Brass Bands England has joined Making Music, the Association of British Choral Directors, and the Singing Network UK in urging its members to petition MPs to persuade the Government to exempt music groups from the latest round of updated Coronavirus Pandemic legislation that is due to come into force in England on Monday 14th September.

The UK government has reduced the number of people being able to meet socially in a group to 6 in England (in line with legislation that is also being implemented in Scotland, Wales and potentially Northern Ireland).

Exemptions

At present the list of exemptions to the law will include indoor and outdoor sports and youth activities, but not other community activities, such as music groups such as brass bands.

The government announced that further clarity on the law, and possible exemptions would be given by the 14th September, but as yet nothing has been published.

In an open bulletin statement urging the government to 'put brass bands on parity with sport' BBE stated: "If you feel strongly that music groups should be exempt, as exercise classes are, from the rule of 6 people max, then you should write to your MP at: https://www.writetothem.com/ without delay, asking that community arts/community music groups, organised by businesses and charitable organisations, in controlled settings should be exempt from the restrictions on social gatherings, in the same way that sporting and youth activities are."

At present the list of exemptions to the law will include indoor and outdoor sports and youth activities, but not other community activities, such as music groups such as brass bands4BR

Entirely up to you

BBE also gives out some arguments that might be highlighted, but is careful to point out that the decision to write "is entirely up to you"- although it believes that it is "important that groups are allowed the freedom to risk assess their own activity, as it is so varied, in terms of participants, settings etc..."