Visual & Performing Arts Covid19 Guidance

Guiding Principles: Curriculum and scheduling must be mindful of how instruction can support the social and emotional wellbeing of students, whether through artistic creation, classroom instruction, or virtual environments in the COVID-19 era. Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Art teachers possess specialized training and pedagogy and should be able to teach in the area in which they are highly qualified.

Elementary Band & Orchestra

• Masks must be worn at all times.
• Bell covers and woodwind bags must be utilized.
• Ziplock bags or puppy pads for water keys on brass must be utilized.
• Students must stay in their seats while instruments are in play.
• Students may not share music or other materials.
• Webex Classes will be utilized.
• No sharing of music stands.
• Students wipe down their music stand and chair after each rehearsal.
• Students may not share music or other materials.
• Must use the CDC guidelines for social distancing of 6x6 feet, with 9x6 for trombone players.
• Indoor rehearsals should last for 30 minutes followed by clearing the room for 20-minutes for the HVAC system tochange the air indoors with outside air.
• If proper HVAC exchange cannot happen, instruction should occur outdoors.
• Hand washing/hand sanitizing should occur en-route to class.
• Students must clean instruments regularly.
• Classes should always occur outside, if possible.

Woodwind Bags and Bell Covers

So what do woodwind bags and bell covers look like?

Bell covers are like masks that fit over the bell of brass instruments. Here's a website that sells them so you can see examples:

https://www.mccormicksnet.com/Instrument-Bell-Cover-p/3070010.htm

And woodwind bags fit over the whole instrument with holes for the hands to fit in so the player can still touch the instrument. Here's a link to an example: 

https://www.mccormicksnet.com/Saxophone-Instrument-Cover-p/3070016.htm

I do not expect you to buy these. But we do have to cover the instruments. You are welcome to make them from a pillowcase, or to go to Etsy, or other websites that can give you ideas. This is a new time and we have to protect everyone from the particles that could be in the air.