Band in the Time of Covid

A Question and Answer Guide for the Northwood Band Program

Mrs. Turinske

8/19/2020

Who is this for?

• Students 5th grade to 12th grade who are participating in band, parents, guardians, administration, and community members who have questions or concerns about how Band will work during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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• There is a section at the end of this presentation specifically for 5th grade beginning band questions, answers, and protocols.

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• There will be a section talking about virtual school students and expectations.

FAQ

Questions:

1.Can we still play instruments in school?

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2.How in the world do you play with a mask on?

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3.How do I empty my spit valve?

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4.What happens if we go virtual?

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1. Can we still play instruments in school?

Yes! We can safely play our instruments in school! We just need to take some extra precautions. The University of Colorado performed studies over the summer on how aerosols travel while playing brass and woodwind instruments. We will be using the findings from this study to guide how we set up and perform in the band room. You can find the results from the study here if you would like to look into more information on the study.

2. How in the world do you play with a mask?

The very generous ladies at The River Church have created BAND MASKS for us! Essentially the mask is two overlapping parts. You can separate them to put your mouthpiece in your mouth and the mask will close around the mouth piece.

These will stay in the band room. There will be a “clean” bin and a “dirty” bin. As you come into class you will grab one from the clean bin. As you exit you will drop it in the dirty bin and they will be cleaned daily.

If you are alone in a practice room or we are outside far enough apart you do not need to wear a mask.

*Percussion do not need to wear a band mask, they can wear whatever PPE they wear for regular classes.

2.a How you you play Flute with a mask?

You can’t! So we will be providing flute shields you will put on the flute. Any time you are not playing for an extended period of time you should put your mask back on.

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3. How do I empty my spit valve?

You will be provided a disposable cup that you will get at the start of class and you should empty it only in the cup and dispose of the cup as you leave class.

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ANYONE who tries to blow spit, dump their cup, or do anything weird or gross with this will be given a referral and sent to the office. We all want to create music together, but we can only do that if we work together to keep each other safe.

4. What happens if we go virtual?

Even before we go full virtual (if we unfortunately have to) we will be using SmartMusic. SmartMusic can be accessed from any laptop, computer or iPad. I will be giving assignments through there throughout the school year, no matter if we are in the building or at home. If we go full virtual then that will be your main form of turning in assignments.

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I realize that band will not be your main priority if we go full virtual, but there will still be the expectation that you keep up with your assignments. I promise to keep them minor, realistic, and for the sake of improvement and not just for the sake of giving assignments.

Safety Measures

Safety Measures

• You will be using a band mask during class time.
• Seating charts with chairs spread as far apart as possible.
• No sharing of instruments, reeds, mouthpieces, cleaning swabs, mallets, music, stands, folders, pencils, or any other materials used in the classroom.
• Take your instrument case to your chair to take out, place the case under your chair during rehearsal, and put it back in your locker at the end of class. The exception will be with Tubas, Baritones, Trombones and Bari Saxes. Those students please spread away from your peers as you take out your instrument.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before entering the classroom and before exiting the classroom.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before touching any communal spaces and items.

Safety Measures Continued:

• Sanitizing spray will be available to clean mouth pieces with
• Used, old reeds should be thrown away in the garbage.
• Reeds still being used need to be stored in the instrument case.
• Gloves are available to use if you want. Mrs. Turinske will be washing her hands and using gloves when handling student instruments. Any use of gloves must be disposed of after each use. I will dispose after touching one instrument and put on a new one after washing my hands before touching a different one. Touching of student instruments will be kept as minimal as possible.

Classroom Materials

These items will be yours and yours only.

• Folder (keep in your band locker unless bringing home to practice)
• Notebook (kept in folder or band locker)
• 300 pencils (okay, maybe 3-5 kept in folder, case or band locker)
• Music - everyone will get their own copy of music. If you lose yours I will have extra. Please keep all music in your folder and in your band locker unless bringing home to practice.
• Any method books- No sharing.
• Reeds will be provided by the school and Mrs. Turinske will keep them in her office and will be the one to get you new ones as needed.

Percussion Materials

After the number of percussion students is set, we will be ordering each percussionist their own set of sticks and mallets and a case to store them in.

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Until we are able to do that, students should only use 1 set of sticks or mallets during the class period, then they will be sanitized after each class.

There has been an extra hand sanitizing station installed over by the percussion equipment that students should be using before and after switching instruments.

Concerts? Performances?

Concerts? Performances?

At the moment a December concert with a live audience does not seem likely. If we are not virtual, then we would likely either record or livestream a concert in December. If we are virtual in December, I would like to keep the possibility of pushing a concert date (livestreamed, recorded, limited audience, etc.) open. At the moment we will not be participating in Pep Bands to follow the WIAA rules and regulations to limit crowd sizes and allow family members of the athletes to attend. However, I would like to record the school song and the National Anthem to be played at those events to continue to show our support for our athletes.

Band is a performing arts class. We will find a way to showcase our hard work. We may need to get creative, but we will do it.

5th Grade Beginning Band

5th Grade Beginning Band

Starting in 5th Grade students have the option to start band!

These are pull out lessons in small groups of like instruments (only flutes, only clarinets, etc.)

Mrs. Radzak and I have it worked out that they will not be missing core instructional time.

They would be responsible for one 30 minute lesson each week.

The specific day of the week and time of day will be determined after we know who is interested.

5th Grade Continued

There is no cost for being in band if you have your own instrument or chose to rent from the school. If you decide to rent through the school, know that there will be a limited number of instruments available. Some other options for obtaining instruments:

• I often see affordable, used instruments posted on facebook. I have even purchased some for the school this way.
• Schmitt Music offers a rent to own program. You get a brand new, good quality instrument that you pay monthly for. When you finish paying it off, it is yours. If you decide you do not want the instrument you stop paying and return it to Schmitt Music.

5th Continued

• Each day the kids have lessons I will keep track of who attended so we can use that for contact tracing if the need arises.
• All safety measures mentioned in earlier slides will be used for the beginning band students.
• Expectations: 1 lesson per week and 1 assignment on SmartMusic to be completed at home (or before school if the student does not have access to a computer with internet at home.)
• More information on SmartMusic will be sent home at a later date.

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Virtual Students

Expectations

The expectations for virtual students I have tried to keep very simple. I want this to be an enrichment for them, not an added stress. This is a means to keep them playing their instrument and continue to improve their musicianship so when they are able to safely be back in the classroom they are able to pick back up with the students who have staying in the classroom.

You WILL receive a grade in Infinite Campus and receive credit for this class.

Students will have 1 30 minute video lesson with me each week.

Students will have 1 assignment through SmartMusic each week.

Virtual Continued

This will not meet at a specific time. It is designed to be flexible and work with your other classes, to be done on your own time.

There will be check ins, questions, and short small assignments on google classroom that students will be responsible for completing.

There will be more information about SmartMusic being sent home soon after we smooth the details out.

We will start slowly with this class in order to give you time to acclimate to your other classes and this new type of learning and schedule.

Final Questions?

Final Questions?

If you have any more questions, concerns, suggestions, etc., please feel free to email me at britany_turinske@northwoodk12wi.com or call me on the school line.

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This year will look different. But what will stay the same is our love, passion and drive to create music together as a group, even if playing together means we are far apart.

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