Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Update

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Welcome to the Pride of Herndon band family! With so many variables about Fall 2020 up in the air, we’re working hard to respond to our rapidly changing world. Please know that our staff and parent volunteers are constantly re-evaluating our plans moving forward in regards to safety, cost, and music-making. Here are some of the status updates.

                

Status of marching band

FCPS has officially cancelled fall marching band. FCPS will re-evaluate at a later date what scaled down opportunities might be available this spring. Other options that we are exploring are also dependent on in-person campus instruction resuming – parades, elementary visits, and community performances.

 

Status of concert band 

Concert band will continue to be offered as a standard course selection. Since we are all beginning virtually, your ensemble placements from this past spring should be intact. Wind and Percussion players must enroll in the regular course in order to be in marching band (virtual or in-person – either is fine). Online learning will be a mixture of 1:1 private lessons, small group sectionals online, and full band synchronous learning for literacy and theory work.

 

Wind Ensemble Chair Placements

Since we will not be doing any ensemble work at the beginning of the year (and therefore don’t need part assignments/rankings), the chair placement auditions will not be due until school is in session. (Traditionally we do these in person the week before school begins.) Wind Ensemble will receive information on how to submit those prepared pieces and chromatic scale once school begins as the first grade of the year.

 

Senior Regional Orchestra

The event has cancelled, but auditions are still on to provide eligibility for a possible 2021 All-Virginia event. Virtual auditions will be uploaded in mid-October (woodwinds and high brass) and early November (low brass and percussion). A commendation letter will be sent to the principal of each accepted student to recognize their achievement. Students who want to audition will need to videotape all prepared excerpts, chromatic scale, and major scales (I assume we’ll be told which 2, as with percussion rudiments). There will be no sight reading component.

 

Fundraising events 

Our fundraisers happening is dependent on social distancing requirements. 2020 Showcase is cancelled. Tag Day is postponed until we are allowed to solicit in person for donations, and we are prepared to step up our online solicitations. We’re hoping that this coming year will incur far fewer costs because of the limited scope of the marching season.

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COVID-19 Instrument Cleaning Guidelines

The cleaning process for musical instruments will vary depending upon the materials used in the construction of the instrument. Care should be taken to follow recommended procedures that will safely and effectively clean and disinfect while avoiding damage to the proper function or the finish of the particular instrument. In response to the current crisis, a consortium of organizations have joined together to provide COVID-19 Instrument Cleaning Guidelines for music educators to assist in teaching students and parents proper procedures for cleaning instruments.

The guidelines, prepared by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), provide a thorough explanation for cleaning musical instruments with consideration of the general cleaning guidance provided by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

Pdf version of Instrument Cleaning Guidelines

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