Rio Band Boosters is an organization of parents, alumni and friends who support music education at Rio Americano High School. Donations from members and sponsors allow Rio Band to continue to provide top-notch education for students at all levels of musical ability and experience.
RABB funds directly support all band-related activities, including concerts, Playathon, Dinner dance, jazz festivals, music conferences, pep band support at home games and rallies, and various other school events. Donations help to fund clinics, purchase of sheet materials, concert programs, Master teachers, purchase/repair of instruments and teacher stipends.
COVID-19 greatly reduces our ability to raise funds for Rio Band so please help us out by joining RABB today:
Basic active family membership: $20 a year or $70 for all 4 years
Alumni membership: $10 a year
Add a sponsorship onto your membership to really help our musicians excel. Rio Americano Band Boosters is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible.
Tax ID Number: 68-0018985
Sponsorships
Quarter note – $5 Half note – $10 Beatles – $50 Mozart – $100 Ella Fitzgerald – $250 Beethoven – $500 Duke Ellington – $1,000
August 5, 2020
Dear Music Parents,
The California Music Educators Association (CMEA) greatly appreciates and respects the leadership of California during these unprecedented and challenging times. Music educators and students across California are anxiously awaiting creative solutions to the unprecedented challenges faced in the reopening of schools for the 2020 – 2021 year.
CMEA is concerned with the CDPH and CAL OSHA guidance document that school districts are reviewing and using to make decisions regarding music instruction. The Covid-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-Based Programs, published on July 17, 2020, provides important information, but does not reflect the current preliminary results and guidance from the International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study, a major study currently underway by scientists at the University of Colorado and University of Maryland. The study is examining aerosol dispersion rates produced by wind instrumentalists, vocalists, and actors, and how quickly those aerosol rates accumulate in a space. Preliminary results were released on July 10 and additional preliminary results for singing, theatre, and band with full guidance will be available in August.
As a result of the CDPH and CAL OSHA document, music programs are being eliminated, thus denying access to music instruction for students and disrupting the continuity of their learning. The document’s statement “Activities where there is increased likelihood for transmission from contaminated exhaled droplets such as band and choir practice and performances are not permitted.” is sending a message to administrators that band and choir cannot be taught.
Stakeholders and school administrators need language that clearly identifies how music can be taught safely. The wording on page 12, Classroom Space, is misleading in light of the emerging research. Bullets seven and eight should be changed for these reasons:
- The International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study has provided preliminary guidance regarding allowing singing and the playing of band instruments in school.
- The action of singing and playing music, not the class (choir, band), should be driving the guidance language as music can be taught in well-ventilated spaces or outdoors, with appropriate mitigation techniques.
- High quality music instruction addresses all aspects of the new California Arts Standards: Music Standards, of which rehearsal and performance are a portion of the learning expectations. Rehearsal and performance learning expectations can be accomplished safely through innovative approaches
Your assistance is requested in moving forward our recommendations to the California Departments of Public Health and Industrial Relations and district and school administrators based upon the preliminary recommendations stated by the International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study. https://www.nfhs.org/media/4029971/preliminary-recommendations-from-international-performing-arts-aerosol-study.pdf
The rehearsal space recommendations from International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study are:
- Outdoor rehearsals are permitted using individual mitigation techniques described in the preliminary guidance document.
- Outdoor gazebo style tents with open sides and a high-pitched ceiling with mitigations.
- Indoors with elevated outdoor air exchange rate from HVAC.
- Indoors with typical outdoor air exchange rate from HVAC plus recirculation air through MERV 13 filters or addition of appropriately sized HEPA air purifiers.
- Indoors with outdoor air exchange rate from open windows supplemented with appropriately sized HEPA air purifiers when airflow is reduced under certain outdoor wind conditions.
CMEA requests that CDPH and CAL OSHA publish, as soon as possible, an update to the July 17, 2020 “Covid-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-Based Programs” with the requested revisions to page 12 to halt the elimination of music education courses. Should you have questions regarding these recommendations and our request, I can be contacted via email, adelao@calmusiced.com.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this significant issue. The health of our students, teachers, staff and their families is indeed the first priority; however, Music and Arts education are critical not only to the academic success of our students but also their social and emotional health. Now more than ever, students need a well-rounded education, including quality instruction in the Arts. Should you have questions or comments regarding our recommendations I can be reached
“Science will get us out of this. The Arts will get us through this” – Mo Willems
Sincerely,
Armalyn De La O, President
Rio Band will celebrate our fine musicians and seniors on Thursday May 21, 2020 at 7 p.m. during a virtual zoom webinar for our annual awards event. Awards for all bands will be announced in addition to our big senior send off.
Event Details:
A zoom invitation with links will be sent to all Rio Band members on May 18th.
Anyone who wants to tune in will need the zoom link provided on the 18th. The email can be forwarded to family and friends and we encourage you to do so. We can have up to 500 attendees. Zoom can work on laptops, Ipads and smartphones. It is the free program that the students have been using for remote classes.
Please Note: RABB and the meeting organizers cannot provide technical support to viewers. You may want to test Zoom out with friends and family before the event.
The ceremony will be recorded.
The band directors, seniors and some select students will have video and audio capability. All others will be attendees and only able to view the event. You won’t be visible on screen.
Join us as we Band Together (apart)!