It is difficult to see a quality more central to the successful music teacher than flexibility: after all, every student is different, just like every piece of music in that student's hands (for better or worse).
As Susan Young, one of the tutors on a new Certificate for Music Educators for those working in early childhood, says on page 35, the need for flexibility of approach is nowhere more apparent than when teaching young children. If you ever thought that early years was an easy option, imagine the huge extent of the changes humans undergo between the ages of zero and five. How could working in this area not be one of the most complex and skilled parts of the music teaching profession?
Sometimes, of course, it's a more mundane flexibility that is required: say you've got a gig, are expecting a baby, or need to stop teaching for a period because of illness. As we hear in this issue (page 39), the need to call upon a dep can be fraught with problems. The fear of losing students to one's replacement – who may even offer lower rates – on top of the classic difficulties of self-employment can lead quickly to anxiety.
And then there are demands for flexibility where it is not wholly appropriate. As the Musicians’ Union highlights, there is a growing issue in the sector regarding zero-hour contracts. Not only in music education are these being deployed in a manner which is arguably not within the spirit of the law. Are music teachers, who turn up at the same place every week, establish developmental relationships with their pupils, and generally demonstrate an exceptionally high level of commitment to their job, really casual workers?
The MU's line is: ‘If it looks like employment, it should be employment’. For the MU, this means ending precarious contracts and re-emphasising the importance of concepts such as job security, career progression and professional status. It's hard not to see how undervaluing music teaching as a career will not, over time, have a detrimental effect on the quality of the sector overall. We all need motivation, to feel valued – and it's simply not enough to assume it's all about the music. Because sadly those aren't the kind of notes that pay the bills.
Both on the page and behind the scenes, MT has benefitted hugely over the last few years from the talent and hard work of our assistant editor, Rebecca Pizzey. She leaves for The Guardian, who will be lucky to have her, with all our best wishes.
