Playing the sousaphone through a medical mask is no easy feat, so Casey Ames got creative.
Ames, a member of the Concord High marching band, poked a hole in his mask for his lips to touch his mouthpiece during the end-of-summer band camp this week.
Band members aren’t actually required to wear masks when playing wind instruments, but all students and adults keep them on the rest of the time as they march, rehearse and instruct.
The fate of the marching band was tied to other extracurricular activities like sports. The Concord School Board decided to start the school year remotely, leaving some activities at a standstill. A week later the board altered course allowing sports and other extracurriculars to go ahead as long as they followed social distancing guidelines.
In order to mitigate risks, band members brought or were provided a covering for the end of their instruments.