As people everywhere work to curb the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, the Jersey Surf is shifting its plans for the coming weekend to help minimize potential exposure through person-to-person contact and to ensure continuity in its winter educational program and preparation for the 2020 Drum Corps International Tour.
“In light of the considerable logistics involved with any rehearsal weekend, we are taking action to avoid placing additional stress on our members, staff, volunteers and campus facilities by canceling the in-person camp and shifting instead to our Virtual Camp plan,” said Stephanie Dutcher, Assistant Corps Director.
According to Program Coordinator Tom Kershaw, the Surf instructional team created this plan in the event of inclement weather or other circumstances which would prevent a traditional rehearsal weekend.
“Although nothing can replace the quality of instruction and the overall educational experience of being in the same place at the same time, our Brass Education Team, under the leadership of section manager Chris Devona, has created a solid plan which will keep the teaching process moving forward as we prepare for warmer weather and the start of outdoor rehearsals,” Kershaw said. “Our staff and performing members are technologically-savvy enough to make this happen, leveraging live streaming video conferencing capabilities and adding to our existing practice of submitting video recordings of assignments between camp weekends.”
The weekend will begin with a staff video conference call on Friday evening to organize the weekend’s tasks, while corps members review music and execute assignments in preparation for Saturday rehearsal blocks. Members will prepare as if in an actual rehearsal setting.
Saturday’s schedule will include a full brass section morning meeting with members and staff, prior to dividing into individual video sub-sectional conference rooms hosted by each section instructor. Rehearsals will conclude with a full section wrap-up conversation prior to breaking for lunch.
In the afternoon, performers will schedule themselves into private lessons with their respective brass staff members and will participate in a Virtual Corps Meeting to end the day.
Sunday will conclude the camp weekend, with performers submitting the weekend’s assignments for evaluation and feedback prior to the regular Sunday camp dismissal time.
“We’ve had an exciting winter so far, and we want to keep the momentum going,” added Kershaw. “Our 30th Anniversary Season has all the makings of a great year for the entire organization, and we want to make sure we’re being proactive in continuing our progress.”
