Teachers and students unite over no singing, woodwind or brass in Northern Irish schools

Music teachers in Northern Ireland are voicing concerns over a letter sent to schools from the education minister during the Easter holidays (on 1 April) stipulating that ‘no indoor singing or playing of wind or brass instruments should take place on school premises’ due to fears over the coronavirus.

All school children in Northern Ireland will return to their classrooms on 12 April.  

In an email sent from the Education Authority Music Service management team, school leaders were told that the decision was based on emerging data on the new COVID-19 variant. The email also read: ‘We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience caused and understand the disappointment this announcement brings to children and young people, Music Service staff and schools.’

Reactions to the decision have included a petition, signed by nearly 4,000 people, letters to MPs, an open letter, and a collaborative virtual performance of  How Can I Keep From Singing? from over 80 students and teachers.

While riots and unrest continue in NI, largely dominating UK-wide media coverage from the country, those involved in the campaign to revoke this decision hope to be heard and understood.

The creator of the YouTube video, head of music at Carrickfergus Grammar Edward Craig, told MT: ‘Schools have provided high quality music provision throughout the pandemic in a risk-assessed, safe environment and now we have a blanket ban on singing and playing wind instruments in our buildings.’

Craig points out that music lessons can take place in a private home, but cannot happen in a ventilated room, even on Zoom with a remote tutor.

Those opposed to the decision are calling for scientific evidence that singing and playing brass or woodwind instruments directly increase risks of Covid transmission. So far, volume rather than vocalisation itself is thought to increase this risk.

In a statement to BBC News NI, the Public Health Agency (PHA) said: 'This is the first time that hundreds of individuals will have been together in a setting since the start of the current lockdown.

'We must also remember that the Kent variant which is 50-70% more transmissible is now a prominent variant in Northern Ireland. That was not the case when schools were last fully open. It is important that we do everything reasonable to reduce the risk of transmission.'

PHA continued: 'Singing produces both large droplets of respiratory secretions that generally fall onto surfaces within two metres of the singer, and small droplets that are carried on the air for some distance (aerosols).

'These droplets of respiratory secretions are a major route of transmission of the COVID-19 virus between individuals. Playing some woodwind instruments has a similar effect.

'Singing loudly produces more aerosols compared to talking at a normal volume. There is greater risk of an infected individual unknowingly passing on the virus to more people in the room if they are singing - as they are generating more respiratory droplets - compared to if they were not singing.'

With the situation remaining 'under review', it is hoped that Peter Weir’s decision will be revoked as soon as possible to allow children and young people in Northern Ireland to play and sing again in school. Craig repeated the plea used in the video: ‘Music is the heartbeat of every school – please don't silence us.’

How Can I Keep From Singing? is on YouTube or can be watched below, and the petition can be found here.

This article was updated on 12/04/21 to include the response from PHA.