“The recent swine flu (H1N1 virus) outbreak has many people reevaluating their hygiene and disease control a bit more seriously," writes MENC member Chad Criswell in an article posted online recently. “In a school setting, band directors are probably second only to the school nurse in terms of direct, firsthand exposure to bodily fluids and exhaled air. Because of this fact, and with the H1N1 flu outbreak all over the news these days, it never hurts to refresh our memories on how to make sure that any illness a student might have is not passed on to ourselves or to other students.”

"My students are very concerned,” says MENC member Michelle Levine. “We had to sit down and talk about the precautions and what procedures the school would take. Once I took the time to address their concerns they seemed to calm down, and the student-to-student discussions (which had led to huge rumors) lessened.”

”Instrument mouthpieces are quite literally breeding grounds for bacteria and other illnesses,” continues Criswell. He adds that a study done by W.G. Walter and Dorothy Chaffey “showed that bacteria on instrument mouthpieces can survive for 48 hours or more while the instrument is in its case…  The data that Walter and Chaffey present seems to show that the overall best course of action is to brush out the mouthpiece with a standard mouthpiece brush and antimicrobial detergents then spray it with the disinfecting solution before putting it away.”

Suggested best practices* to minimize the transmission of student illnesses include:

• Whenever possible each student should have his or her own instrument, or at least his or her own mouthpiece.
• Reeds should not be shared at all.
• Instruments should be properly disassembled and cleaned at the end of each term.
• When instruments must be shared, use alcohol wipes or other disinfectants between players.
• Teach students how to properly care for and clean their own instruments and insist that they do so regularly.
   

MENC member Ashley Glenn notes that he teaches the above guidelines to his beginning students every year, and he continues to follow basic flu protocol set forth by his school district.

*Adapted from Shared Musical Instruments  by Angela Babin (1992)

This article is only intended to be a basic reminder of hygiene practices that are accepted by most music and medical professionals. Anyone with specific questions about the H1N1 swine flu virus or other influenza questions should contact their doctor.

Chad Criswell is a 13 year music educator in central Iowa. Read his complete article.
Michelle Levine teaches choir and general music in Litchfield Park, AZ.
Ashley Glenn is director of bands at Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson City, TN.

--Becky Spray, May 6, 2009. © MENC: The National Association for Music Education