Government Changes Tack For Guitar Teachers & Lessons

On Friday 6 November, the Department for Education advised us that while private music teaching should remain online throughout the new restrictions, music lessons can take place in students’ homes if no other option is viable. We have not yet had confirmation that music lessons can take place in teachers’ own homes, even if no other option is viable. We are seeking further clarification and will advise members in more detail as soon as possible.

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.

Under the current guidance, 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.

We advise teachers to teach online (apart from in schools) where possible. Please read our detailed guidance for teachers moving over to online lessons during the Coronavirus outbreak, including online teaching contracts and guidance for safeguarding online.

This is a developing situation with new Government guidance issued only in recent days. We are in the process of developing more detailed advice on this topic, which will be published as soon as possible.