Peninsula High School Music Boosters
Announcements
Visit the President's Blog page here where you will also find the October Newsletter.
Booster registration
Booster Club Registration
The on-line registration page is here.
The on-line registration page is here.
music education in pandemic time (new link 10/14)
Links to articles about music performance during the pandemic
https://hub.jhu.edu/magazine/2020/fall/new-music-artists-find-new-creative-avenues-during-pandemic/ (added 10/14/2020)
updates
Update: 10 Aug 2020
The second phase of a music/choir/drama aerosol study has been released. There is some encouraging preliminary data that masking singers and wind instrument bells can significantly reduce aerosol movement. Their YouTube presentation and slides are available at this link.
Please continue to check back on this page periodically for updates from this study and from Music Boosters.
Please continue to check back on this page periodically for updates from this study and from Music Boosters.
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PVPHS Music Booster Club Meetings
Via Zoom teleconference* * email penhighmusicboosters@gmail.com for dial-in instructions 11/16/2020 No meeting in December 01/11/2021^ 02/08/2021^ 03/15/2021 04/19/2021 05/17/2021 [date may be changed due to banquet] ^ Meetings on the 3rd Monday except when there is a Monday holiday |
A Letter from the Music Booster Club President
28 July 2020
Dear Music Students and Parents,
First of all, I hope you are all well and enjoying your summer.
As you know, PVPUSD has developed a plan for both hybrid learning (in person + virtual) as well as a purely virtual learning experience. The plan is available here: https://online.fliphtml5.com/rzhh/qbvr/#p=1. Students will default into the hybrid program unless they opt in to the Distance Learning Academy by THIS SUNDAY August 2, 2020 (instructions on opting in on pg 18 of the plan). However, due to the rise in COVID cases in CA, the state is requiring students on both tracks to start virtually, with the first day of instruction planned to be August 26, 2020.
If your family is like mine, you have a myriad of questions. As you may be aware, both my husband and I are physicians with a passionately musical, very academic trombonist son. We have multiple family members who are immunocompromised, and we care for elderly parents. We have had dozens of patients with COVID and have watched it destroy families. At the same time, we very much miss the stimulation of being with everyone at Peninsula. Making educational choices now is very personal and difficult, especially when the incoming information changes rapidly and remains incomplete.
We have some guidance below, and we will post this and all future updates on the home page of the Music Booster website: http://www.pvphsmusicboosters.com/. Please check here first, as we will keep it up-to-the minute current as much as possible.
I also am happy to provide a link to a video greeting by our new Music Director, Mike Lloyd, MA Ed. He will be teaching Marching/Concert Band, Jazz, and AP Music Theory. I know Mr. Lloyd would rather be meeting you face to face and shaking your hand right now, but until that is possible, I hope this helps!
Be well and keep playing music!
Angela Tang
Music Booster President
penhighmusicboosters@gmail.com
First of all, I hope you are all well and enjoying your summer.
As you know, PVPUSD has developed a plan for both hybrid learning (in person + virtual) as well as a purely virtual learning experience. The plan is available here: https://online.fliphtml5.com/rzhh/qbvr/#p=1. Students will default into the hybrid program unless they opt in to the Distance Learning Academy by THIS SUNDAY August 2, 2020 (instructions on opting in on pg 18 of the plan). However, due to the rise in COVID cases in CA, the state is requiring students on both tracks to start virtually, with the first day of instruction planned to be August 26, 2020.
If your family is like mine, you have a myriad of questions. As you may be aware, both my husband and I are physicians with a passionately musical, very academic trombonist son. We have multiple family members who are immunocompromised, and we care for elderly parents. We have had dozens of patients with COVID and have watched it destroy families. At the same time, we very much miss the stimulation of being with everyone at Peninsula. Making educational choices now is very personal and difficult, especially when the incoming information changes rapidly and remains incomplete.
We have some guidance below, and we will post this and all future updates on the home page of the Music Booster website: http://www.pvphsmusicboosters.com/. Please check here first, as we will keep it up-to-the minute current as much as possible.
I also am happy to provide a link to a video greeting by our new Music Director, Mike Lloyd, MA Ed. He will be teaching Marching/Concert Band, Jazz, and AP Music Theory. I know Mr. Lloyd would rather be meeting you face to face and shaking your hand right now, but until that is possible, I hope this helps!
Be well and keep playing music!
Angela Tang
Music Booster President
penhighmusicboosters@gmail.com
Video greeting by Mike Lloyd, MA Ed
Music Director PVPHS
FAQs answered by Mr. Lloyd: (as of 7/26)
What are the plans for the two models?
I am working on developing a curriculum for both online and hybrid environments. I can say that if your student elects the “Distance Learning Academy” option the district has offered, I am fairly confident that there will be no options for music performance. It appears the only class in the virtual track will be Music Appreciation.
Right now it looks like we will be starting the year online (using the hybrid schedule) and then shifting to an in-person hybrid schedule once LA County is off of the state watch list for 14 consecutive days. When that will be is anybody’s guess. At my previous school we shifted to online learning very early in the midst of all of this. I still had students performing and submitting recordings of themselves. I would most likely use a similar format for the start of the school year assuming we are online. This would be supplemented with music history, basic music theory, and music analysis assignments.
For in-person hybrid instruction, there are additional variables at play. They will be splitting classes into A and B groups. The way they do those divisions will have a lot of say in how I will handle the hybrid instruction. Right now I am planning for small group ensembles (quartets and quintets). We would then use some websites and apps that would allow them to mesh their individual performances together into a virtual performance.
Also, I am looking into the ability of streaming rehearsal/class for the students who are not in class on any given instructional day (due to the rotational nature of the hybrid system). This would allow students who were at home to perform with the students that are in class and that particular day. While not ideal it does get us a step closer to playing together.
Right now it looks like we will be starting the year online (using the hybrid schedule) and then shifting to an in-person hybrid schedule once LA County is off of the state watch list for 14 consecutive days. When that will be is anybody’s guess. At my previous school we shifted to online learning very early in the midst of all of this. I still had students performing and submitting recordings of themselves. I would most likely use a similar format for the start of the school year assuming we are online. This would be supplemented with music history, basic music theory, and music analysis assignments.
For in-person hybrid instruction, there are additional variables at play. They will be splitting classes into A and B groups. The way they do those divisions will have a lot of say in how I will handle the hybrid instruction. Right now I am planning for small group ensembles (quartets and quintets). We would then use some websites and apps that would allow them to mesh their individual performances together into a virtual performance.
Also, I am looking into the ability of streaming rehearsal/class for the students who are not in class on any given instructional day (due to the rotational nature of the hybrid system). This would allow students who were at home to perform with the students that are in class and that particular day. While not ideal it does get us a step closer to playing together.
Will marching band be happening?
At this time there will most likely not be a marching band for the fall. CIF has delayed the start of the football season and moved it to early January. It is not clear if the band or spectators will be allowed at those games at this time.
Will concert band and orchestra happen since masks will be a challenge for many instrumentalists?
Recent aerosol studies have shown hope for rehearsals and performances. It would involve masks made with overlapping flaps that mouth pieces would fit through. These would be combined with instrument bell coverings and specialty bags around the instruments in some cases.
A lot of data is showing that outdoor rehearsals would be safer and I am on board with that. While the acoustic environment would be less than ideal, I feel rehearsing outdoors helps reduce some of the risks thanks to drastically improved ventilation and viral killing effects of sunlight/UV. We are also trying to secure the largest possible indoor spaces to spread apart, if being outdoors is not feasible for the entire class all the time. Finally, we are discussing protocols to minimize exposure time and intensity, as well as hygeine procedures to further reduce risks. For instance, students would enter the rehearsal area in a mask and keep it on at all times. The amount of students allowed in the room to assemble their instruments at any given time would be limited.
A lot of data is showing that outdoor rehearsals would be safer and I am on board with that. While the acoustic environment would be less than ideal, I feel rehearsing outdoors helps reduce some of the risks thanks to drastically improved ventilation and viral killing effects of sunlight/UV. We are also trying to secure the largest possible indoor spaces to spread apart, if being outdoors is not feasible for the entire class all the time. Finally, we are discussing protocols to minimize exposure time and intensity, as well as hygeine procedures to further reduce risks. For instance, students would enter the rehearsal area in a mask and keep it on at all times. The amount of students allowed in the room to assemble their instruments at any given time would be limited.
How is PVPHS music determining precautions that will be taken?
All PVPUSD music instructors are working together to develop the safest environment that will allow our students to remain engaged and progressing with their music. The CA Dept of Public Health has guidelines we will follow. Also, the NFHS, CBDNA, NAMM and many other major music groups are funding an ongoing study by U of Maryland and U Colorado, Boulder to examine ways to reduce risks of live music ensembles. We are actively monitoring all scientific data pertaining to music performance and all public health and educational guidelines, even as they change frequently, sometimes daily. If you are interested in reviewing the current findings and guidelines, they are here:
CADPH COVID-19 INDUSTRY GUIDANCE: Schools and School Based Programs- https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-schools.pdf
Preliminary Report of the “Performing Arts Aerosol Study” from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)- https://www.nfhs.org/media/4029952/preliminary-testing-report-7-13-20.pdf
Let me assure you that your child’s safety is my top priority. I will not enter into a rehearsal situation that puts any of our music students at risk. While it does not appear that we will achieve zero risk soon, I look forward to meeting the music students under the safest possible circumstances, hopefully before long. If you have any further questions please feel free to email me at lloydm@pvpusd.net.
CADPH COVID-19 INDUSTRY GUIDANCE: Schools and School Based Programs- https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-schools.pdf
Preliminary Report of the “Performing Arts Aerosol Study” from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)- https://www.nfhs.org/media/4029952/preliminary-testing-report-7-13-20.pdf
Let me assure you that your child’s safety is my top priority. I will not enter into a rehearsal situation that puts any of our music students at risk. While it does not appear that we will achieve zero risk soon, I look forward to meeting the music students under the safest possible circumstances, hopefully before long. If you have any further questions please feel free to email me at lloydm@pvpusd.net.
More from violinist Albert Einstein here.
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Donations for Summer Tutoring
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More information can be found at /why-should-i-become-a-music-booster-member.html
Make checks payable to:
PVPHS Music Boosters
Thank you for your support!