Playing an Instrument and Going Back to School

At this point, there are still many unanswered questions about the 2020-2021 school year. However, one thing is for certain: the importance of music in our schools and the impact it has on student’s lives is vital.

Band and orchestra directors, researchers, and administrators throughout the US are working tirelessly to strategize ways to return to school safely. However, much of the current research in progress is focused on a return to the traditional classroom setting.

In order to ease some of your concerns and hopefully provide some peace-of-mind, we’ve summarized the latest research and information about returning to the orchestra classroom.

Is It Safe For My Child to Play an Instrument at School?

While academic studies are presently underway at Colorado State University, a recent study conducted by the Vienna Philharmonic revealed “when playing an instrument they (the musicians) faced no additional risk of transmitting the novel coronavirus when performing” and that “we should not expect air exhaled by artists to reach more than 80 centimeters (2.6 feet) distance”. Additionally, the United States Army Band and West Point states “there is agreement between all of the research collected, that wind instrument playing seems to present about the same risk as normal breathing and talking.”

Frequently disinfecting the musical instruments in the orchestra program, ensuring students properly maintain their own equipment, and closely following the CDC’s guidelines recommended for social distancing will allow educators to continue offering a quality music education to students while proactively preventing the spread of COVID-19. 

String Instruments

Current data suggests that string instruments offer no additional risk of contributing to the spread of COVID-19. Performing on these instruments does not involve breathing into the instrument to create a tone and students are able to wear masks when playing. Additionally, because these instruments are sealed with a lacquer or varnish, the exterior surfaces of these instruments are non-porous and can be cleaned similarly to other surfaces. Encouraging students not to share classroom supplies, implementing a structured cleaning regimen, following the CDC’s guidelines for social distancing, and utilizing appropriate cleaning solutions that are both effective and safe for the instrument’s finish, will play an active role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the orchestra classroom. 

Stringed instruments require specific protocols for cleaning, which should be completed before beginning the actual sanitizing process.

Check out these instructional videos on cleaning violins and violas. These techniques can be used for cello, too.

Once your student has followed the steps from the videos above, they’ll be ready to sanitize their instrument.

Here are some videos that outline the process for sanitizing string instruments.

Wind Instruments

As many educators and musicians can attest, although the musician is blowing air into the instrument, the design of the instrument is such that the air is slowed down to produce a tone, and in doing so, the instrument retains the moisture and aerosols associated with the spread of COVID-19. Accordingly, frequently disinfecting the musical instruments in the band or orchestra program, ensuring students properly maintain their own equipment, and closely following the CDC’s guidelines recommended for social distancing will allow educators to continue offering a quality music education to students while proactively preventing the spread of COVID-19. 

Each instrument is uniquely comprised of a variety of materials, which help to create its characteristic sound and tone quality. Each instrument requires specific protocols for cleaning, which should be completed before beginning the actual sanitizing process.

Check out the links below for instructional videos on cleaning each instrument:

• Flute
• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• French Horn

Once your student has followed the steps from the videos above, they’ll be ready to sanitize their instrument.

Here are some videos that outline the process for sanitizing wind instruments.

What Can My Child Do To Help Keep Themselves and Their Classmates Safe?

Here are some guidelines that all music students can follow to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Prior to taking their instruments out of the case and again at the conclusion of class, students should wash or disinfect their hands using soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer. 
• Students should refrain from sharing classroom materials, such as bows, rosin, valve oil, pencils, instruments or other supplies. 
• Students should not touch or move other students’ instruments, bows, mouthpieces, or cases.
• For the strings and fine tuners, we recommend spraying some 90% isopropyl alcohol on a clean polish cloth and carefully wiping down only the metal parts of the instrument. Be careful not to get the alcohol on any of the wooden surfaces. 
• Students should spray their instrument with Steri-Spray at the conclusion of each practice rehearsal or performance, prior to placing the instrument in the case. (NOTE: The active ingredient in Steri-Spray is quaternary ammonium, as confirmed by the manufacturer. This active ingredient is listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of approved COVID-19 disinfectants.)
• Students should provide their own supplies as they are able.
• Students should remain at home when feeling sick.
• Students should clean the instrument, mouthpiece, bow, and case as recommended by NAFME’s Instrument Cleaning Guidelines.

Keyboard instruments present fewer hygienic issues due to the way that they’re constructed. Based on recommendations from the National Federation of State High School Associations, the best way that these students can maintain a healthy environment is by simply washing their hands before and after use for a minimum of 20 seconds.

References

 “Come One, Come All: the Benefits of Making-Music within the Community.” Percussion Play, https://www.percussionplay.com/the-benefits-of-music-making-within-the-community/. Accessed 5/29/2020

 “Music Education and Academic Achievement.” The National Association for Music Education, https://nafme.org/advocacy/what-to-know/music-education-and-academic-achievement/. Accessed 5/28/2020

 “The Potential Role of Music in Second Language Learning: A Review Article”. The Journal of European Psychology Students, https://jeps.efpsa.org/articles/10.5334/jeps.ci/. Accessed 5/29/2020

 “Music and Health.” Harvard University, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/music-and-health. Accessed 5/29/2020

 “20 Important Benefits of Music in our Schools.” The National Association for Music Education,https://nafme.org/20-important-benefits-of-music-in-our-schools/. Accessed 5/29/2020

 “Unprecedented International Coalition led by Performing Arts Organizations to Commission COVID-19 Study.” The National Federation of State High School Associations, https://www.nfhs.org/articles/unprecedented-international-coalition-led-by-performing-arts-organizations-to-commission-covid-19-study/. Accessed 5/27/2020

“Vienna Philharmonic says no increased visus risk for orchestras.” Medical Xpress, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-vienna-philharmonic-virus-orchestras.html. Accessed 4/28/2020

 “Vienna Philharmonic says no increased virus risk for orchestras.” Barron’s, https://www.barrons.com/news/vienna-philharmonic-says-no-increased-virus-risk-for-orchestras-01589820904.  Accessed 4/28/2020

 “Army Band COVID-19 Risk Mitigation for Large Groups.” West Point Music Research Center, https://www.westpointband.com/westpointmusicresearchcenter/army-band-covid-19-risk-mitigation-for-large-groups.html. Accessed 6/4/2020

 “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes.” The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/pdf/Reopening_America_Guidance.pdf. Accessed 4/28/2020

 “How to Clean and Disinfect.” The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html. Accessed 4/29/2020

 “Superslick Steri-Spray Mouthpiece Cleaner and Case Freshener.” American Way Marketing, https://www.americanwaymktg.com/catalog/other/mouthpiece-accessories/steri-spray/. Accessed 6/2/2020

 “COVID-19 Disinfectants.” The United States Environmental Protection Agency, https://cfpub.epa.gov/giwiz/disinfectants/index.cfm. Accessed 6/1/2020

 “Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs to Plan, Prepare, and Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019.” The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-schools-h.pdf. Accessed 4/28/2020

 “Social Distancing.” The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html, Accessed 6/1/2020

 “Considerations for Schools.” The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html. Accessed 5/29/2020

“COVID-19 Instrument Cleaning Guidelines”, The National Association for Music Education, https://nafme.org/covid-19-instrument-cleaning-guidelines/. Accessed 5/30/2020