Discussions

I have heard a rumour that Brandon School Division is considering cutting band programs! Does any one have any credible information on this?

I don’t know about the long term plan for band but they did announce last Friday that all band programming is “suspended” due to Covid... along with shop and home Ec and chorale. At least that’s how understood it.

I think it was Marc Cassavant (but maybe it was someone else?) was very emphatic when questioned on that, they are merely "paused" for the time being until they can figure out how to do them safely, if they can do them safely. Cohorting is the biggest issue, from what I understood surrounding larger discussions, because they potentially combine kids from multiple schools.  
 
My daughter is super disappointed, she was supposed to start band this year. I'm not holding out much hope for it happening this year, however.

Not just Brandon School division. It's in the guides for Manitoba. All Manitoba schools are "suspending" regular band programs due to covid. Some have just said no brass or woodwinds while others have said whole program is suspended. Choir programs are suspended also.

I am hoping that band, shop, home ec teachers can either act as subs for all the absent teachers or even take on classes to reduce some of the large class sizes.

I believe they are being reassigned to teach other things.

Basically it is unknown if aerosols that come out of instruments can cause covid 19 or not (it probably doesn't in my opinion but I am no expert). There is research being done about it:  
 
https://www.nfhs.org/media/4029952/preliminary-testing-report-7-13-20.pdf  
 
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/it-safe-strike-band-time-coronavirus  
 
Even if there is a conclusion that aerosols from instruments can't cause covid, it would be pretty hard for 20 + students to social distance in the music rooms.  
 
I would encourage people to keep practicing their instruments. There's no shortage of free downloads of music exercises, music (band or solo) that is either free or the copyright has expired that is readily available. Also, one can watch the US Military Band et al concerts, master classes.  
 
Edited by alight, 2020-08-19 08:42:24