The Grace Blog

Before he left, Sean Foster assembled a task force to study music and singing during this time.  The task force consists of Laurie Haury, Ben Rivers, Bill Vavra, and Ginny Vincent (Session).  What follows are notes from the task force.  The Session received their report on August 17 and approved their recommendations.

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The COVID-19 Music Task Force met to discuss how and when certain music aspects of worship could resume safely. Currently, the University of Colorado is conducting the main study relating to music performance for both instruments and singing. Based on the study’s preliminary results, the Music Task Force has recommended the following:

• Congregational singing of hymns can occur during in person worship as long as social distancing is maintained and well-fitted masks are worn.
• Small ensembles (including the praise band), can perform during worship services as long as social distancing is maintained and well-fitted masks are worn.
• Ensembles can meet to practice for 30 minutes in a single space (with social distancing and masks) due to air circulation. It is recommended that if the ensemble wants to practice for longer than 30 minutes, they need to move to a different space after each 30 minute period.
• The chancel choir and handbells can meet for rehearsals, but they require a director to help them figure out the logistics of meeting. Handbells may have resource issues to figure out how they can social distance, and the choir probably cannot perform during worship due to social distancing concerns. The Music Task Force recommends that these two groups probably need to wait until the new Music Director is hired before they start meeting.

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