Face coverings
The advice on face coverings is changing constantly, but, at the time of going to press, it's law to wear one in indoor spaces in England and Scotland. If you need to wear one in school or provide them for any children you work with, luckily, there are plenty to choose from. During lockdown the nation's dressmakers got busy and as a result places such as Etsy are awash with bright, colourful and bespoke designs. Whether you favour elastic over your ear or round your head, a pleated version, triple-layer or one with a filter pocket, it's worth putting in some research. Of course, themed face coverings can make the whole experience just that bit more bearable and you can pick up all sorts of designs, from the Beatles to Mozart, via Taylor Swift (see etsy.com/uk). These face coverings can be washed and reused and, as well as helping independent makers, are less of a burden on the already-stretched environment (not to mention refuse collectors).
Screen Saver: Singscreens Have Been Installed In Several Cathedrals
Screens
Hygiene screens are becoming readily available. Freestanding ones wipe clean, can be used for desks and tables and come in a variety of sizes (signomatic.co.uk). It's important to make sure you get a screen that's as tall as you (or your tallest students). Retractable, portable and adjustable stands can be assembled and packed away quickly (see creative-solutions-direct.co.uk).
Professional singer and teacher Matthew Thomas Morgan has come up with an inventive solution to the ongoing difficulties for teaching singing in the form of SingScreen (singscreen.co.uk), a portable barrier devised to mitigate the risk of transmission of virus particles between staff and pupils. The clear, freestanding perspex screens can also be used by instrumentalists and are suitable for performances (please do check with current government guidance before hosting public events).
‘It became apparent to me during the pandemic that while teaching online is useful it is no real substitute for face-to-face lessons,’ says Morgan. ‘This inspired me to design a screen, with the ability to cut down the transfer of air borne particles while not diminishing the clarity of sound transmission.’ The screens have proved popular with performers such as VOCES8 and several cathedrals, including St Albans, Portsmouth and Winchester.
Cleaning wipes
It's vital to keep surfaces clean at all times. The risk of Covid-19 depends on several factors (according to government guidance) including the time the infected individual spent in the setting and the time since the individual was last in the setting. Surfaces that are touched frequently (door handles, light switches, work surfaces, remote controls, electronic devices and instruments) should be disinfected regularly and frequently touched surfaces should be wiped down twice a day (at the beginning or the end of the school or working day) and wipes should be disposed of in a foot-pedal swing bin. Check out the HSE's guidance for specific wipes (https://tinyurl.com/y6j2egnw) and if you're concerned about the environmental impact of the increased use of wipes, opt for something like Dettol's biodegradable wipes, which are made from plant fibres (dettol.co.uk).
Hand gel
Though regular washing soap and water is the best method for guarding against Covid-19, hand sanitiser is the next best thing. Most schools will have already got this covered and some schools have even been asking for parents not to send their children into school with their own hand gel. Experts suggest that hand sanitiser with an alcohol content of at least 60 per cent is the best. Most alcohol-based hand sanitisers contain ethanol and isopropanol, or both, and it seems as though Carex has the highest alcohol content at 70 per cent. Cover all bases and make sure you have some with you at all times, just in case. But stock up on hand cream, too.
Gelling together: facemasks and hand gel are the new essentials
Sturdy kit
Keeping everything sanitised to within an inch of its life is all well and good but what if you have a classroom full of elderly instruments or kit that's on borrowed time?
World dance and music specialists Remo has produced a Green and Clean product line, designed to be used within a medical therapeutic environment. And the good news is they're well set up to withstand the rigours of Covid-cleaning. The Green and Clean Gathering Drum is designed for easy cleaning with a hospital-grade disinfectant wipe or spray, without degrading the finish or sound quality. It's the perfect answer to how to do music safely in this scary new world.
Signage tape
You'll need to clearly mark one-way systems for any aisles less than 1m and it's a good idea to mark out socially distanced boxes for any group musical activity – it's useful to have some tape on you at all times.
GSOH
Let's face it, we're all going to need a good sense of humour, so how about popping a whoopee cushion in your desk drawer for that special occasion, or the world's tiniest violin for cracking those necessary solid-gold teacher jokes? Good luck.
