[New_csc_newsline] Singing Masks

[Nathan Leaf]

Dear Singers - Following up on the previous announcement about our
protocols for the next few months, I'm following up with some suggestions
regarding masks to use while singing. Of course, wearing a mask while
singing creates certain challenges, including your mouth getting more dry
than normal, the fabric of the mask becoming wet and/or touching your
mouth, and the pulling down of the mask caused by jaw movement. The good
news is that there are masks designed to help alleviate these problems.

As with all masks, an important safety feature is having it fit securely
around your mouth and nose. With singing masks, the things to look for are
a mask that is designed to accommodate jaw movement. The other critical
feature of a singing mask is that it has structure to hold the mask away
from your mouth, preventing you from sucking the fabric in when you inhale
and keeping the mask from getting extremely wet.

For our Holiday Pops, we will plan to wear black masks, so if you are only
getting one, please make it a black one.

The singing mask I use is the Resonance Singer's Mask:
https://www.mymusicfolders.com/product/resonance-singers-mask-with-disposable-biofilters/

I have two of them, and I like them because you can buy them in the
appropriate size, they stay in place when singing or talking, they hold
the fabric away from your mouth while tucking under your chin for a good
seal, and they have an option for an additional disposable filter. Quite
honestly, I use my singer's mask not only for singing, but also when I know
I will have to wear it for long periods of time because they are the most
comfortable masks that I have.

There are several other singing masks that are used as well. I have not
used these myself, but I know other organizations/people that have. Here
are two options

Performance Series Mask:
https://www.jwpepper.com/Performance-Series-Face-Mask---Vocal/11313938.item#.YRutUtNKhTY

Notable Singing Mask: https://noteablemask.com/#intro

There are also several individuals on Etsy and other places that make
singing masks. Additionally, if you're looking for a DIY project, there are
youtube videos and designs available on how you can make them yourself.

I hope this information is helpful.

Nathan


-- 


*Nathan Leaf, D.M.A.Director of Choral Activities**Teaching Professor*

*Assistant Head-Music Department   North Carolina State University*
*Artistic Director*
*   Concert Singers of Cary*
*(he/him/his)*




*214 Price Music CenterCampus Box 7311Raleigh, NC 27695*

*Phone:  919.515.8280**music.arts.ncsu.edu <http://music.arts.ncsu.edu>*