carter high school Drum line prepares for a semi normal season, amid COVID pandemic

John shippers (front) and Emily wiliford (back), at an event for the East Tennessee performing arts association.

Chastin Maples (front) and Jessie Fouraker (back), also at an event for the east tennessee performing arts association.

The pandemic has hit a lot of clubs incredibly hard, none more so than the carter high school band; I sat down with a member of the drumline and asked them a few questions about what they thought about all of the mandatory changes, such as the mask mandate and the social distancing guidelines; and how they were affecting the band. Here is what they had to say.“It’s the little things, like the cheer we march to”; said Thomas Fields, a member of the Carter High percussion since 2018, when asked about what was different this year, as opposed to last year. Fields added followed the conservation with, “the social distancing was an adjustment, yes; but I would say the real struggle is and was marching while wearing masks.”

pictured above: Chastin Maples (front), and Jesse Fouraker (back) at an event for the east Tennessee performing arts association.

When asked if he still enjoyed the band, Fields had this to say, “yes of course, there is nothing that would make me hate the band, I love getting to play every friday night.” When asked about his thoughts on the new ways of band, Fields said, “It’s different, I’ll say that. but seriously, there are a few changes that maybe aren’t the best like for example having to wear masks, and having to stay six feet apart. I asked mr. Fields if there was anything he didn’t like about the new way of doing things, to which he said, “I don’t particularly like having to learn a new way of playing a song, that I thought was fine as is.” on the same topic, Fields also answered this when asked about what he would change, “I would probably go back to the old cadence that we played in the years prior. Before wrapping up the interview, I asked Mr. Fields if there was anything else that he wanted the public to know, to which he responded; “perhaps it would be, that despite everything going on (including what’s written above); nothing will ever make me hate the band, or the rush of adrenaline that comes with it; and I will most definitely be in the band until I graduate.”