The Return of Covid Conversations!
Sadly, many of us in education have lived at the epicenter of the Covid Wars. Possibly the biggest political football during the pandemic has been what to do with the kids, and what to do with schools. For those of us in choral music, we lived at that intersection along with a hysteria created at first by our very own professional organizations. This contributed to a perfect storm of lost positions, cut programs, recruiting problems and a laundry list of misplaced apprehensions about singing. Facts that I am still not sure we have all come to terms with. Of course, it is important to remember that in this cross fire were students and community members displaced from life affirming and often life saving educational and humanizing opportunities. While it is always reasonable to weigh new risks against old norms, it is not reasonable to present our preferred policies as if they have no downsides worthy of heavy consideration. In this episode I speak with Pediatrician, and Covid Policy Advocate Dr. Nikki Johnson about the “Harm Reduction” approach to Covid Policy, the political blinders we all wore or still wear, and many errors in reasoning to which this contributed. One of the big errors singers have made is the role masks play in our safety.
We also discuss the difference between a high quality signers mask designed to STAY ON while you sing… (Like the new Resonance 95 from MyMusicFolders.com Don’t forget to use your promo code!) and just wearing any old mask for any amount of time, flopping your jaw around willy nilly. Finally, we do a bit of prognosticating about ways to process in a more healthy way in the next wave.
A look back to this audience’s appeal to ACDA about Covid Messaging signed by over 250 colleagues.
A rational approach to Covid policy for our schools and institutions is forward looking, measured and responsive to the most recent information and community health outcomes.
Materials Referenced in the Episode
NYT Article Mentioned RE Mask effectiveness vs. Mask POLICY
The US was an outlier on School Closures
Early in the Pandemic, Europe Was Much Quicker to Get Kids Back to School
Urgency of Normal Toolkit
Episode 288: When we are Forced to Choose…
Between process or performance. Between our philosophy and our job. Between what’s best for kids and what our colleagues want How do we navigate the conundrum of a performance based institutional system with the “slower at first” tools based philosophy that we know is best for long term growth? How do we convince an administrator…
Episode 287: Give Them Tools and Let Them Build Part 4 (Rhythm)
Part Four are the rhythm tools: Rap the words, Takadimi, count singing. Each have their roles, and particular problems that they help to solve. In this episode, peek into some rehearsals where students demonstrate their tool selection and application. Beat is felt in the body, constructed in the brain, and CAN be taught. Rhythm is…
Episode 286: Give Them Tools and Let Them Build Part 3 (Pitch)
Part Three is the Solfége or Pitch tool: Give Them Tools and Let Them Build is based on a premise. We are not the music makers. Our students are. So, are we teaching them songs? Or the tools used to build songs? So, what do we do if the students don’t know what the pitches…
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