The Beaver Area High School music department put their own spin on musical chairs as the band, orchestra, and choirs switched rooms this year.

The music department instructors moved rooms at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year to improve each ensemble’s ability to social distance based on class sizes.

The orchestra, having the smallest class, moved into the former choir room. The choirs moved into the band room, and the band moved to the stage area and auditorium.

“The band would not have fit at six foot distancing in the band room,” explained choirs director Mrs. Susan Metelsky.

The switched ensemble rooms were maintained throughout last year and into this school year, and the music department’s current belief is that the change is now permanent. However, the decision has generated mixed reactions.

“For the orchestra, the room switch is mostly a benefit in the sense that we finally can have an enclosed space,” said orchestra director Mrs. Kristina Graham, “It’s easier for us to hear each other when we’re rehearsing.”

“I like all this space,” said Mrs. Metelsky. “For me, [there are] absolutely [no disadvantages, other than] my office is not in my room anymore. I love all the space that I have in [the former band room] now.”

Mrs. Metelsky believes there’s a possibility that the ensemble directors will change their offices to their corresponding rooms after her retirement in 2023.

Some members of the music department are enjoying the switch, but others aren’t happy.

“I want to go back the original rooms,” said senior Ciana Novak, who plays the euphonium in the band.

Senior Kara Huber, playing clarinet in the band, agreed with Novak: “I want to go back to the original rooms, too. I like having my seat, and not needing to stand up every time I want to play because we’re in the [auditorium].”

Mrs. Graham also voiced a concern about preparing for concerts on the stage. When the orchestra rehearsed in the auditorium, players had the ability to spend more time gauging volume in the larger space.

“The disadvantage, of course, is that we [no longer] rehearse on the stage, and so when we perform on the stage, it sounds quite different,” explained Mrs. Graham. “The biggest disadvantage is for our cello[s] and basses, and the arrangement of the [room’s] steps. They’re not set up wide enough for string players, but we work around that.”

The curtains on stage were replaced two weeks ago, but other than that, further changes within the music wing consist primarily of renovation rumors.

“There was talk about [renovating the] lobby, but I haven’t heard anything about that,” said Mrs. Metelsky. “And there’s been talk about . . . possibly changing up the light booth right now . . . to open it up to have full glass [instead of solid wall overlooking the stage]. They’re checking to see if it’s a load-bearing wall.”

If these renovations do occur, it is unlikely that they will be completed in the near future.