San Jose State’s Spartan Marching Band is moving its pregame and halftime performances online, because of social distancing regulations.
The Mountain West Conference announced on Sept. 25 that the football season will start Oct. 24. However, the number of fans and performers allowed in the stadium will be determined by each university in accordance with state, county and local health ordinances.
In spring, SJSU Athletics decided not to allow fans in the stadium or bands to perform during football games in order to adhere to Santa Clara County public health guidelines, according to Lawrence Fan, associate athletics director for football communications and
special projects.
On July 14, the Santa Clara County public health department issued guidelines for large gatherings and stated that singing, shouting or playing wind instruments significantly increases the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Then on
Oct. 5, the department issued an order prohibiting fans from attending any collegiate sporting event.
According to the band’s web page, the marching band consists of more than one hundred students who play instruments, perform in the color guard or are on the dance team.
Before the pandemic, the band normally played at CEFCU Stadium during every Spartan home football game. Band members performed at the beginning of each game and then again during halftime.
Craig McKenzie, the marching band director, said band members play traditional SJSU fight songs like “Fight on Spartan” for the pregame show. During the halftime show, the band will play songs from different artists or genres and create unique marches to go along with the music.
Because of the coronavirus, things run a bit differently. Now, each member is recording and submitting a video to McKenzie of themselves playing or dancing along to the pregame and halftime show songs. The deadline for members to submit their clips is at the end of the week, McKenzie said.
Once McKenzie has all the videos, he will send it to Arts Laureate, an audio recording and editing company, to be assembled to make it look like a cohesive performance.
“One of the aims of these projects is to let people know we’re still creating a sense of school spirit,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie said the virtual shows will be posted on the band’s social media page and will potentially be played on the scoreboard during football games once the video is finished.
AJ Gonzales, the co-drum major and a music education senior said he is excited to see the results of the video and use it for the band’s publicity and recruitment. However, Gonzales said he is sad because that means he won’t be able to conduct or lead the band in person.
“The hardest thing about being a [drum major] during this time, is that I’m not a leader,” Gonzales said over the phone. “I’m not on the podium. I don’t get to help with rehearsal. I’m just a member.”
A drum major leads the marching band during rehearsals and performances as well as assists the band director with instructing and organizing the band.
Dominic Tejam, a trumpet player and accounting senior, said that creating the virtual performance won’t be as fun as a live one. Tejam said he can’t talk with his peers and bond with them.
“We’re separated from our [marching band] family and the only thing connecting us together is Zoom calls. It’s just not the same,” Tejam said over the phone.
Like Tejam, Mackenzie Wuopio, a mellophone player and psychology senior, said creating a video can never compete with physically performing on the field.
“When I’m playing [live] I feel the sound around me . . . I get goosebumps and it gives me this rush of pure joy,” Wuopio said over the phone. “I’m never going to be able to get that same feeling from some speakers on a computer.”
