Staying connected during COVID-19

Latest update 6th January 2020

January Updates:

GOV.UK National Lockdown Rules
GOV.UK Coronavirus Guidance
Government Guidelines: Performing Arts. Amendments: Addition of Tier 4: Stay at Home to Local restriction tiers, Managing performances (section 3).

December Updates:

Government Guidelines: Covid-19 Winter Plan
Government Guidelines: For The Christmas Period
Government Guidelines: Performing Arts. See in particular Performing arts activity for professionals and non-professionals including individuals and groups.
Making Music Rehearsal Advice
Making Music Update

November Updates:

Government Guidelines: Performing Arts Update 27 November 2020
COVID-19: suggested principles of safer singing. GOV.UK updated 20 November 2020.
England enters a national Tier 4 lockdown on Thursday 5 November lasting until 2 December.

DCMS have confirmed that no amateur music activity can take place during this time – so groups will not be able to meet and rehearse under any circumstances.

In the meantime, you can:
- Meet online
- Plan for how to return safely to in person rehearsals when you are able to do so.
We will keep this page updated as we find out more about what will happen after 2 December.

October Updates:

Restrictions from 4th November
ABCD Covid Resources Updated 1 October 2020
Government Guidelines: Performing Arts Update 1 October 2020
Government Guidelines: Use of Community Facilities 1 October 2020. Section 3 is particularly relevant to amateur organisations.
ACRE Update re Community Facilities 1 October 2020
ABCD Update 14 October 2020
ABCD Covid Guidelines
ABCD Webinar Navigating government guidance with amateur groups

September Updates:

August Updates:

NATS Live Broadcast re NFHS Study on 10th August 2020
Government Update 13th August 2020. Refer specifically to the introduction.
Updated Guidance - Music Lawyers Perspective
Expert reaction to a preprint from the PERFORM project looking at the COVID-19 risk associated with singing
Performing Arts Study Article - Bristol University
Comparing the Respirable Aerosol Concentrations and Particle Size Distributions Generated by Singing, Speaking and Breathing Study. Please remember this has not yet been peer reviewed.
Making Music Update 20 August 2020
Government Update 20 August 2020. Refer specifically to the introduction for further updates which refers to other points.
One Voice interview with Making Music CEO. Please note this is a Facebook link so you will need to be logged into Facebook to view.
One Voice interview with Making Music CEO (YouTube)
British Medical Journal Article
British Medical Journal Risk Table
Making Music Article Resources
First Choirs Standing ABCD Article
Virtual Studio Coming Soon!?

July Updates:

June and Earlier Updates:

BHS Webinar - What We Can Do
BHS Webinar - Where We Are and What Comes Next
Making Music Resources
ABCD Resources
Kathleen Hansen Notes Compilation
European Choral Association Notes Compilation
NFHS Coalition
Saving Our Nations Choirs and Choruses
Making Music Giving Voice
Making Music Submission to DCMS
Prime Minister Statement to Parliament 23rd June 2020
Singing Network UK Statement
Oliver Dowden Choirs Letter
Interim Guidance for BHS (please note this is US based and not for UK)
5 Stage Road Map for Return of Performing Arts
Guardian Article: Online choirs are thriving
PLG Musical Services article on Best Zoom Practice
Response from Scotland re Making Music Letter to UKGov
Response from UKGov re Making Music Letter
Department for Education: Guidance for full opening - schools. Please note in particular Section 3 Specific Points for Key Stages 4 and 5
Safer Singing During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: What We Know and What We Don't

Please note, it is still important for individual groups to make their own risk assessment based on official government guidance.

Remember BABS are here to help! Members of the Board are available to help you by visiting your zoom rehearsals or in any other way so please do contact us if we can be of assistance.

In order to assist our members in trying online video conferencing, we have prepared a pack, which includes guidance on running meetings, running rehearsals, and other things to consider. Please click here to download the document - we hope it is of use to some of you!

We are all looking forward to the day where we can sing together on the risers again.

For more information on the current situation and regular updates please see the below links:

NHS UK information on coronavirus
Scottish Government on coronavirus
Public Health Agency Northern Ireland
Public Health Wales statement
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Very useful and reliable statistics from official government agencies around the world, including WHO
UK Government Update on Places of Worship (some information on singing)

Further information and support on what we can do at this time is constantly coming in. Click on the links below to get some more ideas on what other choirs are doing to stay connected, further information and research.

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Comment about the OneVoice interview. It's a really useful 25 mins of great clarity on the current government guidance, you can also watch this on YouTube if you don't use Facebook - https://youtu.be/-N7QwN-CvOY

From: Glenn Martin

Published: 23 August 2020

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