After viral video, expect more from Graham-Kapowsin High’s ‘social distancing’ bands
The students of the wind ensemble class at Graham-Kapowsin High School feel like rock stars — and for good reason.
David Stewart, the high school’s band director, created a concert using individual videos submitted by his students by compiling them into a single video he posted on YouTube.
The video has gone viral on multiple news channels, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I had no idea that people would enjoy it so much,” said Stewart, who’s taught at Graham-Kapowsin for two years.
The students were so excited from the response, Stewart said, that other band classes — there are six at Graham-Kapowsin — want to do their own.
“That video was our test to see if this project was even feasible and then it took off, and everyone really liked it,” Stewart said. “Now we’re doing it with all of their classes.”
Stewart had the idea to make the video after a band concert scheduled for March was canceled due to restrictions from the COVID-19 response to practice social distancing. Shortly after, schools were closed across the state.
“We were really bummed about that, but we were thinking of different alternatives,” he said.
Stewart asked his students to submit videos of themselves playing Canzon per Sonar No. 2 by Giovanni Gabrieli, which they’ve been practicing for weeks, with the intent of putting together a concert for families.
To make sure they stayed on the same tempo, Stewart gave them an MP3 click track, used to synchronize sound recordings. In the video, students are wearing headphones.
“Everyone is actually listening to the same click track while they play,” Stewart said.
Stewart spent more than 15 hours creating the video using multiple types of editing software.
Stewart wanted his students to be able to show their families something they were proud of.
“When we were making this video, we were only thinking about the students and their families,” Stewart said.
Stewart said his students deserve to be recognized.
“They worked so hard,” he said.
Stewart said the Bethel School District and staff at Graham-Kapowsin High School have continued to be supportive amid the school closures.
“It brought everyone together,” he said of the video.
