New advice for teaching guitar at home or in studios
Currently government guidelines won’t allow you to enter anyone else’s home unless you are unable to provide any in-home services in an alternative way. We will inform you as soon as the situation changes but our advice in the meantime is to continue teaching online if at all possible. If you own or rent business premises then you can consider going back to work there in line with other businesses and shops reopening.
Completing a personal Risk Assessment
If you are wanting to start teaching from your own home or premises as soon as you are allowed to, then you will need to complete a Risk Assessment and devise your own policy to include consideration of the following issues.
Distancing
The two-metre minimum is the government’s present advice and the best way to protect both you and your students. There is some research about distancing for different instruments, particularly wind and brass instruments and for singers, with advice ranging from three to 12 metres, therefore it is best to seek the maximum distance between you and the pupil that is practical when teaching. Avoid any physical contact with the student throughout the time they are in your home. The longer the time of a session, the greater the potential risk to both parties.
Cleaning
It is absolutely vital to ensure highest cleanliness standards. Surfaces must be fully cleaned before and after sessions along with door handles, switches, plugs, instruments etc. Toilets and wash basins must be cleaned before and after sessions (when used) with hand cleansers, sanitisers or wipes available in the teaching area (wipes to go in foot pedal swing bin). Gloves will be advisable in some circumstances. Similarly, masks can be considered.
Teaching room
The nature of the teaching area/room has to be considered – think about how much space is available for yourself, students and their instruments. Look at the room layout to ensure that students are able to enter and exit the room safely. Make sure there is adequate ventilation. If possible have windows open in the teaching room or explore the practicalities of teaching in the open air. If you have an air control system then ensure it is properly maintained, seek advice on filters etc.
Instruments
Usually the student will use only their own instrument. Do not share microphones, instruments, mouthpieces, reeds etc. Where large instruments are used by the student in the lesson, such as pianos/keyboards/double bass etc, then strict cleanliness regimes are necessary.
Students
Consider the issues surrounding students who are in vulnerable groups, including those with underlying health conditions and those over 70. Check with students about their health and the situation at their home; their journey to you (students should avoid public transport if possible and if using taxis use black cab types with screens between passenger and driver). You should check any changes to their situation at the start of each lesson. If the student is under 18 then you should always check with their parents.
Teaching in other people’s homes
An agreement needs to reached between the parents/student and the teacher as to what needs to be in place before any visits to a student’s home can be considered. As each individual situation will have its own particular set of circumstances then parents/students and teacher needs to address their concerns based on the advice already documented in the personal RA above.
Other things to consider
- Aim to minimise the joint handling of sheet music and possibly explore using personal phones/tablets etc.
- Look at changeover times between lessons to ensure you have time to clean and set up for the next student.
- The Government advises use of masks, face coverings and gloves in different situations (e.g. when using public transport). Gloves can protect against contact with surfaces in a work area, if masks are worn they need to be changed regularly and if not disposable, fully cleaned between use periods.
- Given Covid-19 could be with us a long time, you could consider if changes could be made in your teaching environment to minimise contact such as sensor or elbow control water taps, swing or auto opened doors and Perspex screens in the teaching area for example.