National Lockdown update
Under current national lockdown restrictions groups cannot meet to rehearse in person.
Online rehearsals are of course possible. See our resources to find our more:
The First Minister announced on 23 February that Scotland would remain under ‘stay at home restrictions’ until at least 5 April (indicative) and hopefully return to the variable levels system of restrictions on the 26 April (indicative). The revised content of these restriction will be published by Scottish Government in mid-March and may contain changes to restrictions on music making from the previous protection levels that applied in 2020.
We are leaving the level guidance below as a reference to help you plan how to return to in person rehearsals when it is possible. We will make any revisions when the Scottish Government publishes the revised levels framework.
Guidance for five levels system (does not apply to current national lockdown - see above)
From 2 November, the Scottish Government will adopt a strategic approach to outbreak management based on five levels of protection. Whether your group can rehearse and/or perform in person will be dependent on what protection level applies to your area on the date of your activity. For Scottish Government guidance on organised activities involving children and young people see our summary below.
Initial protection levels will be set for each local authority area across Scotland from 2 November and then reviewed weekly to decide whether levels should be maintained, increased, or reduced. You can check which protection level your area is in on the Scottish Government website https://www.gov.scot/check-local-covid-level
From Friday 20 November, it will be illegal for people living in level 3 or level 4 areas to travel outside their own council area and for people living elsewhere in Scotland to travel in to level 3 or level 4 areas, except for essential purposes. This may present further challenges to your activity.
What does the guidance say?
There are 2 headings in Scotland’s Strategic Framework that apply to music making for non-professionals.
The guidance for the performing arts and venues sector was updated on 5 November to connect with the strategic framework. If you are in an area with a protection level of 1 or 0 then you are permitted to meet within the guidance for performing arts and venues sector as follows. The ‘Non-professionals gathering for performing arts activities’ section of this guidance states:
“Non-professionals (meaning those participating in performing arts other than for work purposes), or groups which include non-professionals, may refer to this guidance for their activities, but…must at all times do so in line with government legislation, particularly in relation to the number of individuals or households meeting together currently permitted in their local authority area, according to its level on the strategic framework.”
This refers to the ‘Socialising’ heading in the strategic framework. Protection Level 1 can allow for meeting socially indoors in groups of no more than 6 people from 2 households BUT check regularly as this is kept under review and is not immediately allowed. Level 0 allows for meeting socially indoors in groups of no more than 8 people from 3 households. You cannot meet another household socially indoors in Levels 2, 3 or 4.
At levels 1 and 0 groups are permitted to organise outdoor activity as follows: “Non-professionals who are participating in an organised outdoor activity managed by an organisation - including a business, charity or club – can meet outdoors in local authority areas currently in Levels 0 - 1. Organisers have a duty to ensure compliance with physical distancing, hygiene measures and this and other relevant guidance, including events guidance for any outdoor activity. Organisers should undertake the same risk assessment processes as referenced in this guidance for professional organisations, including member/participant representatives in those processes. They can proceed with their activity if they can do so in a way that ensures that there is no interaction between individuals or individual households. If they cannot ensure that physical distancing is not compromised - including when arriving at or leaving activity or in any breaks or socialising - then such non-professional activity should not take place.”
Scottish Government have clarified that an activity is 'organised' if it is organised by:
(a) a person responsible for carrying on a business or providing a service, (b) a place of worship, (c) a charity or other not for profit organisation, (d) a club or political organisation, or (e) the governing body of a sport or other activity.
The guidance lays out steps that will usually be needed which include:
- Observe the 2 metre physical distancing between each musician and between musicians and any other people such as conductors, accompanists or audiences (where permitted) at all times whilst playing (measured from the edge of the performer’s chair)
- Use back-to-back or side-to-side positioning (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible
- Limit the duration of rehearsals, and performances where permitted, as far as possible
The guidance does not differentiate between singing/wind/brass and other instrumentation. Refer to the guidance for performing arts and venues for all suggested mitigations.
The referred to events guidance provides guidance for all event organisers, from small to very large, outdoors and indoors. Refer to this for mitigations appropriate to the size and nature of your activity e.g. in Overview “Outdoor seated live events – Attendees must have allocated seats for the duration of the event - either physical seats or marked areas on the ground which households must sit within … Event organisers must ensure that seating allows for physical distancing to be practised. Attendees must be able to enter and exit the event at fixed points only so numbers can be controlled and contact details collected. Event organisers should ensure that attendees do not congregate in certain areas (such as toilets, entry/exit or refreshment points) which could make physical distancing difficult. Capacity should be calculated based on ensuring 2m physical distancing up to a limit of 200 attendees at any one time.” N.B. Refer to full guidance for all advised mitigations.
What can groups do?
Levels 2, 3 and 4
Indoor rehearsing: No in home socialising = no music making indoors
Outdoor rehearsing: No organised outdoor activity (as per Performing Arts guidance)
Performances: Events not permitted (except drive-in events at level 2 only)
Level 1
Indoor rehearsing: People can only play instruments/sing together indoors within numbers for socialising – max. 6 people from 2 households (when allowed so check Scottish Government guidance weekly).
Outdoor rehearsing: Outdoor activity permitted (as per Performing Arts guidance)
Performances: Outdoor events permitted – seated and open space, not grouped standing. Small seated indoor events permitted. Restrictions for non-professionals playing instruments/singing together also apply.
Level 0
Indoor rehearsing: People can only play instruments/sing together indoors within numbers for socialising – max. 8 people from 3 households
Outdoor rehearsing: Outdoor activity permitted (as per Performing Arts guidance)
Performances: Outdoor events permitted. Indoor events – seated and ambulatory permitted, not grouped standing. Restrictions for non-professionals playing instruments/singing together apply.
Groups making music with children / young people under 18
On 5th October, Scottish Government published this guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): organised activities for children: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-organised-activities-for-children/pages/overview/
It covers unregulated activities and services for children and young people, that are voluntary, third sector, parent or peer led or unregulated providers delivering a service or activity directly to children under 18. We think our members delivering music activity for children are most likely to fall into this category. Schools, regulated childcare and youth work are covered in separate guidance.
What does the guidance say?
This guidance specifically references music as follows:
“music and drama activities should take place only in situations where they comply with the low risk criteria in group settings… Individual lessons where 2 metre physical distancing can be applied, should only be considered where the environment is well ventilated and equipment is not shared and other mitigating risk approaches can be safely put in place, such as singer not facing the teacher. More creative solutions are recommended at this time including virtual lessons, rehearsals and performances, using digital forms of communication, carry even less risk and are the recommended position at this time. Choirs, orchestras and group drama performances should not recommence at this point.”
It also specifically references singing as follows:
“… singing, especially in groups, is considered a higher risk activity at present because of the potential for aerosol production and the absence presently of developed scientific analysis to assess this specific risk. The risk is lower for younger children, but as this would usually involve adults as well as children participating, it is recommended that singing indoors does not take place inside premises where organised activities for children and young people can be carried out, at this time. Some of the risk is reduced if the activity is taken outdoors. It will be up to each individual group/organisation/service provider to consider how or if this can be done safely.”
What can groups do? Under the Protection Levels framework, unregulated children’s activities are allowed to continue in Levels 0 – 3, and not at all in Level 4.
However, guidance advises at all Protection Levels:
- Choirs and orchestras should not recommence
- No singing at all indoors
- Singing outdoors - up to the organisation to consider how/if it can be done safely
- Individual lessons only with 2m distancing, ventilation and other mitigations, but digital recommended.
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