If you\u2019re a music teacher and you\u2019re able to resume teaching, either from your own music studio or from a school premises, you have to consider how you\u2019re going to make this as safe as possible.<\/p>\n
There is plenty of advice out there from the UK Government on what measures need to be in place. You can use this information to start to form an idea of how to ensure the lessons you offer are as safe as possible.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at a few safety measures and discuss how they could benefit or hinder a music lesson:<\/p>\n
Face Coverings:<\/b> The main advice from the Government is around the wearing of face coverings. It is possible to conduct music lessons while wearing a face covering. This reduces the transmission risk of the virus and keeps you both safe. Many students will probably be more than happy to comply with wearing a face covering, especially if you work from a home studio or a professionally owned studio. The potential negatives are around communication. Some students may find it harder to hear things you say while wearing a face covering, so you may need to reinforce some points.<\/p>\n
Hand Sanitizer:<\/b> Hand sanitizer is a great way to reduce risk and it should be essential in any teaching area, especially where instruments are shared. The downside is that for people who play stringed instruments such as guitars, hand sanitizer can tenderise the fingertips.<\/p>\n
Social Distancing:<\/b> This is the easiest one to implement if you have the space to do so. If your teaching space allows it, you can simply set up slightly further apart than you usually would. There are not really any potential negatives to this, other than minor inconveniences such as sharing sheet music would be made more difficult due to sitting further away from the music stand.<\/p>\n
Online Sessions:<\/b> Many teachers have taken to the internet to maintain their schedules. If you are in a position to do so with certain students, it might be worth exploring if Skype\/Zoom lessons are suitable. You\u2019d need to make sure you both have a stable internet connection. It will change the dynamic of the lesson so it won\u2019t work for everybody.<\/p>\n
Plexiglass Screens<\/b>: If social distancing in your teaching space is tricky or not an option, perhaps looking into a plexiglass screen divider would be beneficial, similar to those you now see in supermarkets and bars. This would allow you to be a little closer to your student but still safely protected by the screen. This, combined with face coverings would really improve the safety levels.<\/p>\n
As you can see, there are a lot of options to consider when it comes to teaching in a safe and compliant way. It\u2019s very important to keep checking for the latest advice and keep up to speed on all the latest suggestions for keeping you and your clients safe during this time.<\/p>\n