Middle School Band Members Swap Fall Concert for Master Class in Music

Virtual classes were led by JCPS band directors, guest artists

In a normal year, hundreds of Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) middle school band students would be participating in the fall All-County Music Festival, which brings together students from across the district to perform in the annual concert.  

But 2020 has been anything but normal, and when this year’s performance was canceled due to the pandemic, JCPS band directors were forced to think outside the music box.

“Top chair players have been hungry for an opportunity during this NTI experience to feel like they’re still doing something,” said Joseph Stivers, band director for Crosby Middle School and chair of the annual music festival.  “In lieu of meeting in person, we wanted to put something in motion in keeping with our traditions. We knew this would take some work – how can we create a unique opportunity that not just involves one school, but any school that wants to participate?”

The result was a weeklong virtual ‘master class’ in music, open to any JCPS seventh or eighth grade band member.  The classes, held at the end of November, were hosted by a JCPS band director and led by a guest artist – professional teachers and musicians who are “considered among the best in Louisville,” Stivers said.

The Master Class provided students a fun and unique opportunity to have an engaged, hands-on learning experience, he added.  And while the hope is that students will be able to perform in person for the spring show, the response to this year’s master class has been so positive it may be time for an encore.

“It’s been terrific. Kids will post in the stream and share ideas and videos with each other,” Stivers said. “It’s been neat to see it still kind of creates momentum and excitement.”