- The Academy will include no more than 15 young people, in accordance with Government guidance for Out of School Settings. They will work with the same Opera North musicians and pastoral staff each week and will not encounter other groups.
- Participants will use individual music stands and rehearse a minimum of 2 metres away. Routes through the building will have distancing marked out. 2 metres distance must always be maintained by all staff and players.
- Players will only handle music on their own stand. Music will be prepared by staff wearing gloves and masks and left for a minimum of 72 hours in advance of the first rehearsal. Players will be required to keep their own music for the 6 weeks of the Academy.
- Participants will be asked to bring their own sticks and mallets to be used for the duration of the academy.
- Where possible individual instruments will be provided for each participant. This is not possible for larger percussion instruments so a process of cleaning down surfaces of marimbas, timpani, and other hand held auxiliary instruments will be carried out between players. Sharing of instruments will be kept to an absolute minimum and wiping down of instruments will be carried out by all participants and adults.
- Rehearsal spaces will be cleaned prior to use and any surfaces wiped. Chairs and stands will be disinfected before and after every rehearsal.
- Hand washing and sanitisation will be carried out throughout the day, with hygiene stations on the routes used by participants and staff.
- Where possible, participants are encouraged to walk or cycle to the venue, and are asked to keep the use of public transport to a minimum.
- The number of people in bathrooms will be restricted. Cleaning will be carried out at regular intervals.
- Walkways will be marked for access to participants seats and stations. There will be one entrance and one exit rom the rehearsal studios.
- Doors will be kept open to allow for maximum air ventilation. This may be reassessed in inclement weather and lowering seasonal temperatures.
- A maximum number of people will be maintained in the venue.
- Participants will be asked to bring any food and snacks in disposable packaging, to mitigate the risk of surface transmission. Water bottles should be washed at home at the end of each day.
- All staff and participants will have their temperature checked upon arrival into the studio. If temperature reads above 37.8 degrees, a person will be asked to wait 5 minutes before temperature being taken again. If the reading is high for the third time the person will be asked to return home and take a COVID test.
- In the case of local or national lockdown which prevent this project form happening, it will be suspended and any fee payments refunded.
