[NickBGood]

Anyone thinking about how to play saxophone safely when things open up? (in addition to social distancing)

What I'm interested in is if anyone has thought about making/buying some type of barrier protection in addition to social distancing.

Just brainstorming here - obviously can’t play through a mask, but what about rigging up a plastic face shield with some kind of cutout that has some type of seal or fold that closes around the mpc/neck after inserting?

None of this will be perfect, but without some type of mask, only non-wind instruments will be allowed in the band due to face mask requirements.

Go!

 

[kreacher]

You put the chairs 2m apart, circumference wise.

Done

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

Anyone thinking about how to play saxophone safely when things open up?

Just brainstorming here - obviously can't play through a mask, but what about rigging up a plastic face shield with some kind of cutout that has some type of seal or fold that closes around the mpc/neck after inserting?

None of this will be perfect, but without some type of mask, only non-wind instruments will be allowed in the band due to face mask requirements.

Go!

Read through this thread instead of starting an identical thread.

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...nfection-risc-around-a-wind-instrument-player

 

[Grumps]

Before practices/gigs, I set up my saxophone at home so I don't have to touch the reed/mouthpiece more than necessary. When I break it all down after the gig, I just cap the mouthpiece when it comes off and I wait till I get home (after washing my hands) to get the reed back in its case. As for playing safely, I suppose if you're worried about that you gotta play only outdoors.

As far as masks and all that... I just don't think that's all gonna stick for too long. So I'm not going there.

 

[NickBGood]

Read through this thread instead of starting an identical thread.

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...nfection-risc-around-a-wind-instrument-player

I have been following that thread for weeks now, and it does not address my question. It's primarily about the risk of contagion. What I'm interested in is if anyone has thought about making/buying some type of barrier protection in addition to social distancing. Surely we can all have fun with this idea!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Just brainstorming here - obviously can't play through a mask,

Why not?

 

[milandro]

some people have come up with face masks with a " inlet" or a valve to drink through (several really)

https://drinkthrumask.com

this could work for saxophone players

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I would look at what the CDC website has to say as to what might work. As far as I can see from reading 100's of articles of C-19 since March social distancing and finding a way to avoid spread by wearing a mask.

Unless you are properly wearing an N95 mask then you are still not protected with any other mask from contracting the illness but even with gloves and a lower rated mask you will be keeping your saliva and mucus from landing on solid surfaces where people
can spread it.

Playing saxophone in public is not a good idea because of the blowing of saliva.

 

[milandro]

actually there are many studies ( one made by a German orchestra) now that prove that there isn't any droplets coming out from most woodwinds, in any case the Dutch health authority has increased distance from 1,5m to 2m for woodwind players

read this (long read) about the test made by the Bamberg Orchestra ( and many other things)

https://www.mh-freiburg.de/fileadmi...ssessmentCoronaMusicSpahnRichter19.5.2020.pdf

"...In measurements taken with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, when the recorder was played air movements in the area of the labium were no longer measurable at a distance of 1.5 (4'1") meters. Therefore, transmission by droplet infection is very unlikely at this distance....."

"...Even with smaller ensembles, a minimum distance of 2 meters/6 1⁄2 feet should be maintained according to the latest data, since at this distance no additional room air movement could be detected when playing. Rehearsal rooms should be as large as possible and should be thoroughly and regularly aired out every 15 minutes....."

 

[Pete Thomas]

The biggest problem I see is people who refuse to wear masks when in the appropriate social circumstances.

 

[milandro]

Yesterday I had an argument with several people standing in a line and not only refusing to keep a proper distance but also criticising the shop to have lines outside!

 

[lostcircuits]

There have been a lot of updates and back and forth on the spread of COVID and the most common statement is still "it is possible but we don't know".

https://www.livescience.com/cdc-coronavirus-surfaces-update.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases...an-coronavirus-spread-food-water/faq-20485479

https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/09/who-comments-asymptomatic-spread-covid-19/

And I agree with Brian that playing sax, especially indoors may not be a good idea

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

actually there are many studies ( one made by a German orchestra) now that prove that there isn't any droplets coming out from most woodwinds, in any case the Dutch health authority has increased distance from 1,5m to 2m for woodwind players

read this (long read) about the test made by the Bamberg Orchestra ( and many other things)

https://www.mh-freiburg.de/fileadmi...ssessmentCoronaMusicSpahnRichter19.5.2020.pdf

"...In measurements taken with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, when the recorder was played air movements in the area of the labium were no longer measurable at a distance of 1.5 (4'1") meters. Therefore, transmission by droplet infection is very unlikely at this distance....."

"...Even with smaller ensembles, a minimum distance of 2 meters/6 1⁄2 feet should be maintained according to the latest data, since at this distance no additional room air movement could be detected when playing. Rehearsal rooms should be as large as possible and should be thoroughly and regularly aired out every 15 minutes....."

Sounds like some of the information I am seeing as well. The larger problem is remembering to put masks back on and washing hands after playing and to disinfect before mingling (at a distance) with the audience.

Outdoor gigs are starting to pop up here but unfortunately 90% of the population decided in March that they were not going to wear masks and although the cases have down down slightly we are still having 4-5 deaths every day and as people get tested the number will obviously go up.

 

[milandro]

I have just received the protocol from the Rehearsal Studio where I am going next Wednesday with my band after 3 months.

Lots of rules, ( no masks by the way they are compulsory in the NL only in public transport) but it can be all done

 

[Pete Thomas]

Outdoor gigs are starting to pop up here but unfortunately 90% of the population decided in March that they were not going to wear masks

Yesterday I had an argument with several people standing in a line and not only refusing to keep a proper distance but also criticising the shop to have lines outside!

Unbelievable isn't it? Do these people want another total lockdown or what?

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Unbelievable isn't it? Do these people want another total lockdown or what?

Pete it is inevitable that we will see the counts go up because of some people who have magical thinking and do not seem to care that although you can still pick it up with a mask on but that wearing a mask
mitigates the damage to vulnerable populations.

Most humans do not do well with existential issues unless it directly affects them.

 

[Pete Thomas]

but that wearing a mask
wearing a mask mitigates the damage to vulnerable populations.

ie the vulnerable population of the world!

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

 

[AddictedToSax]

Seriously though, why not a Plexiglas shield like seen around drummers, or at the grocery store?

 

[lydian]

actually there are many studies ( one made by a German orchestra) now that prove that there isn't any droplets coming out from most woodwinds, in any case the Dutch health authority has increased distance from 1,5m to 2m for woodwind players

read this (long read) about the test made by the Bamberg Orchestra ( and many other things)

https://www.mh-freiburg.de/fileadmi...ssessmentCoronaMusicSpahnRichter19.5.2020.pdf

"...In measurements taken with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, when the recorder was played air movements in the area of the labium were no longer measurable at a distance of 1.5 (4'1") meters. Therefore, transmission by droplet infection is very unlikely at this distance....."

"...Even with smaller ensembles, a minimum distance of 2 meters/6 1⁄2 feet should be maintained according to the latest data, since at this distance no additional room air movement could be detected when playing. Rehearsal rooms should be as large as possible and should be thoroughly and regularly aired out every 15 minutes....."

That study is deeply flawed.

Is there an increased risk of droplet infection when playing a wind instrument? Since
no air escapes at the contact point between the player and his mouthpiece in those who
control their instruments, no droplets are released directly into the environment from the
musician's mouth when playing brass instruments, woodwind instruments with a single
reed (clarinet and saxophone), and double reeds (oboe, bassoon).

This is just plain wrong. There is a steady stream of mist coming from a sax mouthpiece where the reed meets the table. Even if you can't see it under normal circumstances, the dried droplets on the body of the horn and the residue on the mouthpiece itself after a long rehearsal is evidence of this. It certainly doesn't travel as far as a cough or sneeze, but it's there, it's continuous and it's significant. I wouldn't sit anywhere near another sax player.