Your daughter is a woodwind instrument player. She has been a part of her high-school quintet for three years and has participated in many noted events and competitions. Everything was going well, and then came the pandemic followed by shutdowns. However, now when things are getting slightly better, her tiny band wants to resume practicing. However, given the current global health scenario, is it a good idea to play woodwinds with other band mates?
Do you find the above scenario similar to yours?
Are you a
parent with the same thoughts running in your mind? Do you wonder - do
woodwinds instruments spread the corona virus? You are not alone. Thousands of
families have the same question, and it is quite understandable. So, let's
discuss this topic a bit more.
Do playing woodwinds increase the amount of
aerosols in the environment?
The first
thing that comes to mind when it comes to playing a woodwind instrument is when
you play it, say a flute, piccolo, or a trumpet, you need to blow into it
forcefully. In light of what various reputable health organizations, like WHO
and CDC, have been saying for a long, i.e., besides sneezing and coughing,
talking loudly, and even singing can increase the level of corona virus load in
the environment, it's better to avoid playing woodwinds, especially outdoors
and in groups. Also, make sure that you have Woodwinds Insurance to avoid any unnecessary hassles.
What do studies say?
According to
a recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota, musical instruments,
especially wind instruments, are considered to be one of the many sources of
aerosol production that eventually leads to a viral transmission.
Moreover,
singing, talking loudly, and blowing forcefully through wind instruments are
likely to produce as much as 104 times more aerosols in comparison to speaking
or breathing. So, unfortunately, if a woodwind player is COVID-19 positive and
asymptomatic, he or she can be a super-spreader of the virus.
And, if you
do not have Woodwinds Insurance, you
are likely to land yourself in financial troubles if someone acquires the
corona-virus infection from you being an asymptomatic spreader. Therefore, it is
highly important to have a proper and instrument-specific insurance plan handy.
Won’t health insurance come to your rescue?
What if you
already have a health insurance plan? Dear reader, your health insurance plan
is for safeguarding you financially in case of a health or medical emergency.
However, it will not protect you from third-party liabilities and many other scenarios
that only musicians can relate to. So, it is crucial to get a musical
instrument insurance plan.
Isn't there a way out?
Although
playing woodwinds in groups or quintets is not a great idea as far as the
pandemic scenario is concerned, you should find a way so that the woodwind
artists can practice while avoiding the possible risks. Some of the useful tips
include:
●
Musical instrument
players should maintain a physical distance of more than 6-feet while
practicing.
●
They should not
stand and play facing each other to minimize the risk of contamination.
●
They should
practice in well-ventilated spaces while adhering to all safety guidelines,
including open windows, using the best quality air filters, among others.
●
The safety
guidelines also recommend that indoor practice sessions should not last longer
than 30 minutes. So, you should also keep this in mind.
A little bit of precautions can go a long way
So, these
are some of the most important things to consider if you, your kids, or anyone
else you know wants to practice playing woodwinds instruments during this tough
phase. Always remember, prevention is much better than cure. And, it stands
true for health conditions as well as your musical instruments.
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