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Resources on Singing in Worship Amid COVID-19

WEBINAR THAT STARTED IT ALL:

A Conversation: What Do Science and Data Say About the Near Term Future of Singing

 

Summary:

ACDA/NATS/ChorusAmerica/BarberShop national Pandemic webinar:

1) There is no safe way for choirs to rehearse together until there is a vaccine or 95% effective treatment in place, most likely 1-2 years. Perhaps occasionally outside in small groups, but only when the wind is not at your back. Masks and spacing DO NOT protect your singers from contagion, and singers are super-spreaders.

2) Though there may be some mitigation using a combination of UV lights and fan/atmosphere scrubbing inside, it is not 100% effective and the UV in particular may be both expensive and dangerous 

3) No concerts or public performances this fall, and frankly, maybe not for 1-2 years, though we actually don’t know. 

4) Once rapid testing becomes available, the possibility to rehearse with immediate testing before every rehearsal with iron-clad agreements from choir members. 

5) AUDIENCE: liability insurance for your arts org. Temperature checks at the door and required masks. US government Phase THREE recommendations for actual safe return to public performances.”

ARTICLES:

Social distancing rules for singers altered following Covid transmission studies

https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/social-distancing-rules-singers-stage_52276.html

ACDA COVID-19 Response Committee Report June 15, 2020

https://acda.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ACDA-COVID-19-Committee-Report.pdf

When and how can choirs sing again without becoming ‘super spreaders’?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-06-14/how-can-we-resume-choir-practice-without-spreading-coronavirus/12344812

Churches may reopen, but many services won’t have singing

https://apnews.com/c3bf9767c833b8ae66be22dd4fc996e6

Unprecedented International Coalition led by Performing Arts Organizations to Commission COVID-19 Study

https://www.nfhs.org/articles/unprecedented-international-coalition-led-by-performing-arts-organizations-to-commission-covid-19-study/

Risk of coronavirus spreading in schools ‘extremely low’, study finds

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/05/17/risk-coronavirus-spreading-schools-extremely-low-study-finds/?fbclid=IwAR3tT0xXJHDmD6q_AwkffSD_l3W118F0TGa_j6uDU05n5aEEcIUba5g7SR4

Without choirs or bands, churches seek to provide congregants with music virtually

https://baptistnews.com/article/without-choirs-or-bands-churches-seek-to-provide-congregants-with-music-virtually/

The pandemic shut down choirs. We’re finding new ways to sing together

Tim Sharp

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/14/pandemic-shut-down-choirs-were-finding-new-ways-sing-together/?outputType=amp

Singing, the Church, and COVID-19: A Caution for Moving Forward in Our Current Pandemic

Heather R. Nelson, Ph.D.

https://www.drheathernelson.com/singingandcovid19

If We Can’t Sing

David Manner

http://kncsb.org/blogs/dmanner/if-we-cant-sing/

A choir decided to go ahead with rehearsal. Now dozens of members have COVID-19 and two are dead

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-29/coronavirus-choir-outbreak

Churches Could Be the Deadliest Places in the COVID-19 Pandemic

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/covid-19/churches-could-be-deadliest-places-covid-19-pandemic

Before You Panic . . . Thoughts on Congregational Singing and Choirs in Light of the Pandemic

Robert Pendergraft, PhD 

https://www.renewingworshipnc.org/before-you-panic-thoughts-on-congregational-singing-and-choirs-in-light-of-the-pandemic/

Is Congregational Singing Dangerous?

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/congregational-singing-dangerous/

Wind Instruments May Not Be As Contagious As We Thought

https://medium.com/@SixtoFMontesinos/wind-instruments-may-not-be-as-contagious-as-we-thought-b821e590b29a

Choirs May Have to Remain Silent Long After Society Reopens

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/05/09/choirs-may-have-to-remain-silent-long-after-society-reopens/ 

Two Scientists Pronounce Singing in Church to Be COVID Safe

https://slippedisc.com/2020/05/two-munich-scientists-pronounce-singing-to-be-covid-safe/

Full details in this German article: https://www.kath.ch/newsd/infektionsrisiko-beim-chorsingen-begrenzt/

Will COVID-19 SIlence Singers Until There’s a Vaccine

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200511/will-covid-19-silence-singers-until-theres-vaccine

Risk of Infection Is No Reason to Stop Singing

Scott Aniol

http://artistictheologian.com/2020/05/11/risk-of-infection-is-no-reason-to-stop-singing/

High SARS-CoV-2 Attack Rate Following Exposure at a Choir Practice (CDC)

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6919e6.htm?s_cid=mm6919e6_w 

VIDEOS

The Dangers of Coronavirus “Super Spreaders”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/Video/lifestyle/the-dangers-of-coronavirus-super-spreaders/vi-BB144H4l?ocid=se

When Can We Sing? Nola’s Notes

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