Anyone else worried about winter concerts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school strings concert was canceled.

That is sad for the kids (although like the squeaky-clarinet PP, I would have been personally overjoyed as a parent to not have to sit through an elementary school strings concert...). They are missing out on so much. Cumulatively we have done, and continue to do, a lot of damage to the kids.

I can understand parents not caring about these ES concerts. But please don’t underestimate how important they are to some kids.

My youngest DS has been attending his older siblings’ concerts for years. He was so excited to finally get to 4th grade and play in a concert himself. Yes, he’s a squeaky clarinet, but still.

He was bummed that there was no concert last year. Stuck it out with virtual instrumental music and now no ES concert again in 5th grade. To say he is heartbroken is not an understatement.

It’s just one more thing that took away from our kids unnecessarily. I can see letting kids opt out if they feel unsafe. But for the rest of us, who have seen our kids wade through one disappointment after another, I wish they could make it work. Maybe an outdoor concert in the spring? Anything!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school strings concert was canceled.

That is sad for the kids (although like the squeaky-clarinet PP, I would have been personally overjoyed as a parent to not have to sit through an elementary school strings concert...). They are missing out on so much. Cumulatively we have done, and continue to do, a lot of damage to the kids.

I can understand parents not caring about these ES concerts. But please don’t underestimate how important they are to some kids.

My youngest DS has been attending his older siblings’ concerts for years. He was so excited to finally get to 4th grade and play in a concert himself. Yes, he’s a squeaky clarinet, but still.

He was bummed that there was no concert last year. Stuck it out with virtual instrumental music and now no ES concert again in 5th grade. To say he is heartbroken is not an understatement.

It’s just one more thing that took away from our kids unnecessarily. I can see letting kids opt out if they feel unsafe. But for the rest of us, who have seen our kids wade through one disappointment after another, I wish they could make it work. Maybe an outdoor concert in the spring? Anything!

A concert in elementary school is no big deal. Your kids lost nothing. Be real. You don’t get it. What are your kids losing? Your life is back to normal? The kids losing out are ones like mine where we cannot send them in person as we are only as safe as the least safe person at the school. And, the least safe are spreading it right now. Your kids will be fine. They might grow up to be selfish like their parents but they will survive without a concert. Mine will be fine too but they have learned so much in terms of being good and responsible. You’d have a lot to learn from them. They get why we don’t go to concerts. We are a family who went to at least a dozen a year. No big deal. At some point they know we’ll go again.

[Anonymous]

Our middle school had ours last week. It was fantastic! So glad for a sense of normality even with kids playing through their masks and their instruments with bell covers.

+1. Our middle school did it this week and it was great! They did orchestra, band, and chorus separately on different nights to keep reduce the size of the crowd. Definitely a great solution. It's important to give kids who stuck with their music lessons over Zoom for more than a year a chance to play and be celebrated for their achievements. So proud of our kids. (And our entire family is vaccinated and obviously wore masks to the concert. Not worried about covid.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Our middle school had ours last week. It was fantastic! So glad for a sense of normality even with kids playing through their masks and their instruments with bell covers.

+1. Our middle school did it this week and it was great! They did orchestra, band, and chorus separately on different nights to keep reduce the size of the crowd. Definitely a great solution. It's important to give kids who stuck with their music lessons over Zoom for more than a year a chance to play and be celebrated for their achievements. So proud of our kids. (And our entire family is vaccinated and obviously wore masks to the concert. Not worried about covid.)

+1 million

Cancel these concerts and we’ll see an even worse degradation of our Music program. So many kids gave up last year with the virtual lessons.

Part of what makes Band fun is playing WITH other kids. It can be done safely. It is being done all over the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Our middle school had ours last week. It was fantastic! So glad for a sense of normality even with kids playing through their masks and their instruments with bell covers.

+1. Our middle school did it this week and it was great! They did orchestra, band, and chorus separately on different nights to keep reduce the size of the crowd. Definitely a great solution. It's important to give kids who stuck with their music lessons over Zoom for more than a year a chance to play and be celebrated for their achievements. So proud of our kids. (And our entire family is vaccinated and obviously wore masks to the concert. Not worried about covid.)

+1 million

Cancel these concerts and we’ll see an even worse degradation of our Music program. So many kids gave up last year with the virtual lessons.

Part of what makes Band fun is playing WITH other kids. It can be done safely. It is being done all over the country.

It’s about Covid. If we don’t teach and show our kids how to function as a community and teach them about being responsible who will. No wonder we have the spread we do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school strings concert was canceled.

That is sad for the kids (although like the squeaky-clarinet PP, I would have been personally overjoyed as a parent to not have to sit through an elementary school strings concert...). They are missing out on so much. Cumulatively we have done, and continue to do, a lot of damage to the kids.

I can understand parents not caring about these ES concerts. But please don’t underestimate how important they are to some kids.

My youngest DS has been attending his older siblings’ concerts for years. He was so excited to finally get to 4th grade and play in a concert himself. Yes, he’s a squeaky clarinet, but still.

He was bummed that there was no concert last year. Stuck it out with virtual instrumental music and now no ES concert again in 5th grade. To say he is heartbroken is not an understatement.

It’s just one more thing that took away from our kids unnecessarily. I can see letting kids opt out if they feel unsafe. But for the rest of us, who have seen our kids wade through one disappointment after another, I wish they could make it work. Maybe an outdoor concert in the spring? Anything!

A concert in elementary school is no big deal. Your kids lost nothing. Be real. You don’t get it. What are your kids losing? Your life is back to normal? The kids losing out are ones like mine where we cannot send them in person as we are only as safe as the least safe person at the school. And, the least safe are spreading it right now. Your kids will be fine. They might grow up to be selfish like their parents but they will survive without a concert. Mine will be fine too but they have learned so much in terms of being good and responsible. You’d have a lot to learn from them. They get why we don’t go to concerts. We are a family who went to at least a dozen a year. No big deal. At some point they know we’ll go again.

I had so many things that I wanted to say in response to this. But I’m going to just bite my tongue. It’s clear that you and your family are struggling. It is a tough time for all of us, and I hope things get better for everyone.

Sending good thoughts your way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Our middle school had ours last week. It was fantastic! So glad for a sense of normality even with kids playing through their masks and their instruments with bell covers.

+1. Our middle school did it this week and it was great! They did orchestra, band, and chorus separately on different nights to keep reduce the size of the crowd. Definitely a great solution. It's important to give kids who stuck with their music lessons over Zoom for more than a year a chance to play and be celebrated for their achievements. So proud of our kids. (And our entire family is vaccinated and obviously wore masks to the concert. Not worried about covid.)

I’m OP and this sounds great to me. Our school made no adjustment, all six groups played together. There was close to a thousand people and the only way to find your kid after was to cram into a hallway with everyone else to look for them as they came out. I guess they did make the concert slightly shorter but it was jam packed. I’m sure there were at least a dozen people there with covid, given our numbers at the school and the associated HS. Finger crossed. I just don’t know why they didn’t make small congeners or plan for things like where parents could meet their kids, etc. it was a nice concert and they did a good job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school strings concert was canceled.

That is sad for the kids (although like the squeaky-clarinet PP, I would have been personally overjoyed as a parent to not have to sit through an elementary school strings concert...). They are missing out on so much. Cumulatively we have done, and continue to do, a lot of damage to the kids.

I can understand parents not caring about these ES concerts. But please don’t underestimate how important they are to some kids.

My youngest DS has been attending his older siblings’ concerts for years. He was so excited to finally get to 4th grade and play in a concert himself. Yes, he’s a squeaky clarinet, but still.

He was bummed that there was no concert last year. Stuck it out with virtual instrumental music and now no ES concert again in 5th grade. To say he is heartbroken is not an understatement.

It’s just one more thing that took away from our kids unnecessarily. I can see letting kids opt out if they feel unsafe. But for the rest of us, who have seen our kids wade through one disappointment after another, I wish they could make it work. Maybe an outdoor concert in the spring? Anything!

A concert in elementary school is no big deal. Your kids lost nothing. Be real. You don’t get it. What are your kids losing? Your life is back to normal? The kids losing out are ones like mine where we cannot send them in person as we are only as safe as the least safe person at the school. And, the least safe are spreading it right now. Your kids will be fine. They might grow up to be selfish like their parents but they will survive without a concert. Mine will be fine too but they have learned so much in terms of being good and responsible. You’d have a lot to learn from them. They get why we don’t go to concerts. We are a family who went to at least a dozen a year. No big deal. At some point they know we’ll go again.

I had so many things that I wanted to say in response to this. But I’m going to just bite my tongue. It’s clear that you and your family are struggling. It is a tough time for all of us, and I hope things get better for everyone.

Sending good thoughts your way.

What exactly since this fall have your kids had taken away? Your kids are back in school and presumably living life as normal. So, what exactly have your kids lost?

My family is fine. It sucks to not do the things we used to do but we'll get back to it when its safe to. My kids understand and are choosing to act responsibly. Too bad you didn't choose to teach your kids the same thing.

Your kids will be just fine without concerts. If they really love music, like mine do, they will play their instruments regardless of concerts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Our middle school had ours last week. It was fantastic! So glad for a sense of normality even with kids playing through their masks and their instruments with bell covers.

+1. Our middle school did it this week and it was great! They did orchestra, band, and chorus separately on different nights to keep reduce the size of the crowd. Definitely a great solution. It's important to give kids who stuck with their music lessons over Zoom for more than a year a chance to play and be celebrated for their achievements. So proud of our kids. (And our entire family is vaccinated and obviously wore masks to the concert. Not worried about covid.)

I’m OP and this sounds great to me. Our school made no adjustment, all six groups played together. There was close to a thousand people and the only way to find your kid after was to cram into a hallway with everyone else to look for them as they came out. I guess they did make the concert slightly shorter but it was jam packed. I’m sure there were at least a dozen people there with covid, given our numbers at the school and the associated HS. Finger crossed. I just don’t know why they didn’t make small congeners or plan for things like where parents could meet their kids, etc. it was a nice concert and they did a good job.

This sounds completely irresponsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our middle school had ours last week. It was fantastic! So glad for a sense of normality even with kids playing through their masks and their instruments with bell covers.

I know that's appealing but kids could be blasting covid into a room by blowing into their instruments. This could be a superspreader.

You’re right, but don’t bother. These people don’t care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don't feel safe going, then don't go. Drop your kid up before, pick your kid up afterward.

maybe OP is concerned about the school community and our teachers.

.

Other than the Band and Orchestra teacher, I have never seen another teacher at our school concerts.

My kid’s Band teacher desperately wants to go forward with this concert. She LOVES her job and will be devastated if the concert is cancelled.

Anyone who is concerned about the school community and our Music teachers wants to see these concerts held safely. Require masks and let the kids do their thing.

I really don’t care if the adult teacher “will be devastated.” She is an adult and should understand being responsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don't feel safe going, then don't go. Drop your kid up before, pick your kid up afterward.

maybe OP is concerned about the school community and our teachers.

why aren't members of the school community and the teachers vaccinated..?

They are. However, that's where we are seeing the big outbreaks.

So…. the vaccine mandates probably weren’t necessary.

Wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don't feel safe going, then don't go. Drop your kid up before, pick your kid up afterward.

maybe OP is concerned about the school community and our teachers.

why aren't members of the school community and the teachers vaccinated..?

They are. However, that's where we are seeing the big outbreaks.

So…. the vaccine mandates probably weren’t necessary.

Teachers and staff were pressured to get vaccinated. Most did on their own. Its not as simple as vaccinating everyone. Never has, never will be except if we get a better vaccine.

I agree. Yet, here we are with these ridiculous mandates. And now colleges are mandating boosters.

Also, teachers were forced to get vaccinated. At first, MCPS did not even allow a religious exemption. Someone thankfully filed a lawsuit and they had to backtrack from that.

“Religious exemptions” to the COVID vaccine are a joke and an excuse for toddler tantrums from adults screaming YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!!

Even Christian Science allows the vaccine. Such BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don't feel safe going, then don't go. Drop your kid up before, pick your kid up afterward.

maybe OP is concerned about the school community and our teachers.

why aren't members of the school community and the teachers vaccinated..?

They are. However, that's where we are seeing the big outbreaks.

So…. the vaccine mandates probably weren’t necessary.

Teachers and staff were pressured to get vaccinated. Most did on their own. Its not as simple as vaccinating everyone. Never has, never will be except if we get a better vaccine.

I agree. Yet, here we are with these ridiculous mandates. And now colleges are mandating boosters.

Also, teachers were forced to get vaccinated. At first, MCPS did not even allow a religious exemption. Someone thankfully filed a lawsuit and they had to backtrack from that.

“Religious exemptions” to the COVID vaccine are a joke and an excuse for toddler tantrums from adults screaming YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!!

Even Christian Science allows the vaccine. Such BS.

The majority of teachers and staff are vaccinated. The majority of high school and MS students are vaccinated. MoCo has a very high vaccinate rate.

So, what is the excuse now that we have people with at least two, many three shots and we are seeing high rates of covid, especially in vaccinated.

What do you propose the solution when its clearly not as simple as vaccinating everyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you don't feel safe going, then don't go. Drop your kid up before, pick your kid up afterward.

maybe OP is concerned about the school community and our teachers.

.

Other than the Band and Orchestra teacher, I have never seen another teacher at our school concerts.

My kid’s Band teacher desperately wants to go forward with this concert. She LOVES her job and will be devastated if the concert is cancelled.

Anyone who is concerned about the school community and our Music teachers wants to see these concerts held safely. Require masks and let the kids do their thing.

I really don’t care if the adult teacher “will be devastated.” She is an adult and should understand being responsible.

They could have done a video concert either live during the day when the kids were in school and had monitors with the parents/family on them so the kids could see or videos where they could watch as a family in the evening. So many options to do a concert safely.