Aucklynn Sacco, Gilpin County. The world shifted dramatically when Covid-19 struck and caused a nation-wide lockdown. Schools shifted from teaching in person, to teaching online, and the way of teaching changed dramatically. After many months of doing these online classes, teachers began to adjust to the new way of school. However, a few months ago schools began to go back in person, and once again the teachers had to re-adjust to fit the new Covid-19 protocols. Many teachers had difficulties adjusting their classroom, but it was especially hard for the music program to reconfigure. Randi Ebers, the Gilpin County elementary, middle and high school music teacher had to think out of the box to make the class work, while still being fun and educational.

With the new Covid procedure, concerts are out of the picture, so instead of the class being concert and performance based, the class is now focusing more on the theory of music, techniques used in singing and playing instruments, and the strategies for mastery. 

Ebers says that for the high school and middle school classes she is “looking for more individualized enhancement for the students’ independent singing or playing.” Even though she is focusing on the individual, she is still having the students to work together. The groups are also doing things outside of their comfort zone, like the high school choir is learning how to play ukulele to the songs that they are singing. And through all of this the students still get the opportunity to perform by “doing recitals instead of concerts, which is the students doing small performances in front of each other.” 

The elementary students are doing work that is more hands on. The students play music games that involve cards, some of the games include note matching, rhythm making, and musical hopscotch. In all music classes Ebers wants to make sure that above all the students are learning and having fun, even though they can no longer work in large groups. 

(Originally published in the November 19, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)