No Choir or Congregational Singing at Reopened Masses in Cleveland UPDATED

Music Ministry at Publicly Celebrated Mass during the Coronavirus Pandemic 

The following liturgical music directives are in effect temporarily and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Various scientific studies have shown that singing dramatically increases the transmission of viruses.
A recent webinar to discuss these scientific findings was hosted by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Chorus America, Barbershop Harmony Society, and Performing Arts Medical Association (PAMA). Dr. Lucinda Halstead, MD, an otolaryngologist at the Medical University of South Carolina, stated unequivocally during this webinar that under current coronavirus pandemic conditions, there is no way for congregations or choirs to  safely sing together. Dr. Halstead further explained that masked singing is also unsafe, and that humming is, unfortunately, no different in terms of contagion spread than singing.

A Conversation: What Do Science and Data Say About the Near Term Future of Singing
Unfortunately this 2 hr 30 min video is too long and it is missing some of the slides

UPDATE:  LINKS TO SEPARATE PARTS OF CONVERSATION  BELOW

Part 2 Transmission Perspective on COVID19
Excellent presentation by science expert with slides; 23 minutes

Part 3 What Science & Data Say About the Near Term Future of Singing
Excellent presentation by a clinician 23 minutes

Part 4 Q&A Session with Dr Halstead and Dr Milton 23 minutes
 Interesting discussion about UV light


In light of this scientific and medical information, congregational singing and choral singing at public liturgies is temporarily suspended, and church choir rehearsals are not permitted until further notice. 

In keeping with this directive, the psalms, acclamations, dialogs, and responses of the Mass are to be spoken, not sung, during public liturgies for the time being.

Solo or small instrumental ensembles might assist with adding musical prayer to liturgies. Keyboard, string, or percussion instruments are encouraged for such ensembles. Brass or wind instruments are not to be used, for the same reasons that singing is not permitted. Instrumentalists must maintain a minimum of six feet physical distancing from one another and from the assembly. Instrumentalists must be masked, both during any joint rehearsals and during the liturgy.

Pastors and music ministers might consider adding hymn singing to their online and/or livestreaming outreach to their parishioners, both to meet the very human need to sing together, and to continue to practice the music of the Church’s liturgy, preparing for the time we can again sing “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in [our] hearts to God

Again one will be able to more actively and safely participate in the Mass by singing at home than by coming to the church to sit and mumble the responses behind a mask.  Incidentally even a N95 professional quality mask does not offer that much protection to you or others unless is is properly fitted. Not many in the church will be wearing that type of mask.