8/15 Update

Disclaimer: All information provided through the study is to be used strictly for general consideration. This information will be updated (NEWEST MATERIAL AT THE TOP) when it becomes available, please share the link to this webpage instead of the individual documents.

COVID-19 Prevention Strategy Results among Elementary, Middle, High School and Collegiate Music Programs in the United States (August 15th)

Dr. James Weaver (NFHS) and Dr. Mark Spede (CBDNA/Clemson) talk about the Spring 2022 survey study done to determine the effect of recommended COVID-19 prevention strategies in performing arts classrooms in the U.S. during the Fall 2021 semester when the primary COVID-19 variant was the Delta strain.

Watch the 3-Minute Video

COVID Prevention Strategies among Music Programs - Study with CDC (August 4th)

(Video / Infographic / Paper)

In the Spring of 2022, the NFHS, CBDNA, and the International Aerosol Study Coalition embarked on a collaborative study with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine the effect of recommend COVID-19 prevention strategies in the performing arts classrooms during the Fall 2021 Semester.

The NFHS distributed an electronic survey to staff who direct bands, orchestras, choirs, and general music programs in the K-12 school and collegiate settings. The objective of the survey was to collect information on which mitigations were implemented in music programs from August 1-December 15, 2021. Surveys were sent to a nationwide sample, and 4,808 staff responded. 

Watch the 3-Minute Results Analysis Video

Share the Infographic

Read and Share the Paper

This study allows us to better understand mitigations used by secondary and higher education music programs across the United States during August 1–December 15, 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic forced music programs across the country to rethink how and where to practice and whether to perform or participate in competitions. Most respondents (80%) reported their music program implemented mitigations, with an average of three mitigations implemented at once.

Updated Guidelines for March 2022 (March 15th)

As the United States’ national guidance changes and states remove masking requirements in schools performing arts programs guidance will continue to change and adapt.  Importance will need to be placed on local and state respiratory disease transmission rates for use of mitigations. Performing Arts programs should follow the same recommendations that are implemented for the rest of the school. If masks and distancing are required in a school, the mitigations below should be used to ensure the continuation of performing arts programs. If masks and distancing are optional or not used, performing arts programs may forgo mitigations as well.

Music Program - COVID Check In Survey #2 (February 15th)

The purpose of the survey is to identify and track how secondary and higher education music programs across the United States have been impacted during the COVID pandemic. Your participation in this survey will provide valuable, timely insights that will help inform ways to better support music programs. To be eligible to complete the survey, you must have taught or directed a K-12 or collegiate music program in the United States from August 1st – December 15th, 2021. The survey should take only about 5 minutes to complete.

Updated Guidelines for February 2022 (February 10th)

Importance will need to be placed on local and state respiratory disease transmission rates for use of mitigations. These suggestions are meant to provide some best practices as we continue to move into new phases in the pandemic. It is important to know and understand your state and local health department guidance.

It's OK to Play Music - Helpful Infographic (November 8th)

Click to access the infographic link. Make sure to click on all of the pictures and the header for helpful information and graphs to appear. 

Link to share: https://bit.ly/NFHSAerosolCOVID

New Published Paper as Aerosol Study Continues (August 31^st)

“Measurements and Simulations of Aerosol Released while Singing and Playing Wind Instruments”

A variety of methods were used in this study, including flow visualization, aerosol and CO2 measurements, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to understand the different components that can lead to transmission risk from musical performance and risk mitigation. 

        Read the full published paper

A Conversation on Mitigations for Fall 2021 (Speech, Debate, Theatre, Music, and more!) (August 27th)

Dr. James Weaver (NFHS), Dr. Mark Spede (CBDNA/Clemson), and Bob Morrison (Arts Ed New Jersey) have an in-depth conversation on mitigations and recommendations for various music, speech, debate, and theatre activities. This conversation is a view of best practices on the date of this recording and any action should be in consultation with your local and/or state health departments.

Watch the Video Conversation

Updated Guidelines for Fall 2021 Activities (August 12)

These suggestions are meant to provide some best practices.

Assessing the Risk of Music Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 23)

A survey was conducted beginning April 28, 2021 to assess the level of spread events that occurred in school-based music programs. 3,000 surveys were returned and analyzed in June 2021. Click the link above to read the report. 

Watch the Video on the Report

COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies for Choir - Short Video (April 30th)

COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies for Percussion - Short Video (April 30th)

COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies for String Instruments - Short Video (April 30th)

COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies for Wind Instruments - Short Video (April 21st) 

Learn about the COVID-19 mitigation strategies developed from the research done at the University of Colorado and the University of Maryland in the Wind Instrument Aerosol Study.

Scientific Study Prepress Paper (40+ Pages) (April 15th)

A scientific preprint of the research paper: "Measurements and Simulations of Aerosol Released while Singing and Playing Wind Instruments" based off the aerosol study is now available for public consumption as it is peer reviewed for publication in a scientific journal.

"Band Practice in the Age of COVID-19" - article from the Wall Street Journal (April 14th)

An article written based off the results and recommendations from the aerosol study with quotes, links, visuals and animations is available to read and share.

Safer Schools and Campuses: U.S. Department of Education Clearinghouse for Best Practices for Music Education Submission Template (April 14th)

The U.S. Department of Education has put out a call for real-life examples of successful back-to-school risk management practices for pre-k through college classrooms that will then be available to teachers and administrators in a clearinghouse as they plan to return to in-person learning.

Updated Statement on United States CDC Distancing Guidance (March 19th)

3rd Release of Preliminary Results (shared on November 13th at 1pm Eastern)

*Have a question? Want to leave a comment? Please visit the FAQ page*

2nd Release of Preliminary Results were shared August 6th

Preliminary results for woodwinds and brass were released July 13th

*Have a question? Want to leave a comment? Please visit the FAQ page*

A number of performing arts organizations have joined forces to commission a study on the effects of COVID-19 on the return to the rehearsal hall. It is important to understand what risks exist in performing arts classrooms and performance venues.  Specifically, the study will examine aerosol rates produced by wind instrumentalists, vocalists, and even actors, and how quickly those aerosol rates accumulate in a space. Although not yet proven, strong anecdotal evidence suggests that the COVID-19 virus can travel in the microscopic droplets expelled from a person with the virus, even when asymptomatic. The only way to determine what risk level exists or to create best practices for reducing infection risk is to understand how aerosol disbursement works in a performing arts setting. 

Once the aerosol rates are better understood, the study will focus on remediation of aerosols in confined spaces like rehearsal rooms (both educational and professional), classrooms, and performance settings in order to develop better understanding, policy, and practice for a safe returning to performance and education. 

Dr. Shelly Miller at the University of Colorado will lead the scientific study and says, “Aerosol generating activities have the potential to transmit COVID as the research shows, but we have very little data on what kinds of generation happen when playing instruments.  We will be studying this phenomenon (hopefully with funding) in our aerosol laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder and with this data, will be able to provide better evidence-based guidance.” 

Several national and international performing arts education organizations are combining resources to study the effects of COVID-19 aerosol transmission in performing arts performance settings. The study is a massive undertaking that will require a focused effort from all of us. This effort will be a duplicated study and will test how aerosols can spread from brass and woodwind instruments, the four vocal ranges, theatrical speech, and aerobic breathing. We are calling on any performing arts educational organization to join our research council.  Your organizational support is the most important. Together we can create scientifically proven methods for our return to performing arts education in a safe way with research showing us best practices and advocacy. 

Statement of Work

The coalition is being led by a committee made up of the following: 

Co-Chairs 

-Mark Spede, President of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) and Director of Bands, Clemson University 

-James Weaver, Director of Performing Arts and Sports, National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)