From European Choral Association resource on Covid-19:
Please note: As European federation we are not in the position to say that one protocol developed in one country is better / more correct / to be recommended more than a protocol from another country. We are simply collecting the protocols we are aware of as inspiration for those who are looking for examples.
Some organisations in different countries have already collected information on music or specifically on choral singing or published documents which you can find below (using google translator or DeepL translator you will be able to understand most of these texts).:
A Coeur Joie in France published a press release with an evaluation of what will be possible or rather not be possible in the near future.
The Norwegian directorate of health for music rehearsals have published guidlines (update from April 30th). Some general guidelines from this text are for example calculation methods on how you could calculate the space needed for rehearsals keeping a distance from each other of minimum of 1m (instead of 1,5m which was mentioned before) :
|
Group size |
additional buffer |
3m2 per person |
minimum m2 in total |
|
< 5 |
10 m² |
15 m² |
25 m² |
|
< 15 |
20 m² |
45 m² |
65 m² |
|
< 30 |
30 m² |
90 m² |
120 m² |
|
>50 |
30 m² |
150m² |
180 m² |
ATTENTION: these are GENERAL guidelines for musicians, not specifically for singers!
There is an English summary for choirs (however, still with the rule of 4m2 person and no mention of special risk for singers compared to others).
Several Norwegian choirs have started rehearsing and performing since the end of April, standing at a distance but without wearing face masks. Find out more in example one and example two.
In Germany there are national recommendations so far, but first regions have permitted rehearsals again. Nordrhein-Westfalen published rules saying that singers have to stand 3 metres apart from each other and with a distance of 6 metres between the rows. Outside they say 1,5 metres distance is sufficient. Read an example of guidelines from a choir in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
The VBG (work insurance) there are guidelines for theatres etc., so for the professional performing arts sector - which originally recommend a distance of 6 metres between singers and 20m2 per person when for rehearsal spaces - updated its standards after recent research to a distance of 3 metres between musicians including singers
At the beginning of May the Music University (Musikhochschule) in Freiburg together with the Institute of Musical Medicine in Freiburg updated its recommendations. They will update recommendations further once the detailed results are there. They now suggest that a distance of 2 metres may be sufficient also for singers and wind instruments (based on recent research done in Bamberg, see below), and that big halls with a good air situation might reduce the risk. ln the text they mention the cases of choirs where rehearsals in March seem to have been moments of spreading the virus but they also say that there is no proof for this and no existing research specifically on music-making and singing, that, however, one should be careful as long as there is no proof.
One of the German Choir association VDKC published their own guidelines. (A choir in Hamburg consulted different experts and came up with rules saying: maximum 20-25 people, singing with face mask, singing at 5 m distance from each other and some additional rules).
The German orchestra association published suggested guidelines for re-opening orchestra and choir life, available in English, saying that these should be checked by doctors and hygiene experts. A German conductor has created a page where he is compiling all relevant texts for Germany.
When church services were allowed again, a warning was issued that loud singing should not happen during services. Music Schools reopened on May 4th in some regions, only with individual classes and in some regions groups of 6, for most instruments there have to be min. 5m² per person, for wind instruments and singing 10m² per person.
The federation of choirs in Madrid (Spain) has formulated a set of rules for rehearsals after Lockdown.
In Catalonia, Spain, FCEC has been working on a document with clear rules for choirs for the possible return to life rehearsals once the government will allow group activities again (maybe in September/October, to be confirmed). This includes hygiene regulations including the obligation to wear face masks, recommendations on which singers should be able to attend rehearsals and which not, recommendations on the space needed
(1,5 m between singers, 2 m between rows, 2 m between conductor and 1st row), hygiene protocols to follow etc.
In Valencia Music Bands are asking for advice because there are no government instructions for bands (or choirs).
The association Koornetwerk in the Netherlands was asked by the government to work on possible guidelines on how choral singing may be possible again after lockdown. They are regularly posting updates on their Website.. They stress the latest government rules are not clear enough for choirs They will seek clarification.
In Belgium Koor & Stem advised its members to cancel all rehearsals, events and other gatherings until August 31st. Also the Fédération Chorale Wallonie - Bruxelles, A Coeur Joie Belgique has sent a message to the conductors and presidents of its member choirs.
In Estonia they are planning to allow open-air concerts in July/August with singers and the audience sitting/standing at least 2 m from each other. Rehearsals will be possible from mid-May with a maximum of 10 people and a distance of 2 m from each other (information received by mail). Indoor concerts will first be possible for chamber music without vocals, with 2m distance for performers as well as the audience.
In the UK a Board member of ABCD published a call to conductors who are also doctors/scientists aiming collaboration between experts in fields relevant to epidemiology and virus transmission and phoniatrics, the teaching of singing and the management of choirs. The intention is to produce an authoritative article that might be referenced as choirs plan their way out of lockdown.
In Ireland the association, Sing Ireland has issued a statement on choral activities and recommends that group singing cannot take place, face to face, until at least the 10th August. Sing Ireland also has a dedicated website for choirs and Covid-19.
In the US they published rules about how audiences can be distributed in concert halls - read an article on what this means regarding income from concert ticket sales.
In Portugal the choral association has published a recommendation to continue rehearsing online until more scientific studies are available. They think that singing with face masks is not really feasible.
In Italy Feniarco is collecting and sharing information, no concrete protocols yet.
In Austria, based on the studies made in Germany, they have published guidelines which recommend a 2-metre distance for singers, they recommend rehearsing outside and for inside rehearsals 5m² per person.
New Zealand which has almost no new Covid-19 cases mid-May published guidelines for choirs, and guidelines for singing teachers.
