Victorian Music Teachers’ Association

eNotice

 Update #8

Supporting VMTA Members

Response to COVID-19

Restrictions for studio teachers working in home-based and creative studio settings

Announcing the newly formed Music Education Alliance Victoria (MEAV)

Dear ,

Restrictions for studio teachers working in home-based and creative studio settings

VMTA has carefully reviewed the most recent information regarding COVID-19 restrictions for studio teachers and we are now in a position to clarify the situation. Please see detailed information below.

In compiling this information, we have spoken with staff on the COVID-19 Hotline and reviewed material published on the DHHS website.

We understand the significant challenges the ongoing restrictions pose for teachers and students. We hope to see a further easing of restrictions for music education in community and school settings after 22 November. We will continue to monitor the DHHS website and DET School Operations Guide, and we will keep you updated along the way.

In the meantime, if you have any specific questions that are not answered in the information outlined below, we recommend you call the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 675 398.

Announcing the newly formed Music Education Alliance Victoria

VMTA is proud to have assembled a taskforce of key representative music education organisations. The newly formed Music Education Alliance Victoria (MEAV) is working for you to create a unified voice for our sector.

We seek an opportunity to work with government to develop a nuanced, context-specific COVIDSafe plan for the full return of music education in the private studio, in schools and in community settings. Please see more information below.

Please 'like' the MEAV Facebook page here and share extensively with your network.

Kind regards,

Genevieve Newton
Chief Executive Officer
on behalf of the VMTA Board

Restrictions for Studio Music Teachers

Studio music teachers who conduct lessons from home

Source: DHHS_COVID-19 website
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/general-business-faqs-victoria
as at 12 November 2020

Definition & Summary of Restrictions

• DHHS defines studio music teachers who conduct lessons from home as home-based businesses and distinguishes them from creative studios.
   
• Studio teachers who conduct music lessons from home must continue to teach remotely unless they meet certain conditions as outlined below.

Information about home-based businesses can be found on the DHHS Coronavirus home page under Business & Work: Sector Guidance: General Business FAQs — Victoria

General Business FAQs - Victoria

I operate a business from my home. Am I subject to the same restrictions as other businesses in my industry?

For a person to operate a business out of their home that is customer-facing, or has more than one worker on-site, they must have a discrete work area, including:

• a dedicated premises for the business to operate from, that is separate from the place of residence in all aspects (e.g. workers or clients cannot enter the residence)
• another entrance for workers and clients that is separate to the residence
• no sharing of facilities (e.g. toilets, kitchen etc.). This means a customer can only access a separate toilet(s) - they are not permitted to use the home toilet(s).

A COVIDSafe Plan must be in place.

The work space is subject to the density quotient and cleaning requirements as per other work settings. Face masks must be worn by workers, clients and customers at all times.

If a home-based business meets the requirements of a discrete work area, it is permitted to operate subject to the restrictions of their industry. If the home-based business does not meet these requirements, it is not permitted to reopen under the current restriction levels in regional Victoria or metropolitan Melbourne.

Creative Studios

Source: DHHS_COVID-19 website
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-sector-guidance-arts-and-recreation-services
as at 12 November 2020

• Arts venues and creative studios include museums, art galleries, studios, workshops, and indoor entertainment venues e.g. cinemas, performing arts and music venues.
• DHHS has confirmed that a music teaching business that operates from a commercial premises is a ‘creative studio’.
• Creative studios, including for art and music, can open with up to 10 people per space, however caps apply for singing or wind instruments.
• Indoor and outdoor music lessons, classes or practice can resume with up to 10 people, plus the teacher.

DHHS has confirmed that music teachers who conduct lessons at their private home are NOT classified as creative studios. They are classified as home-based businesses.

Information about Creative Studios can be found on the DHHS Coronavirus home page under Business & Work: Sector Guidance - Arts & Recreation Services Sector Guidance

Frequently asked questions — Arts venues and creative studios

Can I work from my creative studio or workshop during the Third Step?

If you can work from home, you must continue to work from home. If you cannot work from home because you require access to specialist equipment or facilities to conduct your work, you can work from your creative studio or workshop.

You must have a COVIDSafe Plan in place and a limit of one person per four square metres. All people on-site must wear a face mask and should maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres at all times. Where possible, limit the number of worksites you visit. 

Rehearsals for 'singing and music'

Source: DHHS_COVID-19 website
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/entertainment-and-culture-third-step

Entertainment and culture - Victoria - Third Step

Can I go to a rehearsal for singing or music? 

Yes, however it is recommended that singing and music rehearsals are held outdoors in groups of no more than 10 people. If the rehearsal is held indoors, the indoor venue should be well ventilated. Where possible, indoor rehearsals should be limited to 90 minutes and 15 minute breaks are recommended between rehearsals.  

Participants in a music or singing rehearsal will also need to ensure appropriate physical distancing of two meters from each other. 

For information on current restrictions, refer to the Industry restriction levels: Victoria

Please note: under the Third Step restrictions, all open Victorian work premises are required to have a COVIDSafe Plan. 

Please note that VRQA registered schools are covered by DET and should refer to the most recent version of the School Operations Guide (SOG).

Other Resources

Restricted Activity Directions (Victoria) - 8 November 2020 (PDF)

• These directions refer to ‘Creative Arts Facilities’
• DHHS confirmed that 'Creative Arts Facilities' are Creative Studios
• These directions are only applicable to Creative Studios and are not applicable to home-based studios
• Section 18 (p31) – refers to Indoor Creative Arts Facilities
• Section 18 (4) (p32) – outlines the conditions for an indoor creative arts facility for persons aged 18 years and under.

Key Requirements

• Density quotient applicable
• Social distancing 1.5m from each other
• No physical contact
• The number of members of the public permitted in the facility at any time is limited to the lesser of the number permitted by the density quotient and 20 persons
• 1 parent/carer may enter the facility if child requires supervision
• You can download the document here

Music Education Alliance Victoria

We are pleased to announce the launch of Music Education Alliance Victoria (MEAV), formed to create a unified voice for our sector, and to work with the Government to facilitate a full return of music education in Victoria, in a risk-managed way.

We have established a Board and Sub-Committees including Communications, Research and Risk Mitigation, meeting weekly to action a range of measures.

The Communications Sub-Committee has sent letters to the Ministers of Health and Education and the Chief Health Officer, offering our professional expertise to collaboratively create a roadmap back to full music participation. Board and Sub-Committee members are actively reaching out to politicians on both sides. Additionally, a collective of pre-eminent figures from across a variety of sectors have supported our lobbying efforts.

The Research Sub-Committee has compiled a wealth of international research, reports and papers on COVID-19 as it relates to music education. They have consulted with Professor Leigh Ackland (Personal Chair & Alfred Deakin Professor at Deakin University), who has provided an excellent summation of the current findings and most viable research to supplement our advocacy and risk mitigation efforts. Their work in this regard has been invaluable, ensuring that the data we utilise in developing material substantiates our position and validates the need for our sector to have a voice. 

The Risk Mitigation Sub-Committee has drafted a detailed plan for a phased, full return of music education. This comprehensive document provides suggested parameters for COVIDSafe music across a variety of contexts comprising in-school, commercial, private studio and community settings. Included with this plan are resources and templates that can be adapted for these unique settings as we are cognisant that policy-makers may not possess the expertise required to adequately cater for our specialised sector. 

Board representatives have met with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and a DET representative to raise the importance of music, our concerns with the current restrictions and our willingness to work collaboratively to create workable solutions. The MCRI provides health data that influences subsequent policies and guidelines. We are now seeking a meeting with government decision makers in Health and Education. Our intention is to present the Risk Mitigation plan to them for further feedback and consultation. 

The Music Education Alliance Victoria Board includes representatives from the following organisations: 

• Australian Band & Orchestra Directors’ Association (Victoria & National)
• Association of Directors of Music in Independent Schools 
• Australasian Double Reed Society
• Association of Music Educators (aMuse)
• Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (Victoria)
• Australian National Choral Association (Victoria & Tasmania)
• Australian Society for Music Education 
• Gippsland Music Teachers’ Network
•  University of Melbourne-MCM
• Melbourne Youth Orchestras
• Musica Viva
• School Music Action Group (sMAG)
• Victorian Music Teachers’ Association
• Victorian School Music Festival

We look forward to keeping you up to date.

Please like the Music Education Alliance Victoria Facebook page  at <https://www.facebook.com/makemusicheard> and share the link widely with your colleagues, students, parents and wider network.

We speak for you. We speak for our students. We speak for all those who enjoy music.

Help us MAKE MUSIC HEARD!

Disclaimer:
These resources, policies and information are provided in good faith and have been obtained through research using reputable sources. The material is purely of an advisory nature and is intended to provide general guidelines for music teachers including VMTA Members. Individuals and schools are advised to contact the relevant authority and government source regarding any specific matter relating to the content in this document. The VMTA accepts no legal responsibility for any of the material provided.