Music majors at Cal State LA are still struggling to work with the mask mandate that the university has put in place.
When students first came back to campus, they had to play under a white tent outside of the music building. The tent is now empty and students are no longer playing instruments outside but this doesn’t mean that their pandemic challenges are now over.
After having a year’s worth of virtual classes and playing outside under a tent the next semester, students are back inside and ready to take their masks off.
Several students interviewed said that having virtual classes was not easy during the pandemic. Once back on campus, students had to adapt to many changes, such as playing with masks on.
The most affected students have been the wind instrument music players and the singers within the music department, according to the students interviewed.
“Singers were the ones that were seen as the super spreaders and they’re desperately ready to sing with their mask off,” said Emily Moss, associate chair for the Department of Music.
Safety protocols to mitigate COVID-19 transmission were put in place, including special instrument masks and a bell cover for the instruments, according to Moss.
“Everything we’ve been allowed to do has been directed to us, we’ve made suggestions, we’ve said ‘here’s what the science says is OK’ and at every step, we are told no [by the university],” Moss said.
The College of Arts and Letters has been following the LA County Public Health Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education Requirements and Best Practices, according to Associate Dean of College of Arts and Letters Katherine Weiss.
“The transition, at every step, has been bettering our situation,” Moss said. “From not being together at all to being together but outside under the tent and then from the tent to inside. So each step has been better and better even though there are still constraints due to protocols.”
The general feeling is that everybody in the music department is ready to be done wearing masks while playing and singing, according to Moss.
“I was comfortable being back because being stuck online wasn’t ideal as a music major,” said Allison Nech, a music education major. “Having masks while playing an instrument is very restricting. The sound gets stuck in the mask, and we have to play twice or three times as loud to get a better sound.”
Students also faced challenges as far as having the ideal setup to be able to play from home while the classes were being held virtually for all students.
Nech said that she had to purchase a microphone to get a good quality sound.
“Making the extra expense was not in my plans at the moment,” she said.
Due to the pandemic, she also had to find a space that accommodated her from home.
“Coming back was a lot different than what [the students] were used to,” said Gabriel Salas, a trombone player and music education major. “Social distance and being six feet apart made it harder to play as an orchestra because it was harder to hear each other. Whoever designed these masks does not play music.”
Students and staff are frustrated that the university is not following LA County health guidelines by lowering the mask mandate like they have been following for two years, according to Moss.
“Playing with masks affects our sound,” said Simon Alvarez, a jazz study major. “Rehearsing outside is very distracting, so I like being inside more because the sound is better as well as the productivity. I am ready to take off my mask to play music better because I am vaccinated and also because I know the people around me are also vaccinated and responsible enough to take COVID tests.”
Moss wanted to emphasize how resilient the students have been during the pandemic.
“Our students are amazing at adapting to the situations,” Moss said. “The situation with the masks and the bell covers does not help them play better, it takes away from the musical experience but instead of complaining they adapt and continue to make the best out of it.”
Conferences have been canceled due to the university not allowing them to travel, but there are still many events and concerts taking place that everyone can enjoy.
The concerts are posted on their website and they are free for everybody to attend. This month there is a guitar ensemble on Tuesday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. that students will be able to attend in person at the campus Music Hall or via Facebook’s livestream.
“The music department has worked tirelessly to bring music training to our students in far from ideal circumstances and I am very proud of my colleagues and students for what they’ve been able to achieve in such circumstances,” Moss said.
