COVID CHOIR CLASS

a school figured out a way to keep the music playing

But as nelson garcia reports... the school figured out a way to keep the music playing.

Music open in the year of making it work at regis university... "i do believe!!"

Choir is a taught in a tent -- in the school parking lot by dr. kyle fleming.

"you know what, it's hot and it's frustrating and it's hot."

But, it's the safest way to have class during covid.

(sot: dr. kyle fleming / choir instructor) "we want the same singers that we had last year, next year, so how we keep them alive and healthy and and well."

Nats up ... students like kaylee nguyen.

(sot: kaylee nguyen / student) "it's definitely.

It has some challenges and it has some benefits.

It's kind of distracting."

"one, two, ignore the truck (squeak nats) (music starts) " though the garbage truck schedule... "we shall overcome."

... and the class schedule seem to match.

(sot: kaylee nguyen / student) "i'm pretty sure since we've started, it's been once every rehearsal."

The tent protects students from the other thing that comes out of their mouths.

"i'm shocked i'm shocked.

Horrified.

Horrified.

I spit on you."

(sot: dr. janet houser / provost, regis university) "but, when we sing that extra volume turns it into an aerosol.

So, the droplets go further, sometimes up to 27 feet."

Dr. janet houser is provost at regis.

She says the open air of the tent and these specialized masks for performers protect against the spread of spit.

(sot: dr. janet houser / provost, regis university) "does both for us, let's students sing.

Let's us hear them sing, but protects them."

"i was really worried about this semester and choir."

"and, go.

We shall..."

Now, they're making it work.

(sot: dr. kyle fleming / choir instructor) "there is a sense of we don't know how long this will last, but even in there is just a really precious human lesson which is -- man, savor it."

They're making it work with covid... with the standards of dr. fleming... "i want the f sharp.

The f sharp is the money note.

That's where it's tasty.

No one wants to be tasty today?"

They're making it work year round in the tent... "the sides can come down.

We have a generator.

We have heat for it."

...so not only the students survive... music up but... that the arts survive the pandemic, too.

(sot: dr. kyle fleming / choir instructor) "we'll write in songs and we'll paint it on walls and we'll put tapestries around it and we'll write it in poems