The Wareham Middle School bands performed on Jan. 20 — their first winter concert in two years.

Caitlin Francese, the band director, said the concert was “an amazing evening.”

“It’s just amazing to be able to show off the skills that these students have acquired in such a short period of time,” Francese said.

The school has three bands — one each for the fifth, sixth and seventh grade — each with about 25 student musicians.

The fifth graders came into the year with no band experience, Francese said. Due to the pandemic, band was a remote club for the 2020 to 2021 school year. 

“We took our audience on a journey from September, where they started, to where they are now,” Francese explained. 

While students have been able to play together in the band room this year, there have been some changes to make sure they are covid-safe.

“This year, we have bell covers and special masks and flute masks, so there’s a lot more stuff in the room,” Francese said. 

When presented with the items at the start of the year, students were mostly concerned that using the gear would change the sound of their instruments. Luckily, the equipment allows them to play safely with a sound that’s just as good.

“Now that the kids are used to it, it hasn’t become a hindrance,” Francese said. 

This year, a sixth grader played a drum kit for several songs — including the fifth grade’s performance of “Hard Rock Blues,” which Francese described as a “really fun rock tune.”

“I think at every concert it’s fair to say there’s a balance of nerves and excitement,” Francese said. This year, the balance leaned a little more toward nerves, but as the night went on, the students were more confident.

Francese thanked all of the families, community members, students, administrators and others for their support of the band. 

The event was recorded by WCTV, and Francese said that a spring concert has been scheduled for April.