Question: We have gone by the DPI September guidelines for instrumental music and have plastic wall dividers between students, shields, and horn covers to prevent any airborne transmission. We have had no problems. I am assuming that the State mask mandate is the part that wouldn’t be covered in this methodology? Thus, it’s not ok to have band?
Answer: Yes, the state mask mandate applies to this situation. The DPI produces guidelines for instruction, but its staff will be the first to admit that the DPI does not have enforcement authority on pandemic-related issues. It is public health authorities, state and local, that are empowered under state law to enforce measures designed to stop the spread of communicable diseases. At the state level, this is the Department of Health Services (DHS). The DPI and DHS staff work together on producing materials, but given the wealth of materials produced and the changing guidelines from the Centeres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the materials are frequently revised or corrected.
Therefore, getting into the logistics of band/instrument related education is a lengthy and complicated topic. For a detailed discussion, go to this section of the WCRIS website.
