On the band thing, it's K-8, so it probably has less of an impact than it would for more advanced grades. That young, there's probably already quite a bit of variation in tempo with in person practice, so the effect wouldn't be AS noticeable. It's more about getting reps in and being familiar with the instrument, so it's important that they've found a workaround to still make band instruction feasible, if not ideal. High school or college, much bigger problem in the short run, but after you've played a few years, it's easier to come back to after a hiatus.