Dear VASTA Members,

We are reaching out to you with some important news about musical performance guidelines recently issued by the governor. 

 

On April 21, 2021 Governor Northam issued the fifth-amended Executive Order 72. We are pleased to see that the document includes updates for musical performances as its separate entity. Unfortunately, the specific guidance outlined here from page 58 to 61 for musical performances is very restrictive and does not take into consideration the updated VDH guidance from 4.2.21 (Guidance for K-12 School Performing Arts Programs), nor the scientific research studies regarding aerosols (NFHS). 

 

Therefore, we once again must call upon our state legislators and the Governor's office to revise these guidelines. 

Schools are already being given latitude by the CDC/VDH to use 3-feet distancing in general classrooms (string orchestra, guitar, percussion, piano, etc.) and 6-feet distancing during the instructional day in classes such as band, chorus, and PE. 

Our “ask” is to decrease the 10-feet physical distancing that currently must be maintained between performers (

in school, studio, and community musical performance guidelines) to be as follows: 

6-feet physical distancing for aerosol-producing activities (wind instruments and singing) 

3-feet physical distancing for non-aerosol producing instruments (strings, percussion, guitar, ukulele, piano, etc.)

We have worked with the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) to utilize their grassroots advocacy center service so that Virginia’s arts community can easily email their state representatives and Governor Northam directly. Please click HERE to go directly to the website. From there, a form letter exists for both Governor Northam and for our state delegates.  

NAfME has also reached out to their contacts at Governor Northam’s office and the Virginia Department of Education Policy office on our behalf. Special thanks to NAfME for their continued support of our efforts. This message was initially drafted by the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA). We will continue to work with VMEA, VBODA, NAfME, and VAMHE to coordinate our advocacy efforts. 

VMEA will be reaching out to a few of their media contacts as well. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Lisa Maynard, VASTA President

Dr. Sandy Goldie, VAMHE President; VASTA Past President

Dr. Angela Ammerman, VASTA President-Elect