I was asked what steps we are taking at rehearsals for @CotWChoir to sing together during #COVIDー19 times. I can't find the original question from @PollyRocket but here are our answers. Please feel free to share with other #choirs #musicians #musictherapists #singers (THREAD)
1. One way system to enter the building, only one person in the loos at a time. Regular anti bac etc.
2. Masks on whilst walking around the building. Can take off once in their seat. Choir members have an assigned seat and remain there (no swapping).
3. 2m apart from each other if talking inside, 1m+ if outside
4. 3m apart for singing spacing. Current guidance says 2m or 1m+ with mitigations, but we are sticking to 3m.
5. 4m from the first row of singers to the conductor and pianist.
6. This means our room of 120 only fits 15 singers and 2 for MD/pianist. We put chairs and dots down to mark the spaces.
7. All singers face the same direction.
8. No food or water provided. Bring your own water bottle and don't share it.
9. Members have pre-prepared pack of sheetmusic on their chair that they take home. We are working on no sheet music/using projectors, but easier for refugee members with little access to digital to have physical sheet music to take away. We have digital music for those that want
10. Rehearsal shortened to 2 x 30 min sections instead of 2.5 hours.
In USA they suggest only a 30 min rehearsal but this is not a requirement in the UK. We do 2 x 30 mins with a 15 min gap in between with the hall empty of people to let aerosols settle.
11. Windows and doors open throughout for good airflow. Bring a jumper!
12. Keep singing to mezzo forte (medium loud). Singing at the same volume you speak produces similar aerosols but singing loudly produces 20 - 40 times the aerosols.
13. Musical Director (that's me) uses a microphone to allow everyone in the room to hear her at speaking volume.
14. Pianist wears a headset mic for the same reasons (talking/adding harmony). No sharing of mics allowed.
15. If need to swap pianist, use piano key wipes to clean the piano. coachhousepianos.co.uk/product/piano-…
16. We reimburse our refugee members for their rehearsal travel costs which we try to do through cashless transfer. Cash is used as a last resort and we use gloves to handle the money.
17. Have @zoom_us for anyone that wishes to join digitally, for our elders, former shielding members or differently-abled persons who are still apprehensive about in-person rehearsals or who just can't make the journey. (cont)
(cont)because of our members' circumstances, many of the same obstacles apply regardless of visible or non-visible disabilities and so we are structuring ourselves to remove those systemic barriers to access wherever we can. Virtual rehearsals will be an option as long as needed
18. Lastly, we wanted to experiment with holding outside rehearsals where possible, but it's been raining the last two weeks on our rehearsal slot. Ahhh England.
Links to useful guidance as follows.
Huge thanks to @Voicedoctor_uk Declan Costello and team for their work in getting music going again. We are so grateful! bachtrack.com/interview-decl…
And the government Department for Culture, Media & Sport @CommonsDCMS @DCMSArts @DCMS is a good one to keep an eye on regularly. gov.uk/guidance/worki…
Lastly, for anyone that didn't see. Our fabulous choir for refugees and friends was featured in the New York Times last week as we resumed in-person rehearsals and bought our community back together again! @nytimes nytimes.com/2020/09/04/art…
I would like to finish off by saying that these are the mitigations we are taking to resume rehearsing, in line with the government guidance that it is now safe to do so. This will be updated as the guidance changes.
Nothing is risk-free at the moment, but these are the steps we have taken to keep our community safe with the current knowledge that we have. We accept we are all part of a giant experiment during these Covid times & are happy to share our findings and encourage others to do so.
Like many choirs, our rehearsals are more than just music. For our refugees and friends choir, it is an essential community lifeline and their choice to attend rehearsals physically or digitally. If you would like to join us, please get in touch.
Upcoming project include recording with Felix from Basement Jaxx @FelixJaxxx @TheBasementJaxx, working with Peace One Day @PeaceOneDay @UN and for the Global Women's Peace Congress.
We rehearse at the fabulous @MycenaeHouse a hidden gem in south-east London. #RefugeesWelcome
Thanks to @alexmarshall81 for covering the story!
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