Updated Guidelines for Music Classrooms
Posted by Rei Murray on August 03, 2021
The International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study has released updated guidelines for music education classrooms for the upcoming school year. The guidance updates previous mitigation tactics with the understanding that states need to consult local and state COVID-19 guidance and transmission rates for appropriate mitigation adoption and adjust accordingly.
Updated guidelines are as follows:
Outdoors:
- No mitigation is needed for outdoor performances depending on the level of local and state transmission rates. Outdoors remain the safest space for performances.
Indoors:
- Masking with appropriate material remains the best way of reducing potential infected aerosol from circulating in an indoor space. Masks are recommended be worn while singing and speaking.
- Bell covers made from appropriate material remain the best way of reducing potential infected aerosol from circulating in an indoor space.
- Depending on your comfort level, instrumentalists can wear masks only when speaking and slitted performance masks are optional.
- In spaces with good ventilation rates and HEPA filtration, increased indoor rehearsal times of 50 minutes may be considered. A minimum of 3 air exchanges per hour should be used, if there are spaces with higher air change rates, you may consider longer rehearsal times.
- Distancing may be decreased to 3 feet, adjusting farther or closer depending on local conditions.
- Continue good hygiene practice moving forward, including appropriate elimination of brass fluid.
- Plastic face shields only stop large droplets, not aerosol; room dividers inhibit the function of the HVAC system and are not recommended
Read the Updated Guidelines in its entirety here: