Music Education Alliance Victoria

Letting all arts workers and advocates know that Q & A this Thursday night will focus on "The future of the Arts in Australia". This is a great opportunity to have your say.

The Victorian Covid School Plan was announced this morning and will be reviewed by the government after 4 weeks of school.
The key points:
Students will be back at school for onsite learning.
Teachers are required to get a 3rd vaccination (booster) by either Feb 25 or 3 months and 2 weeks after their 2nd vaccination.
Teachers and students will be provided with RAT tests to allow twice weekly home testing (and 5 times/week for those in special needs schools).
51,000 air purifiers have been placed in schools (music rooms were mentioned).
Masks will be mandatory for year 3 students and older and 30 million masks are being provided to Victorian schools.
No specific mention was made of any restrictions to music education delivery.

MEAV wishes all music teachers a safe and positive start to the teaching year.

A good news story for Australian classical music:

They saved classical music in Melbourne: now they’re going national The newly-rebranded Australian Digital Concert Hall is on a mission to “rethink the way everything is done in the arts”.

Interesting article from the SMH on wind and brass playing. MEAV is pleased that Victoria is ahead of NSW in this regard. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/outdoor-education-and-wind-instruments-banned-while-sport-allowed-20211112-p598go.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0thF-9dvHwsdcYl9VU3oznxUDPnuCiP0ToA52s28LEOepMJWHUTnoqlvU =1637043135

A Press Release has been sent to all major tv, radio and newsprint outlets in Victoria. MEAV hopes to get exposure to raise our 3 main concerns:
International studies show that singing and playing music are safe activities
Music is Mental Health Magic!
Music sector remains economic and educational victims of the pandemic

If you have contacts in the media please ask them to get in touch at [email protected]

An updated School Operations Guide (DET) has just been released effective 1 November. Teachers are advised to contact their School Principal to obtain a copy.

The below advice applies to music teachers working across all school settings for onsite activity commencing Monday 1 November (aligning with Phase C of Victoria’s Roadmap).

There is good news for itinerant music teachers, including those who work across multiple sites.

SINGING, BRASS AND WOODWIND CLASSES
Singing and playing wind and brass instruments can occur under Department of Health recommendations if recommendations to reduce transmission risk are followed. Recommendations include moving outdoors, increasing ventilation, physical distancing of two metres between performers and five metres between performers and the audience, reducing the number of people, or reducing the length of time an activity is conducted. Further advice on ways to reduce risk can be found in DHHS guidance: COVID-19 transmission from air-circulating, wind-blowing devices and activities.
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/faq-covid-19-transmission-air-and-wind-moving-devices-doc

MUSIC TEACHERS AND ITINERANT MUSIC TEACHERS VISITING MULTIPLE SITES
Music teachers, including those who work across multiple sites, can resume onsite lessons, provided mandatory vaccination requirements have been met.

VISITORS TO SCHOOLS
Visitors to school grounds must comply with vaccination requirements, density limits, face mask requirements, QR code check-ins and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene. The density limit of one person per four square metres should be applied to any spaces and activities being attended by parent/carers and other visitors. The density limit applies to all persons in the space, including students.
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/four-and-two-square-metre-rules

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITORS TO SCHOOL FACILITIES
Any visitor or volunteers performing work in schools (including parent helpers, NDIS providers, and other operators such as incursion providers and private music teachers) are required to either have had their first dose by the 18 October or, have a booking to receive a first dose by 25 October or, are fully vaccinated by 29 November (unless a medical exemption applies) to attend on site. For more information on collection of vaccination information from visitors and volunteers working on school sites see: COVID-19 Vaccinations – Visitors and Volunteers Working on School Sites.
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/covid-19-vaccinations-visitors-volunteers/policy

The latest DET School Operations Guide was sent to Principals on Friday 22 October at 6.48pm. If it has not yet been passed on, please ask your Prin for details relating to music making and performances. We are liaising directly with the Department of Education with a view to obtaining specific guidance for music teachers, and we expect to have more information soon.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-15/music-teachers-call-for-essential-clarity/100533504

Are music teachers 'essential'? Some school principals don't think so Chrissy teaches one-on-one music lessons at three Victorian state schools and wants her role deemed "essential" like other teaching positions so she can return to onsite work.

MEAV is currently in direct communication with the Department of Education to obtain clear guidelines for music teachers working in school settings including Government, Independent and Catholic schools.

We have asked for clarification in relation to itinerant music teachers who need to visit multiple sites, as well as relevant, up to date information from the School Operations Guide. Further advice will be provided on this page as soon as possible.

In the meantime, DET employees and parents/carers can contact the DET COVID-19 FAQ hotline on 1800 338 663
Hours - Mon-Fri (8:30am-5:00pm) and Sat-Sun (10.00am-3.00pm)

MEAV has this week written to the government to impress upon them the continuing equity and access issues for music students and teachers. We stressed the diverse (and complex) educational settings we work under including state, independent and Catholic schools, private studios, creative studios and community ensembles.

We stated that music can be taught safely (evidence-based research offered), and used as a vital tool in Victoria's return to normality for both schools and society.

Finally, we stressed that music is a powerful tool in supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing, job security and economic growth.

Dear Colleagues,
Please see VCAA Information for VCE Music Students:
'Q&As – COVID-19 safe arrangements for students undertaking VCE Performance and Languages oral examinations and Extended investigation oral presentations' (Ref: Q15 & Q16 )

FAQPLOandEIOPFinalApproved.pdf

Latest SOG - effective 2 October 2021
Access full document here: https://bit.ly/3itUGEg

SINGING, BRASS AND WOODWIND CLASSES (Page 22, Item 19)
"Singing and playing wind and brass instruments can occur in regional Victoria (excluding Restricted Areas) if Department of Health recommendations to reduce transmission risk are followed.

Recommendations include moving outdoors, increasing ventilation, physical distancing of two metres between performers and five metres between performers and the audience, reducing the number of people, or reducing the length of time an activity is conducted.

Further advice on ways to reduce risk can be found in DH guidance: COVID-19 transmission from air-circulating, wind-blowing devices and activities.
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/faq-covid-19-transmission-air-and-wind-moving-devices-doc

Singing, brass, woodwind classes and groups in metropolitan Melbourne and other Restricted Areas must be postponed or occur remotely during this time, unless for the purpose of essential VCE/VCAL assessment where VCAA guidance should be followed."

School-Operations-Guide_2 October 2021.docx Operations Guide Victorian government schools From Saturday 2 October 2021 Contents SECTION NUMBER PAGE Summary of key information 4 1. Staged return to onsite learning: Metropolitan Melbourne and Restricted Areas 4 2. Staged return to onsite learning: Regional Areas...