By Alesha Capone
You can’t stop the beat – just ask musicians from the Werribee Concert Band.
Members of the band have put together an isolation video to keep the music going during the coronavirus pandemic.
Individual musicians have filmed themselves playing a song from the Hairspray musical, and their footage has been stitched together into the one clip.
Samantha Garrick, who serves as the band’s equipment officer and section leader of the low brass section, said participating in the video had given her motivation to continue practising during the pandemic lockdown.
Ms Garrick said the band’s president Larry Petrolo came up with the idea for the video, which has amassed more than 10,000 views since being loaded to the concert band’s Facebook page on May 12.
“He [Larry] said he wanted something to keep the band engaged and motivated to practice at home,” Ms Garrick said.
“He hoped the video would turn into something we all could be proud of.
“Music is a great way to keep the mind healthy and happy, so I think he was right on the money.”
Ms Garrick said the band’s baritone saxophone player Evan Thomson stitched the individual musicians’ videos together.
She said that during the pandemic, band members had been rehearsing separately but taking part in a weekly online Zoom call.
“We chat and catch up, and sometimes play games or have little trivia nights,” she said.
“The social aspect of the band is so important to most of us and it’s great to have some level of normalcy where we can.”
Details: www.facebook.com/werribeecb/
