The study, rehearsal, and performance of music are central to the Luther College community. As a signature curricular and co-curricular program, the Music Department connects with hundreds of students on a daily basis. In a robust and rigorous academic and musical program, we train students for a lifetime of involvement in music as teachers, performing artists, church musicians, arts administrators, composers, and community volunteers.

The SARS-CoV-2 (novel coronavirus) has drastically altered the experience of music performance and music study around the globe. Consequently, the Luther College Music Department has adapted its protocols accordingly. The college and the music department strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to receive the COVID vaccination. The music department has set a voluntary vaccination goal of 85% for large-scale aerosol producing activities because of the increased risk of COVID transmission through such activities. Students who have not disclosed their vaccination status and who are involved in these courses, ensembles, and other activities will be required to undergo regular surveillance testing. Luther is making every effort to protect the medical privacy of community members regarding their vaccination status, and only anonymized group information will be provided to faculty such as studio instructors and ensemble conductors. Students and faculty are not permitted to ask individuals about their vaccination status.  

The campus-wide protection protocols identified on the Being Community webpage should be observed at all times. The Music Department protocols listed here are specific to the study of music, and should be observed by all musicians at Luther College in addition to the campus-wide protocols. As understanding of the coronavirus evolves, and as local and regional conditions change, the Music Department may need to adjust protocols accordingly. Please view these protocols as an addendum to the Music Department Student Guidelines where you can access more general departmental information and requirements.

Surveillance Testing for Undisclosed Participants

Students and faculty involved in large scale aerosol-generating musical activities who have not voluntarily declared their vaccination status will be required to undergo regular surveillance testing. We will provide details about frequency of testing (e.g., weekly/bi-weekly) in the coming days. Applicable large scale aerosol-generating activities for fall semester 2021 include those listed below: 

• Ensembles: Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Orchestra, Collegiate Chorale, Cathedral Choir, Symphonic Band, Philharmonia (unless strings only), Aurora, Norskkor, Jazz Band, jazz combos, and woodwind/brass/voice seminar ensembles (trumpet choir, low brass choir, etc.)
• Courses: MUS 105 (woodwinds and brass), MUS 115 (voice), 121, 121L, 131, 131L, 231, 231L, 362; MUED 260, 265, 275, 351, 353, 371, 372, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 390
• Other Activities: Woodwind, brass, and voice seminars; woodwind, brass, and voice chamber ensembles as well as mixed chamber ensembles that include at least one participant on woodwind/brass/voice 

Faculty will be notified by the Office of Student Engagement that students will be absent if they do not adhere to the testing requirements or if they test positive. To protect student privacy, conductors will not be told the reason for the absence.

Aerosol-Generating Ensembles, Seminars, and Courses

Protocols for aerosol-generating ensembles, seminars, and courses (see above for list) will depend on the percentage of the group’s student and faculty participants that have voluntarily submitted their vaccination records. Until confirmation that 85% or more of a(n) ensemble/studio/course student and faculty participants have provided vaccination documentation to Luther College, additional protocols will remain in place during ensembles and aerosol-generating seminars.

Faculty will be informed of the percentage of students in ensembles, studios, and courses who have declared that they have been vaccinated. Faculty will not be privy to individual student vaccination status, and faculty members will not ask students about their vaccination status.

< 85% Threshold
If fewer than 85% of students and faculty participating in each aerosol-generating ensemble, studio, or course (see above for list) provide documentation that they have been vaccinated, masks will be required during rehearsals, performances, and seminars. If music ensembles have not met the 85% disclosure threshold, meeting times must be shortened by fifteen minutes to allow 30 minutes as the air exchange interval after the event’s conclusion. For aerosol-generating seminars (voice, brass, woodwinds) and courses (see above for list), instructors should abbreviate 40 minute courses by five minutes (last five for 1st half of period, first five for 2nd half of period) until the student roster reflects 85% disclosure. Longer courses (60 and 90 minutes) should refrain from singing/playing in the first 15 minutes of the period until the student roster reflects 85% disclosure.

Note: When string players and/or percussionists rehearse without singers, winds or brasses in the room, those string players, percussionists (and their conductor) will not be required to wear face coverings unless the Being Community COVID Advisory Level requires masking.

> 85% Threshold
Once 85% of students and faculty participating in each aerosol-generating music ensemble, studio, or course (see above for list) provide documentation that they have been vaccinated, requirements to wear masks will be lifted. All participants are welcome to wear masks or follow masking protocols for their instruments if they so desire. Due to the higher-risk nature of certain music-making activities, faculty may also opt to continue requiring the use of universal mitigation protocols during class/rehearsal. If music ensembles and aerosol-generating seminars have met the 85% disclosure threshold, these groups may meet and rehearse for their full times and leave only the fifteen minutes of passing time as the air exchange interval.

Rehearsals must start and end promptly at the assigned times.

Instrumental Ensembles

General protocols for instrumental ensemble rehearsals are as follows: 

• Students will practice good instrument hygiene as designated by studio instructors.
• Each brass player will be required to ensure safety of others when emptying condensation that occurs during playing of their instrument(s). A 100% cotton towel is required for use while emptying condensation. Towels may not be shared, and students must bring enough towels that a clean towel can be used daily. Students must also bring a washable bag to store used towels in. Bags and towels should be washed weekly. 
• The keys of any keyboard instrument used should be wiped down with the keyboard cleaning wipes that will be provided in the rehearsal space.

Choral Ensembles

General protocols for choral ensemble rehearsals are as follows: 

• The general practice at Luther College is that choir students hold hands while performing. Until the group is at 85% documented vaccination status, students will not hold hands during rehearsals or performances. 
• The keys of any keyboard instrument used should be wiped down with the keyboard cleaning wipes that will be provided in the rehearsal space.

Seminars and Courses

For aerosol-generating seminars (voice, brass, woodwinds) and courses (see above for list), instructors should abbreviate 40 minute courses by five minutes (last five for 1st half of period, first five for 2nd half of period) until the student roster reflects 85% disclosure. Longer courses (60 and 90 minutes) should refrain from singing/playing in the first 15 minutes of the period until the student roster reflects 85% disclosure. Once these rosters reflect 85% disclosure, pre-pandemic operations may resume with the notable exception of instrument sharing in methods classes.

Applied Music Lessons

Applied music lessons will take place in person for the 2021-2022 academic year unless the campus moves to a COVID alert level that moves courses online. Exceptions will be made only for students who have formal accommodations through Disability Services, faculty who have formal accommodations through Human Resources, and those in quarantine or isolation.

Faculty may choose to add a buffer period between lessons to allow for extra air exchange time. At the beginning of the term and/or each lesson, the studio faculty member will ask the student if they would like to wear a mask and physically distance themselves. If either the faculty member or the student wishes to wear masks and/or distance, the request will be honored with no questions asked about reasons for the request. Luther College is committed to maintaining privacy, and therefore faculty members will not ask students about their individual vaccination status.

Voice Lessons: There are times when instructors need to be able to see the student’s mouth and allow the student to see the instructor’s mouth so an online lesson will lead to better student learning outcomes than a masked in-person lesson. Therefore, from September 1 through fall break (October 16), the majority of voice lessons will be in face-to-face format using mitigation measures with a limited number of lessons held in online format for pedagogical purposes. If, for example, there are six lessons during that period of time at least four of them will be in face-to-face format. We will reevaluate to determine if this practice will continue after October 16.

Music Scholarships

Students must enroll in and successfully complete applied lessons and a large ensemble to maintain scholarship awards.

• Students may request accommodations through Disability Services.
• All ensembles have been charged with implementing numerous safety protocols and following the guidelines of national health experts. Should a student not be comfortable with those safety protocols, they should communicate with one of the ensemble conductors PRIOR to the audition process and discuss alternatives for fulfilling the ensemble requirement for the music scholarship.
• Please note that there are alternatives to large ensemble participation for pianists and organists. More information can be found in the Music Department Student Guidelines.

If you have questions or need more information about music scholarships, contact Andrew Last.

Performances

Public, in-person performances are planned for the 2021-2022 academic year; however, performances that tend to draw very large audiences may have a limited hall capacity. Masks will be required for all audience members in attendance.

To limit large audiences and shorten the length of performances in some cases, the family weekend concert schedule will be different than prior years:

12:30pm     Concert Band and Jazz Orchestra, CFL

3:00pm       Norskkor and Aurora, CFL

7:00pm       Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, and Symphonic Band, CFL

8:00pm       Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Band, CFL Front Steps

The Box Office will ticket the family weekend concerts held in the CFL, and we will encourage audience members to wear masks.

The Homecoming concert will proceed in its typical format (three concerts of 30 minutes with 20 minute breaks in between performances). The Box Office will ticket this event and audience members will be encouraged to wear masks.

The decision to allow public performances will at all times be informed by conditions of health and safety, and by the decisions and judgment of the COVID Response Team, President Ward, and the Cabinet. Dress rehearsals and performances will take place according to the Music Department Calendar.

Recital Attendance

Students may attend in-person recitals again. Masks will be required for all audience members in attendance.

Christmas at Luther

At this time, we are planning for Christmas at Luther 2021 to occur in person with live audiences. More information will be available later in the fall semester, and the Christmas at Luther website will be updated with the latest information. Reach out to Susan Potvin with questions. Campus events with large numbers of anticipated participants and/or guests on campus (e.g., Homecoming and Christmas at Luther) may be adjusted to accommodate a smaller number of in-person guests. Masks will be required for all audience members in attendance.

Dorian Festivals

At this time, we are planning for the 2021-2022 Dorian Festivals to occur in person. More information will be available later in the fall semester, and the Dorian website will be updated with the latest information. Due to the size of the festivals, number of participants and/or housing protocols may be adjusted to accommodate a smaller number of in-person guests. Masks will be required for all audience members in attendance at the Dorian Festival Grand Concerts.

Music Tours

Music ensemble tours for the 2021-2022 academic year are being planned in hopes that they will occur as normal. Because of the many challenging factors related to domestic touring, including homestays, large group travel, performances for large audiences, and more, we will determine if any adjustments to our standard touring practices need to occur at a later date. Reach out to Susan Potvin with questions.

Practice Rooms, Rehearsal Spaces, and NRH

The study of music requires many individuals to use a host of shared spaces to practice individually and collaborate with others. The following protocols will help minimize the risk of community spread in these shared spaces.

• Practice rooms will operate on a strict schedule, on a pre-arranged, reservation basis.
• You can sign up to use a practice room by accessing the link emailed to you by Sandra Lien in the music office.
• Practice rooms will remain empty for 15 minutes between occupants to allow for adequate air exchange.
• Students may not use any practice room or rehearsal space unless they have reserved the space through the protocol that is developed and shared with them. 
• If a student reserves a practice room and no longer needs that room, they must cancel their reservation so that the room may be used by someone else.
• Students who use the practice rooms will spray and wipe down music stands, chairs, light switches, and door handles when entering and vacating a practice room.
• The keys of any keyboard instrument used should be wiped down with the keyboard cleaning wipes that will be provided in every practice room hallway. Students will follow this protocol when entering and vacating a practice room. 
• Students who participate in rehearsals of any kind--e.g. Chamber music, recital preparation with a collaborative pianist--will clean high-touch surfaces such as music stands, chairs, doorknobs, and light switches at the conclusion of rehearsals. The keys of any keyboard instrument used should be wiped down with the keyboard cleaning wipes that will be provided in the rehearsal space.
• Students will not be permitted to practice in their residence hall rooms.
• For questions, reach out to Sandra Lien.
  

Cleaning

Hand sanitizer will be available in each classroom. Classrooms are cleaned daily by custodial staff. Classrooms are equipped with cleaning supplies and wastebaskets.

Classroom keyboards will be cleaned before and after use. Students will not be permitted to share textbooks or other resources while in classroom settings. Students enrolled in class piano (MUS 115, 116, 117) will wipe down keyboards before and after class.

The keys of any keyboard instrument used should be wiped down with the keyboard cleaning wipes that will be provided in every studio hallway. 

Any questions should be directed to Daniel Baldwin, Music department head, unless otherwise specified.