Maine DOE Guidelines

Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations (Updated 7/31/20)

Students and staff must follow all required health and safety measures while on school grounds or engaged in school courses in other locations. Certain classes such as music, theater, dance, physical education, and the visual arts have unique characteristics that require special consideration. Research into how to safely engage in these types of activities is ongoing, and the following guidance will be updated as the research evolves.

At this time, for courses and activities that require increased respiration, including chorus, singing, brass or woodwind instrument use, physical education, dance, and theater, holding courses and activities fully or partially online is highly recommended. If they are held in person, it is strongly recommended – and at times required – that these activities occur outdoors.

Safety requirements for these activities are as follows:

Chorus and Singing Instruction / Musical theater

Singing and voice projection carry a relatively higher risk of virus transmission because it can aerosolize respiratory droplets to a distance of at least 13 feet (Updated 8/11/20 for clarity).

1. If outdoors, with masks encouraged, these activities can occur with at least 14 feet of distance between individuals. Note: At this time, these activities should not take place indoors.
2. All students should face in one direction instead of facing one another. Avoid singing in a circle or semicircular formation. (Updated 8/11/20)
3. Students and teachers should avoid sharing materials as feasible. Any sharing of equipment, including music stands, props, set pieces, rails, and voice amplification equipment, should follow the guidelines in the “Shared Objects” section of this guidance. Do not share makeup or anything that comes into close contact with mouth or eyes (e.g., microphones). Avoid sharing costumes and wigs. (Updated 8/11/20)

Non-Musical Theater

1. If outdoors, with masks encouraged, these activities can occur with 6 feet of distance between individuals.
2. If indoors, with masks required, these activities can occur with 6 feet of distance between individuals.
3. Note: These activities cannot occur indoors without a mask.

Band and the Use of Musical Instruments

Some musical instruments carry a relatively higher risk of virus transmission. Instruction for brass and woodwind instruments must follow the relevant guidance related to indoor/outdoor activities, masks/face coverings, and physical distancing in this document. In addition:

1. Instruction for musical instruments that require air blowing (e.g., flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, trombone) can only occur outdoors when individuals are at least 14 feet apart. These instruments should never be shared.
2. Instruction for musical instruments that do not involve air blowing (e.g., strings, percussion, and piano) may continue indoors or outdoors as long as health and safety requirements are met. If needed, these instruments can be shared between students in accordance with the guidelines in the “Shared Objects” section of this document.
3. Students should be encouraged to clean their instruments regularly, especially the mouthpiece and high-touch surfaces, such as finger pads.

Dance

While dance does not typically involve vocalization, it is an intense physical activity, similar to physical education, and can result in an increased risk of transmission due to increased respiration. Dance courses and activities must follow the relevant guidance related to indoor/outdoor activities, masks/face coverings, and physical distancing on page 15 of this document. In addition:

1. Prioritize forms of dance that allow for adequate distancing or adapt dances reliant on close proximity to allow for physical distancing.
2. All sharing of equipment should follow the guidelines in the “Shared Objects” section of this document.
3. Consider keeping music at a volume that minimizes the need for the instructor to project their voice.