Dear Alma, Is it still OK to teach music one on one?

Dear Alma

You may remember I wrote to you a while back about losing my job in music teaching as a result of a ‘minor offence’ – which should not have warranted a bar to this particular institution & subsequently finding other equivalent employment.

Sadly, it’s not only me that has had these negative experiences. In basic terms, music teachers in the UK have few rights now (admittedly some pretty horrific cases reported on slippedisc.com quite rightly & fairly changed public perception). But I do believe that the vast majority of music teachers (particularly those teaching on a one to one basis) are open to the most ridiculous type of allegations & indeed with extra- teaching matters which have absolutely no relevance to their total ability to teach children in a ‘safe manner’ as defined by UK Law. The situation, as it is now, is leading to, sometimes tragic, career ending situations for those whom have made it their chosen profession. 

Advice?

Dear Advice?,

Teaching, as a profession, can be a satisfying and stable way to make a living. It offers flexibility, creativity, and is a way to continue to learn and grow as a musician and person. The topic you raise above, Advice?, is an extremely important element of this profession, because if you are not prepared, trained, and protected, your living can be abruptly ended, and you could be liable for damages.

I would encourage the Slippedisc community to weigh in on this important issue in the comments section, as this is a great place to share information and experiences.

My two cents? We live in a complicated world, with changing regulations, expectations, and varied experiences. We need to protect both ourselves and our students. As far as I can tell, there are no legal obligations in the UK to have a background check for a teacher, or to take a child safety course. However, these would be good ideas both for yourself and to reassure parents. Take a child safety course, and you may discover things that you didn’t realize could be seen as controversial or harmful. I always encourage parents to stay in the lesson, and if they can’t, to video or audio record the lessons. This is another win-win situation.

I would also encourage you to write up a clear Code of Conduct or Policy, outlining both your personal conduct rules and expectations of the student, and have the parent sign the document. Encourage prospective students to reach out for references.

As a young student, I had a teacher who would, without asking, force my hand into a position while I was playing which regularly made me cry as I was playing. He would continue to hold my hand, even when tears were running down my face. I consider this teacher to be one of my greatest mentors and someone who absolutely inspired me and taught me the rigorous fundamentals of my technique. However, this would never be allowed now. And I would never do this to a student. Never. I demonstrate myself, develop exercises to accomplish the same goals, and for certain I ask the student if I can touch their hand (or elbow) if I would like to show them something.

Advice?, I am sorry that your teaching career was cut short by what you consider to be an unfair event. This must hurt you and make you feel cheated and misunderstood. Perhaps you can find a way back by being officially trained and having your background checked. If it is what you love to do, don’t give up, fight for it and learn to see life from all different perspectives.

Questions for Alma? Please put them in the comments section or send to DearAlmaQuery@gmail.com