The BBC has reported that the government is being urged to ease social distancing guidelines to enable musicians to return to performing.
It reports that Musician's Union leader Horace Trubridge had said that they could play "side by side"and that the current rules were "overkill"at a "bleak"time when many musicians were already earning less than £20,000 a year and some were unable to qualify for help under the government's furlough payment scheme or gain access to loans.
Current rues and guidelines
Current guidelines and regulations mean that many performance venues including theatres, concert halls and music auditoriums remain closed, with leading promoters stating that opening venues with social distancing in place was commercial not viable.
However, some orchestras have begun to perform in smaller, socially distanced groups with a recent news report showcasing the famous Abbey Road Studios in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The government has said it welcomed "creative and innovative"ideas especially with the potential for outdoor performances in particular.
some orchestras have begun to perform in smaller, socially distanced groups with a recent news report showcasing the famous Abbey Road Studios in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra4BR
Research
The World Health Organisation continues to recommend a distance of 1m between people from different households, with it being 2m in the UK.
Research is being undertaken, especially in the USA and Europe, where studies by the likes of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and a number of theatres have looked at air movement from different instruments and social distancing seating plans.
A group of Nashville musicians have also participated in an experiment with brass instruments — trumpet, trombone and French Horn, with an explanation behind the science of kinetic energy of moving air and sound waves.
There are also several studies in the US now looking at aerosol production from wind instrumentalists which offer a different perspective and interpretation of evidence.
