Update, as of July 11, 2021: In-person rehearsals are now open to anyone who has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Only vaccinated folk will be allowed to attend in-person rehearsals;
- Proof of vaccination must be shown;
- Livestream rehearsals will continue for those who remain unvaccinated;
- No band PPE required;
- All rehearsals will be outside as long as weather & temperature allow.
As of April 30, 2021
- Safety Coordinator: Encantada’s current Safety Coordinator is Gwen-Marie Lerch. All decisions of the safety coordinator are final regarding safety and social distance matters.
- Mask Requirements: Multi-layer face masks that cover the nose & mouth are required at all times. Masks are not negotiable. The types of allowable masks are:
- Face masks made of two or more layers of cloth;
- Face masks with a clear plastic window;
- Surgical, procedural, N95 or KN95 face masks that are approved by the federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA);
- Musicians/Players masks using “overlap” openings or otherwise specifically designed for your type of instrument;(see document Is My Mask Correct? for images).
- Unacceptable Masks: the following face coverings are NOT substitutes for appropriate face masks:
- Player’s masks that use“flap” style openings (see document Is My Mask Correct? for images);
- Masks that have exhalation valves or vents;
- Bandanas;
- Scarves;
- Neck gaiters/neck fleece;
- Face shields without a face mask underneath;
- Brass Instrument Requirements
- Brass instruments must use an instrument-specific bell cover during rehearsal;
- Brass instruments must use a “puppy pad” on which to empty spit valves, if playing on any type of hard or man-made surface;
- Puppy pads/spit pads must be safely disposed of by the individual musician after every rehearsal;
- All musicians must wear an overlap style musician’s mask while playing;
- Instruments must stay inside the player’s designated safety zone during rehearsal;
- Brass players must maintain a distance of 9-feet from other musicians while playing.
- Woodwind Instrument Requirements
- All woodwind instruments (except flutes) must use an instrument-specific bag;
- All musicians (except flutes) must wear an overlap style musician’s mask while playing;
- Flutes must use a flute-specific player’s mask with either a pouch or double side slits; instrument bags are optional for flutes;
- Instruments must stay inside the player’s designated safety zone during rehearsal;
- Woodwind players must maintain a distance of 9-feet from other musicians while playing.
- Percussion & String Requirements
- Percussion and String players may wear standard face masks and remain 6-feet apart from similar musicians (but must stay 9-feet away from wind musicians);
- Percussionists should not share sticks or mallets.
- Safety Zones
- You will be assigned a spot, or safety zone for each rehearsal; you may change from one mask type to another, and briefly remove a mask to drink water, within your safety radius;
- Musicians should stay in their assigned safety zone as much as possible during rehearsal. To this end, chairs, music stands, instrument cases and water bottles can be placed next to the musician within the safety zone.
- Rehearsal Times
- Band 1: 2:30-3:30pm
- Band 2: 4:00-5:00pm
- (If Green) Everyone: 3:00-4:30pm
- What to bring:
- Correct PPE: face masks, instrument bags, bell covers
- Music stand
- Chair (optional)
- Water
- Pep band book & other music
- What Encantada will supply:
- Puppy pads & small trash bags for brass players;
- Hand sanitizer at each rehearsal;
- In addition, Encantada owns a limited number of player’s masks, bell covers, & instrument bags which are available for member use