COVID-19 Updates

This page will serve as a central hub for information and resources related to mitigation strategies and reco Please check back regularly for updates.

[Updated August 11, 2022 – newer information in BLUE font]

WMEA Resources

• Masks, Mitigation, and Music (September 16, 2021)
• WSMA and WMEA – 2021 Return to Music and Mitigation Recommendations (August 25, 2021)
• ESSER Funding and Music Education – An Opportunity of a Lifetime (July 21, 2021)
• WMEA COVID-19 Statement – official position statement from WMEA
• WMEA Online Teaching Project – site for sharing music resources and lesson plans with educators across Wisconsin
• COVID-19 – Talking Points for Speaking with School Administrators – ideas for how to advocate for music education (now is the time)
• Letter to School Administrators – joint letter drafted by WMEA and WSMA

NAfME Resources

• NAfME and NFHS Return to Music: Phase III Guidance and Resources (August 2021)
• Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools with Safe and Effective Music Facilities (July 26, 2021)
• International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study Updates – Guidelines for Music Education Classrooms (July 19, 2021)
• NAfME and NFHS Return to Music: Phase II Guidance and Resources (May 2021)
• NAfME and NFHS Return to Music: Phase I Guidance and Resources (April 2021)
• NAfME Position and Guidance on Singing in Our Schools (April 6, 2021)
• NAfME COVID-19 Resources and News
• Arts Education is Essential – unified statement on the necessity of arts education for all students
• Music Education Advocacy Resource Kit
• Best Privacy and Security Practices for Virtual Events Organizers (December 2020)

Music Education Guidelines

• Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning (May 27, 2022)
• International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study –  Updated Guidelines (July 9, 2021)
• Updated Statement on United States CDC Distancing Guidelines – National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) (March 19, 2021)
• Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Mitigation – Centers for Disease Control (March 19, 2021)
• Arts Education School Considerations – Wisconsin DPI (November 23, 2020)
• Interim COVID-19 Infection Control and Mitigation Measures for Schools – Wisconsin DPI (November 6, 2020) 
• Governor’s Emergency Order #1 – Relating to Requiring Face Coverings (September 22, 2020)
• Music Education in Wisconsin – General Guidance – WMEA (July/August 2020)
• Fall 2020 Guidance for Music Education – National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
• Teaching Early Childhood Music in the Time of COVID-19: Addendum to the Early Childhood Music Position Statement (NAfME)
• Teaching Early Childhood Music in the Time of COVID-19: Implementing Guidance and Suggestions for Birth-3rd Grade (NAfME)
• Context-Specific Guidance for Teaching Early Childhood Music in the Time of COVID-19 (NAfME)
• Guidance for General Music Teaching during COVID-19 (NAfME)
• Resources for Choral Professionals During the Pandemic – American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
• COVID-19 Response Committee Report – American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
• Resuming Instruction During COVID-19: Classroom and Studio – American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
• Managing COVID-19 Protocols in Administering Percussion Performance Curriculum – Percussive Arts Society COVID-19 Task Force
• NYSSMA Ad-Hoc Committee Report – The Future of Ensembles in the COVID-19 Era

Instrument Cleaning Guidelines

• COVID-19 Instrument Cleaning Guidelines – NFHS, NAfME and the NAMM Foundation
• Instrument Cleaning Tips – American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
• COVID-19 and Instrument Cleaning – NAMM Foundation
• How to Clean Your Piano – Steinway & Sons
• Disinfection Safety Information – Yamaha

Research Studies

• “Measurements and Simulations of Aerosol Released while Singing and Playing Wind Instruments” (Performing Arts Aerosol Study Pre-Press Copy) April 14, 2021- National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), and a coalition of more than 125 performing arts organizations
• Performing Arts Aerosol Study – National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), and a coalition of more than 125 performing arts organizations
  • Round One Preliminary Results (July 13, 2020) – woodwinds and brass
    • Preliminary Recommendations – based on initial testing results
    • Press Release – based on initial testing results
    • PDF – information about how the study was conducted, preliminary results, and general considerations
    • YouTube – presentation of results
  • Round Two Preliminary Results (August 6, 2020)- additional instruments, singing, and theatre
    • Infographic – Top 5 Key Recommendations
    • Press Release – second round of preliminary data
    • PDF – second round preliminary results
    • YouTube – presentation of results
  • Round Three (November 13, 2020) 
    • PDF – written report of third round preliminary results
    • Press Release – third round of preliminary data
    • Video – video summary of third round preliminary results
    • Video – video about transmission of respiratory infectious diseases
• Aerosol Generation from Different Wind Instruments (August 7, 2020) – University of Minnesota
  • Summary Document – abstract and research summary
• Characterization of Aerosols from Musical Performance & Risk Mitigation Related to COVID 19 Pandemic (July 30, 2020) – University of Cincinnati
  • YouTube – summary of study

Wisconsin Partnerships

• Wisconsin Music Strong – coalition of music education and business partners sharing the latest information and articles related to COVID 19
• Wisconsin Performing Arts Education Consortium – consortium of Wisconsin educational performing arts organizations sharing resources and guidance related to COVID-19 (along with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and Department of Health Services)

Copyright Guidance

• Copyright Permissions for Performance (released December 10, 2020)
• Copyright Guidance for Distance Learning (released September 10, 2020)
• Distributed Music Recordings Guidelines and Listing (currently through June 15) and NFHS Press Release
• US Copyright Office
• NFHS Podcast on Copyright
• Guide to Music Licensing for Broadcasting and Webcasting (Student Law Center)
• Live Streaming Your Show – A Three Step Copyright Guide  (Barbershop Harmony Society
• Music Licensing for Streaming (Easy Song Licensing)

Additional Resources and Information

• COVID Prevention Strategies among Music Programs – Study with CDC (August 4, 2022)
• COVID-19 Infection Control and Mitigation Measures for Wisconsin Schools 2022-23 (July 27, 2022)
• COVID-19 Infection Control and Mitigation Measures for Wisconsin Schools 2021-22 (August 2021) – Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
• Guidelines for the Prevention, Investigation, and Control of COVID-19 Outbreaks in K-12 Schools in Wisconsin (August 2021) – Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• COVID-19 Guidance for Save Schools (July 2021) – American Academy of Pediatrics
• Education Forward – Reopening Wisconsin Schools – Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
• Arts Education Social & Emotional Learning Framework – from Social Emotional Learning Alliance for New Jersey (SEL4NJ)
• Music Education Grants for Schools – shared Google Sheet curated by WSMA (note: this sheet will be edited and updated as new information and resources become available)