Giant mirrors reflect hardworking students, specialized areas and sound-proof practice rooms where students have the chance to play and sing all opened for students on August 18.
Choir, Band and Orchestra groups will enjoy a brand new hallway, including larger rehearsal rooms, additional resources and more bathrooms. Now, students will be able to play and sing like no one is watching. This addition will greatly benefit music-focused students with space specifically designed for them to improve and collaborate with peers.
“With the new space, we will be able to be more competitive because we now have access to new practice rooms, allowing individuals and groups to practice music outside of the ensemble,” senior Ethan Allen said. “Other than that, the new tiling allows us to practice marching basics and choreography, improving our visual scoring capabilities.”
In many instances, groups faced hardships regarding practice spaces that fit both their needs and others’ at once. “Mr. Vanderbush has been critical in ensuring we are taken care of with practice space,” said Band Director Michael Carpenter. “With the new band space, we will be able to lessen the time needed in the athletic facilities. Another special detail is that we have a grid on the floor that will allow us to use it as we would use yard lines on a football field. When the weather isn’t cooperating or the field isn’t available, we still have a place we can practice.” Classes can be assured that they will have a space for themselves, making it easier for them to schedule practices and rehearsals.
Choir students previously practiced with minimal mirrors and smaller classrooms, making it difficult to reach their full potential; however, the new area will guarantee many opportunities for them to grow.
“The old one was a lot smaller and we only had small mirrors on one side of the classroom that we couldn’t even fit all the risers in and there were no sound barriers,” senior Jaslyne Riley explained. “We only had three practice rooms and they were terrible,”
In contrast with the previous choir room, the renovated area is lined with ceiling-high mirrors and will allow for a new riser build. Practice rooms are located in the hallways and will enable students to enjoy a distraction-free environment to focus on perfection. Mirrors will help students to clean choreography effectively and spot imperfections.
After spending several years in the old choir room, Riley is eager to enjoy larger mirrors, new practice rooms and better sound control in the new area.
With these new improvements, the performing arts are stoked to level up their performances and placements. They now have a better chance at scoring well with bigger schools and growing the programs. Allen said, “I feel that these changes will be monumental in improving the capabilities and ability to compete at competitions year round.”
Story by Mikayla Sieczko
Photos by Norman Wagner