For the most part wind musicians and singers will practice in the Hall of Music (HOM), which has a newer HVAC system than Christiansen Hall Of Music (CHM). String musicians will practice in CHM. Pianists will practice in HOM rooms with pianos, and percussionists will continue to utilize the percussion practice rooms. Depending on the residence hall, students may be permitted to practice in their dorm room or hall lounge.
The current plan is to assign small groups of students to a single practice room to minimize risk of viral spread. Where roommates are both taking music lessons, they will be assigned to the same practice room, again to minimize risk of viral spread. A minimum of 30 minutes of decontamination time will take place between wind or voice student practice sessions to allow the practice room to air out and HVAC air exchange and filtration to remove aerosolized particles.
Cleaning supplies will be available to sanitize keyboards, stands and surfaces. Musicians should plan to wash their hands and clean practice room surfaces before each practice session, and wash their hands after each practice session as an additional precaution.
Some ensembles will rehearse in larger spaces than normal, while others will rehearse in their usual spaces but with greater distance between musicians. Hourly air exchange rates and air filtration efficiency have both been increased to more rapidly disperse aerosolized particles generated during rehearsals.