The Indiana University Marching Hundred will be performing virtually this fall as an effort to avoid the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

It has been an emotional season for members of the Marching Hundred, who thought their season was going to be canceled when the Big Ten announced that all fall sports would be canceled.

Students were dejected by the news,  and additionally, students were scrambling to fix their schedules. Those who aren’t set to graduate began to look forward to preparations for the ‘21 season. 

 A few weeks later, the Big Ten announced the season was back on. That meant the Marching Hundred would take the field after all. 

After a tumultuous start to the year, students were elated. That is, until the University announced that they wouldn’t be able to take the field. 

Still, for members of the band like sophomore snare drummer Brandon Wenning, the show must go on.

The Marching Hundred will perform 3 halftime shows, which will be prerecorded. The band will also pre-record pre-game ceremonies.

Members of the band will not march and play at the same time. Instead, the music will be prerecorded and edited together with the marching video afterward ahead of upcoming home games. 

The band, although not under the athletic department, is taking many of the same precautions as athletes around campus this fall. Students in the band are being tested for the virus once a week.

During practices, the more than 250 students split into two groups with half marching and the other performing music. Wind musicians sport masks with an opening just big enough for their instrument mouthpieces in addition bell covers over their horns to prevent the spread of aerosols. 

For each home game, although the stadium will be mostly empty, the band will prepare 3 songs for the halftime show. 

While students may be singing their best version of the fight song in their backyard or living room this season, they’ll still be able to hear the marching hundred perform it on their Twitter, @HundredIU, and on the screen in the south endzone. 

Brandon Wenning plays the snare drum in his second year in the Marching Hundred. In spite of the chaos that defined the beginning of the season, he believes the band is adept to handle adversity.

That teamwork in the face of adversity has defined the season for this group.  Still, there may be challenges ahead.

The band practices in the parking lot of the stadium 3 times a week, practicing social distancing as often as possible while not being inside.

Not being able to gather inside means not being able to practice on rainy days. Water can cause expensive damage to students’ instruments.

Students know they must take precautions and be careful to avoid the spread. Thus far, the season has gone on without cause for concern. But members like Wenning know that no matter what, they’ll find a way to keep playing.