Band classes in a suburban Boston school system have gotten far quieter, as administrators are reportedly requiring students to silently finger their instruments without mouthpieces to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Grade school students in Wilmington, Massachusetts, have been barred from blowing into woodwind or brass instruments – such as trumpets, clarinets, flutes and trombones – during classroom lessons, according to an alleged district email published by Bring Kids Back MA, a parent group that has advocated for in-person classes during the pandemic.
Students are expected to assemble their instruments, except mouthpieces, and move their fingers across the keys to simulate playing during exercises and songs, according to the email, which hasn’t been confirmed by the district so far. They must also wear masks at all times. Percussion students will be free to play their instruments as usual, since banging drums and cymbals doesn’t involve “blowing aerosols into the classroom.”
Not to be outdone by prior insanity, we bring you: @WilmingtonPS. In Wilmington, MA students are now “NOT permitted to play/blow into their instruments”. Yep. They’re making students “fake play” their woodwind instruments because it will “lead to keeping our students safer” pic.twitter.com/jouFTblUnj
— Bring Kids Back MA (@BringKidsBackMA) January 2, 2022
Read More: Band students ordered to ‘fake play’ music amid Omicron