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CMSS Health Protocols

closeup hand bowing cello

CMSS is a community that cares for each other.

The guidelines below outline how we care for each other, even if our own risk perceptions and tolerances are different from others. Communicable illnesses like COVID, influenza and RSV disproportionately impact people with disabilities that put them at increased risk of severe outcomes from sickness. Protecting the most medically vulnerable members of our community is part of CMSS’ mission to promote equity and well-being for all.

    • If you feel like you may be coming down with (or recovering from) a mild head cold, but you feel well enough to come to your lesson (and are not testing positive for COVID), you may come, but please wear a mask to avoid passing any kind of illness to others. Masks are available at the front desk.
    • Individuals who have tested positive for COVID19 may return to CMSS in person only if:
      • it has been at least 5 days since the onset of their symptoms,
      • their symptoms are improving,
      • they haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours, AND
      • they continue to wear their mask until 10 days after their positive test.
        • Exception: If you had COVID, it’s been 5 days, AND you’ve had 2 negative rapid tests, 48 hours apart, you do not need to wear a mask.
    • If you test positive for COVID-19 and have been in close contact with CMSS staff or student(s) in the last 5 days, please notify Sierra Simmons, Associate Director, at ssimmons@communitymusicschool.comcreate new email, so we can give them a heads up.
    • Please wear a mask if you have been in close contact with someone who is sick with COVID, RSV, or flu in the last 5 days.
    • If your music teacher asks you to wear a mask, please consider doing so even if the rules don’t require it. Keep in mind they may be at a higher risk or caring for others at a higher risk.
  • Remain free of assumption based on a persons’ choice to wear or not wear a mask. Some may choose to wear a mask, say no to an event, or otherwise exercise more caution than others, for a variety of reasons.

Specific masking guidelines for each instrument: 

String, guitar, percussion, and piano players, and music therapy/production/composition/theory students:

  • Wear a mask that fully covers your nose and mouth during your entire music lesson, class, or ensemble.

Vocalists:

  • You are more than welcome to wear the mask you typically wear, but it may be more comfortable to purchase a special singers’ mask. We recommend singers’ masks like this one with the MERV 13 filter.

Flute players:

  • You will need to purchase or make a flute mask. We recommend something like this or this.

Oboe, clarinet, and bassoon players:

  • Musician’s masks and bell covers will need to be worn during your lesson or ensemble. While you play, you’ll put your mouthpiece through your musician’s mask, and when you’re ready to talk, you will place a regular mask over the opening in your musician’s mask. Check it out in this video.
  • You can easily make a musician’s mask at home by simply cutting a slit in a disposable mask that you can slip your mouthpiece through. Just remember to bring an additional mask to cover over your mouth while you are not playing.
  • If you’d like to purchase a musician’s mask, we recommend ordering a mask like this or this from Gerry’s Music.
  • For a bell cover for your instrument you can just use a disposable mask secured to the end of your bell with a rubber band.
  • If you are interested in purchasing a bell cover we recommend this one that has a MERV-13 filter. Be sure to order the correct size for your instrument.

Trumpet, trombone, tuba, and saxophone players:

  • Musician’s masks and bell covers will need to be worn during your lesson or ensemble. While you play, you’ll put your mouthpiece through your musician’s mask, and when you’re ready to talk, you will place a regular mask over the opening in your musician’s mask. Check it out in this video.
  • You can easily make a musician’s mask at home by simply cutting a slit in a disposable mask that you can slip your mouthpiece through. Just remember to bring an additional mask to cover over your mouth while you are not playing.
  • If you’d like to purchase a musician’s mask, we recommend ordering a mask like this or this from Gerry’s Music.
  • Utilize a bell cover like this one that has a MERV-13 filter. Be sure to order the correct size for your instrument.

CMSS Perform-A-Thon