Education and life, as we know it, has been changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools wonder how they will operate, let alone address the concerns of the arts. Music is especially troublesome with the close distances and enclosed spaces players often find themselves in. Many are developing solutions to allow performing ensembles to continue during these times.
Percussionists pose a unique problem, as most of the instruments we use are shared with other players in an ensemble, as well as with other ensembles. The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) organized a task force to deal with just this issue. Their results, and ongoing updates, can be found here: https://www.pas.org/docs/default-source/2020-files/managing-covid-19-protocols-in-administering-percussion-performance-curriculum.pdf.
While the article includes ideas on sanitizing procedures, I wish to highlight some of the PAS’s insights and summarize some practical suggestions for the scholastic community.
Room requirements: In order to minimize contact of various surfaces, I suggest leaving large percussion instruments set up, uncovered, rather than putting instruments back into storage. The same should go for chairs and stands for your wind and string players, as those spaces will have their own concerns. It is also recommended to keep covers off of these instruments for the time being.
Instrument selection: If you have synthetic marimbas and xylophones available, I would use those exclusively, as the best sanitizing procedures for wooden instruments involve a UVC light system. The drawbacks are going to be cost and time. Part assignments will need to take into consideration any sanitizing that needs to be completed between pieces, consider that for concerts. If you own multiple smaller handheld percussion instruments, it is recommended to have each student keep that instrument for the entire rehearsal or performance period. I would suggest having multiple boxes or containers for students to put these items in for their use only, unless they sanitize them in between uses. Another suggestion would be using mounted instruments, such as a suspended cymbal with a stick instead of a concert pair of cymbals, or incorporating mounted tambourines, plastic blocks, triangles, and other hand-free instruments.
Implements: Students will need their own basic set of sticks and mallets. This can be a requirement, suggestion, or school provided option. Each student will, at a minimum, need:
• 1 stick or mallet bag (cordura or synthetic)
• 1 pair of medium yarn mallets (marimba, suspended cymbals, tom toms)
• 1 pair of hard rubber mallets (xylophone, bells, wood and temple blocks)
• 1 pair of concert snare drum sticks
• 1 pair of medium or general timpani mallets
• Advanced players may need additional or different mallets. There should be a requirement for those players to purchase any additional mallets they want to have, as basic set will accords the most needs.
• Drum set players will need a pair of drum set sticks and brushes.
• Marching players will need their own implements, with backups ready in the event their breaks. Care will need to be made to minimize sharing of instruments, which will require adjustments in parts for sideline players or the ability to have multiple implements on instruments.
• Implements that are commonly provided by the school, such as chime, bass drum, gong mallets, triangle beaters, etc., should not be shared during a rehearsal. One recommendations is that multiple sets of these mallets be purchased and organized into “CLEAN” and “USED” containers. Depending on the number of ensembles and how often you are able to sanitize them between groups, you may need multiple sets to get through a day. Just be sure to follow proper sanitizing procedures before the next time they are used. The other suggestion is to assign the mallet for the player for the rehearsal or performance cycle.
Be sure to have wipes or hand sanitizer available for players in the event of sharing instruments (timpani, crash cymbals, triangles, etc.). Keep them under lock and key when not needed, as they will be wasted and come up missing. If you have sinks in your room, keep soap and towels handy, as well.
If you have community groups utilize your rehearsal spaces and instruments, you must ensure that precautions are taken for the safety of all players.
Hopefully, as we learn more about this virus, we will be able to find a way back to normal. In the meantime, it is up to everyone to make our ensembles can still perform. Music is vital to a well-rounded education. We must take steps to continue to make it accessible. Be creative, share your ideas, and stay safe!
Grand River Percussion Solutions “the Stream” 