But in the age of coronavirus, the term can now be used to refer to ways of stopping the potential spread of COVID-19.

ACT-based musician Jenny Geldart has created a series of masks that can be placed over the bell of a trumpet to help prevent any aerosol that could spread coronavirus particles.

Ms Geldart said she started making the trumpet covers following a NSW government ban on playing wind instruments in schools due to coronavirus fears.

While the airflow produced by a brass instrument carried less of a risk compared to that of a woodwind instrument, Ms Geldart said the trumpet covers would be a way to assuage fears of musical instruments being potential spreaders of coronavirus.

"Because there has been so much controversy over this business about pushing air through an instrument, I thought why don't we build a mask for our trumpets," she said.

"Anything to make people feel safer is a good thing."

The covers for the trumpets are a silk mask that is triple layered and is wide enough to fit around the bell of the instrument.

While the masks have only been made for trumpets, Ms Geldart said the technique could be used for other brass instruments such as trombones and French horns.

"The material is hydrophobic and hypoallergenic and they're very breathable and can catch the condensation," she said.

"It's not at all difficult to make because it's a simple circle, so it's easy to scale it up to whatever size it needs to be."

While the ban on wind instruments in NSW schools is in effect, no such ban has been put in place by the ACT government.

NSW Health has previously said a precautionary approach was needed about whether musical instruments could spread virus particles until more information emerged.

However, the move has caused confusion among the Canberra music community.

A recent study released by Brass Bands England, that is yet to be peer-reviewed, said that playing brass instruments released fewer particles compared to breathing or singing.

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As for the sound produced by the trumpet with the mask on, Ms Geldart said the instrument was still able to make a high-quality sound.

"A little bit of the brassy sound is lost, but if you're playing in an enclosed environment and people are concerned for their health then it's a goer," she said.

"It's probably not for a performance on stage, but it's for an enclosed space or a rehearsal to feel safer."