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Washington State University
College of Arts and Sciences School of Music

COVID-19 Updates

See frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page.

From School of Music Director Dr. Dean Luethi:

Welcome to the fall 2021 semester. We are excited to make music in-person this year, glad to see new and continuing students, staff, and faculty, and we’re excited to perform for in-person audiences.  

As the year begins, you may have many questions regarding health/safety and COVID-19. WSU’s health and safety team are working closely with School of Music staff to interpret and distribute information relative to our activities. The situation is fluid, and each government or institutional mandate necessitates another round of assessment, interpretation, and distribution. This can take time. Thank you for your patience.  

This week, our governor issued a mask mandate. This mandate is part of an official “Order of the Secretary of Health – 20-03.4.” Several included provisions apply to us and how we may continue to make music. I will provide pertinent details below and how the School of Music students, staff, and faculty may be impacted. Sections in italics are taken directly from this document.  

In consultation with Shawn Ringo from WSU Health and Safety, we have some additional information regarding requirements specific to WSU. Those requirements will follow those of the governor listed below.  

From the Washington State Secretary of Health  

General Face Covering Requirement: 

Every person in Washington State must wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are in a place where any person from outside their household is present or in a place that is generally accessible to any person from outside their household, subject to exceptions and exemptions below.  

Here are the pertinent “Exceptions to General Face Covering Requirement.”  

People are not required to wear face coverings in any of the following situations: 

  • When outdoors. 
    • No masks or bell covers are required when rehearsing or performing outdoors 
  • While working alone indoors. A person is working alone if they are isolated from interactions with others and have little or no expectation of in-person interruptions. Examples include a sole occupant in an office with a closed door who is unlikely to be visited, … 
    • You do not need to wear and mask or use a bell cover when you are in a practice room alone. If a person enters the space, you must immediately wear a mask and, if playing, use a bell cover. 
  • While actively engaged in a performing arts performance, leading religious services, or engaged in similar activities, subject to the authorization and requirements of the Department of Health, including any vaccination requirements. 
    • If students, faculty, and guest are vaccinated, they can perform without masks. This only applies to the performance, not dress rehearsals.  
    • Performers who have not been vaccinated must continue to wear masks and use bell covers during performances.  
    • When performers are not actively engaged, such as not playing during a specific movement, they must wear a mask. 
  • While obtaining a service or engaged in a transient activity that requires temporary and very brief removal of the face covering. 
    • This covers quite a lot, drinking water, wetting a reed, etc… 
    • This could allow a teacher to briefly demonstrate a mouth position or embouchure and for the student to do the same. 
  • When necessary to confirm a person’s identity 
    • During introductions, one could remove their mask for a brief moment. 

Additional Provisions: 

  • Types of face coverings permitted. 
  • Clear masks or cloth masks with a clear plastic panel may be used when interacting with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, young children or students learning to read, students learning a new language, people with disabilities, and people who need to see the proper shape of the mouth for making appropriate vowel sounds. 
    • This could be useful for conductors or other teachers. 

From Discussions with Shawn Ringo (WSU Environmental Health and Safety) 

  • Audiences 
    • All audience members will wear a mask 
    • Social distancing for audience members is not mandatory 
    • We will encourage people to sit in pods 
    • The audience will be seated a minimum of 20 feet from the performers.
    • The first five rows in either hall will be inaccessible to the audience.
  • Aerosol Dispersion
    • No social distancing requirement or time between rehearsals/performances is required.
  • Slitted Masks
    • Performers should wear slitted masks when playing, then wear a non-slitted mask when not playing. 

To sum up… 

  1. Masks must be work indoors, except for the situations described above 
  2. Bells covers must be used indoors, except for the situations described above 
  3. We can perform without masks, but if you are not actively engaged in the performance, you must wear your mask.  
  4. Although the School of Music hopes to provide all majors with one bell cover, additional bell covers and masks will be your financial responsibility.  

Additional updates pertinent to School of Music activities will be updated on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Updated 9/17/21

FOR WSU STUDENTS, STAFF, and FACULTY

Do I need to wear my mask and bell cover for rehearsals? 

  • Yes. No matter if you have or have not been vaccinated.  

Does an instructor have to wear a mask or wear a bell cover? 

  • When playing an instrument or singing, yes. 
  • Vaccinated instructors are permitted to remove their face coverings to teach, provided they maintain 6 feet of distance from their class OR can instruct behind a plexiglass barrier. Vaccinated instructors who would like a face shield to teach may request one by emailing craig.cole@wsu.edu. Unvaccinated instructors must wear a face covering when teaching. The face covering must fit snugly and completely cover both the nose and mouth.  

I don’t have a mask, what do I do? 

  • The front office will have extra masks available. It is reasonable to assume that you will need masks in the foreseeable future. Many options are available online.  

I don’t have a bell cover, what do I do? 

  • The School of Music will issue you one bell cover to each student in a studio. It is reasonable to assume that you will need bell covers in the future. Many options are online. For immediate concerns, without other options, “do it yourself” instructions can be found online for constructing your own bell cover.  

At times, my mask is damp or hot and I have trouble or anxiety about using it. Do I have to wear my mask? 

  • You can always take a brief 10-15 second pause by removing a side of your mask to take a few breaths before wearing it again. This may provide you with some relief. 
  • If you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a mask: 

Can I remove my mask to eat or drink? 

  • Yes 

Can I have office hours on Zoom? 

  • Yes 

Can I record in the recording studio without bell covers and masks? 

  • Vaccinated parties may remove their masks and bell covers to perform/record.
  • Unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear their masks and bell covers.

I am in a small ensemble, can I rehearse with my ensemble without a mask and bell cover? 

  • For groups of six or less,
    • Vaccinated parties may remove their masks and bell covers to rehearse.
    • Unvaccinated individuals must always wear their masks and bell covers.
    • All parties must wear masks and bell covers when interacting with others whose vaccination status is unknown.
  • This applies only for areas with restricted access – areas in which there is a reasonable expectation other individuals will not enter the space.

Do I need to wear my mask for my lesson? 

  • For groups of six or less,
    • Vaccinated parties may remove their masks and bell covers to rehearse.
    • Unvaccinated individuals must always wear their masks and bell covers.
    • All parties must wear masks and bell covers when interacting with others whose vaccination status is unknown.
  • This applies only for areas with restricted access – areas in which there is a reasonable expectation other individuals will not enter the space.
FOR GUESTS TO OUR CAMPUS

Can visitors come to campus to tour, visit, and perform? 

  • Absolutely!
  • All individuals above the age of five must wear masks in our buildings.
  • K-12 guests must follow the governor’s guidelines for performing in our buildings.
    • One item to note – although WSU students and faculty can remove their masks and bell covers to perform, K-12 students must continue to wear them during performance.

Do you have a question that is not answered here? Email Dr. Luethi. He will find the answer and post it here.