When lockdown first started, there was a total ban on households mixing, and schools and nurseries were closed to everyone but the children of key workers. Compounding this, an initial kneejerk reaction by some schools and local authorities was to ban online teaching because, in their view, it wasn't safeguarding compliant. For a while, it looked like music teachers were out of options.
Our first task at the Musicians’ Union (MU), therefore, was to emphasise that teaching online was an established and safe way of working, not a hastily patched together solution. Many MU members have been teaching online for years, especially with students in distant locations. Thankfully, the sector soon embraced online teaching as a viable alternative, and there can be few music teachers who have not investigated it by now. But the big question as we head into winter is whether music teaching should continue online or resume in person.
Private teaching
Leaving aside any local lockdown restrictions, the four nations of the UK have issued different advice for private teachers. In England and Wales, teaching in homes and studios is now permitted. The same is true in Scotland, but the Scottish government has sounded a more cautious note about singing, wind and brass, so, at the time of writing, the MU is advising that the teaching of these continues online in Scotland. No guidance has yet been issued on music teaching in Northern Ireland, so we are advising that all teaching continues online there. All links to the relevant guidance can be found on the teaching advice page of our website (bit.ly/3iiJ3wV), including any updates on advice given here.
Complicating this situation are the local lockdown measures we are now seeing. If your area is affected, visit the government website (gov.uk) for information, as not all local lockdowns involve the same restrictions. So far, no local lockdowns have prohibited face-to-face teaching in the home, and gatherings indoors can still take place ‘for work purposes’ and ‘for the purposes of education and training’ – although this could change.
Should you shut down Zoom and reopen your studio? The key point here is to do this only if you feel comfortable. You may have built up a solid online teaching practice, and both you and your students might prefer to continue this way. Equally, a mixed model, with some students remaining online, might be the best option. Importantly, you may need to be flexible and adjust your approach as government guidance changes.
If you do go back into homes or invite students to return to your home, you must carry out a risk assessment beforehand. The aim of this is to protect yourself and your students from harm, and in particular to eliminate or minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission. You can read more about risk assessments and download templates on the MU advice page mentioned above, where you can also find information on other precautionary measures such as ventilation, safe distancing and cleaning.
Teaching in schools
For instrumental and vocal teachers in schools, the green light has been given to return to work in England and Wales. In Scotland it is the same, except for singing, wind and brass teaching, which are not yet allowed in schools. No guidance has been given in Northern Ireland so far, which unfortunately means that teachers may not be able to return just yet. Schools are not required to allow visiting music teachers in, but they are required to offer a broad and balanced curriculum, so the hope is that music teachers will be welcomed.
Any teacher working in a school should be familiar with its policies and procedures, and these have never been more important, particularly in relation to making the school and all activities within it COVID-19 secure. If you are directly employed by the school or a music education hub, your employer should give you information about how you can go about your work safely. If you are a self-employed teacher, you will need to provide your own risk assessment and ensure that it is compatible with any measures that the school has put in place. If you are being asked to work in conditions that are not COVID-19 secure and are an MU member, get in touch with us for assistance (email teachers@themu.org).
It will be a challenging winter for music teachers, but thankfully there is broad agreement that music teaching should continue in much of the UK. Unfortunately, the situation is less certain in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the MU will continue to lobby for clearer policy in these nations.
