Musicians keep the beat at home
Mayfield’s award-winning Women’s Ensemble has always embraced creative challenges, but making music remotely was a new feather in their choral caps. To build their virtual choir, students had to record solo tracks from their bedrooms, without the conducting cues they’re used to getting in the music studio. “Not having our conductor or accompanist made us focus on our counting a lot more,” said Sophia Paz ’20, and on “the musicality of each piece.”
Alyssa Atienza ’22, a self-taught editor who worked behind the scenes to blend the individual recordings into a finished video, said she learned more than new software skills—the project also improved her grasp of rhythm, meter, and tempo. And, watching the final version of the group’s heartfelt rendition of Randy Newman’s “When She Loved Me,” she said, felt “almost like we were in a performance.”
Our instrumentalists conquered similar challenges to create their on-screen musical mash-ups. Playing solo made it difficult to stay in tune but, after weeks of COVID quarantine, students were excited to make music together any way they could. “It's definitely a privilege to work with my peers, even if we're apart,” said guitarist Karissa Ho ’21. The group decided to record the high-energy Journey anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’” because, Karissa said, it had “the kind of optimistic and bold energy that we felt the Mayfield community could use.”
And they were right—these virtual video concerts were a much-needed morale boost for Mayfield musicians and audiences alike. As singer Agueda Berlot ’20 put it, “Despite being miles and screens apart from my friends and classmates, it’s doing things like this that make me grateful for being a part of this community.”
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Our instrumentalists conquered similar challenges to create their on-screen musical mash-ups. Playing solo made it difficult to stay in tune but, after weeks of COVID quarantine, students were excited to make music together any way they could. “It's definitely a privilege to work with my peers, even if we're apart,” said guitarist Karissa Ho ’21. The group decided to record the high-energy Journey anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’” because, Karissa said, it had “the kind of optimistic and bold energy that we felt the Mayfield community could use.”
And they were right—these virtual video concerts were a much-needed morale boost for Mayfield musicians and audiences alike. As singer Agueda Berlot ’20 put it, “Despite being miles and screens apart from my friends and classmates, it’s doing things like this that make me grateful for being a part of this community.”
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Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.
