Open Forum

Hello, 

I recently had a friend who teaches singing and choral music reach out with this article which synopsizes a lengthy panel webinar held by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, a few other singing associations and the Performing Arts Medical Association. Basically, it seems to argue that there is not a safe way for groups of singers to rehearse or perform safely until a vaccine is found and there is a strong treatment for Covid-19. 

I'm not terribly familiar with many of the organizations listed by the article, so I'm not sure what weight to give the panel. I'm wondering if other people are having conversations about this topic at their schools in regards to musical performances next year. I'm also wondering if anyone has seen any studies/formal conversations by theater performance organizations about non-musical performances - vocally projecting onstage is similar to singing and can likely project particles the same much-more-than-6-feet distance, as well as create the increased aerosol particles that they talk about in the article. 

Would appreciate any resources/thoughts people are discussing in their departments or with their administration. My admin has asked for my guidance here, and outside of articles like the one above I'm not sure how to guide them - which creates a bleak outlook for my department next year. I want to keep a positive outlook, but also want to make sure that we don't contribute to a super-spreader event like this one. 

Thanks for your thoughts.

------------------------------
Erin Coulter
Theater Teacher
The Hill School
The Plains VA
------------------------------

I have nothing to contribute yet, but I want to follow this conversation.  That article and its implications have been keeping me up at night.
I am hopeful that the EdTA leadership might provide some guidance/ recommendations on best practices...  
Should we be doing only small-cast projects?  Only revues, vignettes pieces, or scene/monologue compilations so only a few kids are onstage at a time?  Should we even be producing FTF work right now?

------------------------------
Elana Kepner
Theatre Instructor
The Oakwood School
Greenville NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-08-2020 10:01
From: Erin Coulter
Subject: Performance Safety Concerns regarding singing (projecting?)

Hello,

I recently had a friend who teaches singing and choral music reach out with this article which synopsizes a lengthy panel webinar held by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, a few other singing associations and the Performing Arts Medical Association. Basically, it seems to argue that there is not a safe way for groups of singers to rehearse or perform safely until a vaccine is found and there is a strong treatment for Covid-19.

I'm not terribly familiar with many of the organizations listed by the article, so I'm not sure what weight to give the panel. I'm wondering if other people are having conversations about this topic at their schools in regards to musical performances next year. I'm also wondering if anyone has seen any studies/formal conversations by theater performance organizations about non-musical performances - vocally projecting onstage is similar to singing and can likely project particles the same much-more-than-6-feet distance, as well as create the increased aerosol particles that they talk about in the article.

Would appreciate any resources/thoughts people are discussing in their departments or with their administration. My admin has asked for my guidance here, and outside of articles like the one above I'm not sure how to guide them - which creates a bleak outlook for my department next year. I want to keep a positive outlook, but also want to make sure that we don't contribute to a super-spreader event like this one.

Thanks for your thoughts.

------------------------------
Erin Coulter
Theater Teacher
The Hill School
The Plains VA
------------------------------

Here is the article: 
https://www.middleclassartist.com/post/nats-panel-of-experts-lays-out-sobering-future-for-singers-no-vaccine-no-safe-public-singing

------------------------------
Elana Kepner
Theatre Instructor
The Oakwood School
Greenville NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-08-2020 15:48
From: Elana Kepner
Subject: Performance Safety Concerns regarding singing (projecting?)

I have nothing to contribute yet, but I want to follow this conversation.  That article and its implications have been keeping me up at night.
I am hopeful that the EdTA leadership might provide some guidance/ recommendations on best practices...
Should we be doing only small-cast projects?  Only revues, vignettes pieces, or scene/monologue compilations so only a few kids are onstage at a time?  Should we even be producing FTF work right now?

------------------------------
Elana Kepner
Theatre Instructor
The Oakwood School
Greenville NC

Original Message:
Sent: 05-08-2020 10:01
From: Erin Coulter
Subject: Performance Safety Concerns regarding singing (projecting?)

Hello,

I recently had a friend who teaches singing and choral music reach out with this article which synopsizes a lengthy panel webinar held by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, a few other singing associations and the Performing Arts Medical Association. Basically, it seems to argue that there is not a safe way for groups of singers to rehearse or perform safely until a vaccine is found and there is a strong treatment for Covid-19.

I'm not terribly familiar with many of the organizations listed by the article, so I'm not sure what weight to give the panel. I'm wondering if other people are having conversations about this topic at their schools in regards to musical performances next year. I'm also wondering if anyone has seen any studies/formal conversations by theater performance organizations about non-musical performances - vocally projecting onstage is similar to singing and can likely project particles the same much-more-than-6-feet distance, as well as create the increased aerosol particles that they talk about in the article.

Would appreciate any resources/thoughts people are discussing in their departments or with their administration. My admin has asked for my guidance here, and outside of articles like the one above I'm not sure how to guide them - which creates a bleak outlook for my department next year. I want to keep a positive outlook, but also want to make sure that we don't contribute to a super-spreader event like this one.

Thanks for your thoughts.

------------------------------
Erin Coulter
Theater Teacher
The Hill School
The Plains VA
------------------------------

Original Message------

I have nothing to contribute yet, but I want to follow this conversation.  That article and its implications have been keeping me up at night.
I am hopeful that the EdTA leadership might provide some guidance/ recommendations on best practices...  
Should we be doing only small-cast projects?  Only revues, vignettes pieces, or scene/monologue compilations so only a few kids are onstage at a time?  Should we even be producing FTF work right now?

------------------------------
Elana Kepner
Theatre Instructor
The Oakwood School
Greenville NC
------------------------------

Hi! I’m following this as well, but I’m having trouble opening the link to the article you posted. What was the name of the article? Thanks so much! This topic concerns me too, I have been thinking a lot about this subject.

---------------------------------
Lauren van Thiel
Theatre Teacher/Director

Bethlehem PA
---------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 05-08-2020
From: Erin Coulter
Subject: Performance Safety Concerns regarding singing (projecting?)

Hello, 

I recently had a friend who teaches singing and choral music reach out with this article which synopsizes a lengthy panel webinar held by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, a few other singing associations and the Performing Arts Medical Association. Basically, it seems to argue that there is not a safe way for groups of singers to rehearse or perform safely until a vaccine is found and there is a strong treatment for Covid-19. 

I'm not terribly familiar with many of the organizations listed by the article, so I'm not sure what weight to give the panel. I'm wondering if other people are having conversations about this topic at their schools in regards to musical performances next year. I'm also wondering if anyone has seen any studies/formal conversations by theater performance organizations about non-musical performances - vocally projecting onstage is similar to singing and can likely project particles the same much-more-than-6-feet distance, as well as create the increased aerosol particles that they talk about in the article. 

Would appreciate any resources/thoughts people are discussing in their departments or with their administration. My admin has asked for my guidance here, and outside of articles like the one above I'm not sure how to guide them - which creates a bleak outlook for my department next year. I want to keep a positive outlook, but also want to make sure that we don't contribute to a super-spreader event like this one. 

Thanks for your thoughts.

------------------------------
Erin Coulter
Theater Teacher
The Hill School
The Plains VA
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi! I’m following this as well, but I’m having trouble opening the link to the article you posted. What was the name of the article? Thanks so much! This topic concerns me too, I have been thinking a lot about this subject.

---------------------------------
Lauren van Thiel
Theatre Teacher/Director

Bethlehem PA
---------------------------------

Here is the link to the original article/blog post I referenced. It was written in response to the webinar that Mark posted (thanks Mark!) and is an attempt to synopsize the takeaways that the author got from the webinar. That said, if you have time you should definitely listen to the webinar as we all have different programs and will likely have different takeaways. 


------------------------------
Erin Coulter
Theater Director
The Hill School
The Plains VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-10-2020 10:21
From: Mark Zortman
Subject: Performance Safety Concerns regarding singing (projecting?)

This is the link to the whole 2 1/2 hour conversation hosted by The National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Chorus America, Barbershop Harmony Society, and Performing Arts Medical Association (PAMA) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFl3GsVzj6Q

Original Message------

Hi! I'm following this as well, but I'm having trouble opening the link to the article you posted. What was the name of the article? Thanks so much! This topic concerns me too, I have been thinking a lot about this subject.

---------------------------------
Lauren van Thiel
Theatre Teacher/Director

Bethlehem PA
---------------------------------

This podcast discussion with a Johns Hopkins epidemiologist may be of help.  The actual interview does not begin until the 7 minute mark and the real applications about safely working with students doesn't get started until about 23 minutes into the 45 minute session but the material before that gives some great background on how those who assess risk go about their business.  


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGzh4r5qxTw&fbclid=IwAR3m2Hws-5FlowZkbbEiOaZ6L5DKukH6gkzilcpAn_yI_kviDQEKDxx0tFg

------------------------------
Ben Martin
Executive Director
Missouri Aliiance for Arts Education
Lee's Summit MO
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-08-2020 10:01
From: Erin Coulter
Subject: Performance Safety Concerns regarding singing (projecting?)

Hello,

I recently had a friend who teaches singing and choral music reach out with this article which synopsizes a lengthy panel webinar held by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, a few other singing associations and the Performing Arts Medical Association. Basically, it seems to argue that there is not a safe way for groups of singers to rehearse or perform safely until a vaccine is found and there is a strong treatment for Covid-19.

I'm not terribly familiar with many of the organizations listed by the article, so I'm not sure what weight to give the panel. I'm wondering if other people are having conversations about this topic at their schools in regards to musical performances next year. I'm also wondering if anyone has seen any studies/formal conversations by theater performance organizations about non-musical performances - vocally projecting onstage is similar to singing and can likely project particles the same much-more-than-6-feet distance, as well as create the increased aerosol particles that they talk about in the article.

Would appreciate any resources/thoughts people are discussing in their departments or with their administration. My admin has asked for my guidance here, and outside of articles like the one above I'm not sure how to guide them - which creates a bleak outlook for my department next year. I want to keep a positive outlook, but also want to make sure that we don't contribute to a super-spreader event like this one.

Thanks for your thoughts.

------------------------------
Erin Coulter
Theater Teacher
The Hill School
The Plains VA
------------------------------

To answer your question, all of the groups that sponsored the original webinar you posted are quality organizations.  To be sure, the contents are troublesome, but the sources themselves - not saying the information is 100% at this time, but these are what I would consider trusted resources.

------------------------------
Amy Learn
Ballwin MO
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-08-2020 10:01
From: Erin Coulter
Subject: Performance Safety Concerns regarding singing (projecting?)

Hello,

I recently had a friend who teaches singing and choral music reach out with this article which synopsizes a lengthy panel webinar held by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, a few other singing associations and the Performing Arts Medical Association. Basically, it seems to argue that there is not a safe way for groups of singers to rehearse or perform safely until a vaccine is found and there is a strong treatment for Covid-19.

I'm not terribly familiar with many of the organizations listed by the article, so I'm not sure what weight to give the panel. I'm wondering if other people are having conversations about this topic at their schools in regards to musical performances next year. I'm also wondering if anyone has seen any studies/formal conversations by theater performance organizations about non-musical performances - vocally projecting onstage is similar to singing and can likely project particles the same much-more-than-6-feet distance, as well as create the increased aerosol particles that they talk about in the article.

Would appreciate any resources/thoughts people are discussing in their departments or with their administration. My admin has asked for my guidance here, and outside of articles like the one above I'm not sure how to guide them - which creates a bleak outlook for my department next year. I want to keep a positive outlook, but also want to make sure that we don't contribute to a super-spreader event like this one.

Thanks for your thoughts.

------------------------------
Erin Coulter
Theater Teacher
The Hill School
The Plains VA
------------------------------