Guidance for lockdown music lessons

[rowangowan]

Does anyone know if there have been any rules or guidance announced for how instrumental music lessons can be continued during lockdown? I've got one teacher saying they'll move on to zoom, but another saying that a teacher visiting a pupil's home is allowed because the rules say that you can visit people for work purposes. Does that sound reasonable, or are most dcs having zoom lessons for the next month?

I would imagine it’s ‘allowed’ if they can’t do it from home and if both parties are happy, and it’s probably possibly to socially distance in the home for the lesson

But arguably it could be done from home via zoom.

So not forbidden I would’ve thought as it is work, but down to individual preference

We've interpreted it as because our teacher can work from home via Zoom, then as she can work from home, she should.

To be honest, our teacher is still teaching in schools as well, so I'm happy to limit our exposure in our home as well.

The Incorporated Society of Musicians has now said that lessons shouldn't be taught in either the teacher's or pupil's home here, so the teacher who was planning to continue coming to us is now saying it will be via zoom. I'm happy with that tbh as I felt uncomfortable about having a lesson at home, even if the rules were unclear.

I've read the entire guidelines from beginning to end and I could find no mention of music, musicians, music teachers, tuition, recording studios or rehearsal rooms at all. Nothing.
The whole industry seems to have been overlooked.

Musicians Union guidance is

The Government has confirmed that music teachers are no longer able to teach face to face in their own homes under the new restrictions in England. We advise that members do not teach in their students' homes either.

Visiting/peripatetic music teachers are still allowed to teach in schools, which remain open as before. Teachers should check with their school or employer (e.g. music education hub) in the first instance if they need more information about teaching in schools.

Private teachers are not permitted to teach face to face in studios, as this would require students to leave their homes to attend lessons, which is not permitted. Students can leave their homes to attend school, but the government has specified that this does not include extracurricular music tuition, unless it is delivered at school.

www.musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2020/Nov/English-Lockdown-Restrictions-Mean-A-Move-to-Onlin

As Trumpetdad says extra curricular lessons of any kind such as music or dance are not allowed unless they take part in school as part of the normal school day.

My dh is in ISM and they too have confirmed this.

Any idea what it means for junior depts? Are they classed as a school for this?

Junior Guildhall says that “the nature of our work does not fit into the category of statutory education and therefore we are more aligned with out-of-school clubs for the purposes of these restriction”

They’ve cancelled all in person activity. Ditto all other youth orchestras and bands, other than schools.

A pity as it was only just starting but lucky too as nowhere for parents to wait while kids at activities (all public enclosed spaces closed).

Thank you makes a lot of sense - RCMJD have decided the same but not RAM 🤔

But ABRSM music (and RAD dance) grade exams are going ahead. Which is going to be odd - zoom lessons and then only get to sing / dance with the accompanist on the day (the time lag on zoom makes live accompanying impossible, it has to be a recording).

Back to Zoom here

Absrm have said the exams can be done unaccompanied given the rehearsal issue.

@Yr10mom

Absrm have said the exams can be done unaccompanied given the rehearsal issue.

I don’t think dd will want to sing unaccompanied, but useful to know it’s an option, thanks!

Yes not the same I know but I guess they are trying their best to adapt...

It's such a mess (clinically vulnerable teacher here). I'm far safer teaching from my home where I have lots of measures in place than I am teaching in school, where there's no distancing. I've said I won't be in through lockdown which has annoyed the schools, but I'm self-employed and have to make decisions for myself. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing but the regulations just don't make sense!

Junior Trinity is doing a blended programme. They've created three bubbles, and one in every three weeks one bubble are on site, and when not on-site they offer everything (even ensembles) online. They are an educational establishment, so remain open on Saturdays, but take social distancing very seriously which is why they reduce the number of students onsite. To me, it's an excellent approach.