On March 30, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued revised public health guidance for K-12 schools. The current guidance states, “Outdoor singing and band practice are permitted, provided that precautions such as physical distancing and mask wearing are implemented to the maximum extent possible. Playing of wind instruments (any instrument played by the mouth, such as a trumpet or clarinet) is strongly discouraged.”
This language negatively and unnecessarily impacts music education by restricting band, choir, and also theatre, and dance. As shown in the third report of the International Coalition of Performing Arts Aerosol Study, the transmission of aerosols during indoor music-making can be significantly reduced through the adoption of specific mitigation strategies. These include specified face and wind instrument masks, along with 6 feet physical distance, ventilation recommendations, HVAC specifications, and other precautionary steps (such as washing of hands, using sanitizers).
We ask you to contact your state legislators and Governor Newsom to contact the CDPH to keep music alive and make the necessary changes that follow the science while also providing children with the social-emotional learning experiences that music and arts education provide. Click here to send a pre-written letter to your legislator and our Governor. You can add a personal message about who you are and your role in supporting music and arts education. When entering your information into the system it will automatically send the letter to your state legislators and Governor Newsom.
This will only take a minute please act now!