for finding ways to keep connected."
As for Hutchings and Holck, this experience gave them a boost as they've worked hard to bring effective music experiences to their students virtually.
"It was so encouraging to see our students again and to know that so many of them are doing well. We miss them so much, and to see their faces and get to spend a few minutes connecting, both through talking and playing music together, was so precious to us."