Guidance and Resources for Delivering Online Music Lessons
Even though schools are closed, music is still an important of life for many young people. In order to continue to support their learners, many music teachers are moving their lessons to online, using a variety of platforms such as Skype, Zoom and Google Hangouts.
In order to help teachers adapt their delivery and teach safely, we have compiled guidance and resources relating to online teaching. We also have a shared Google folder which has been shared with Registered Providers with useful documents.
ISM - Transitioning to Online Teaching - One teacher discusses her experience of moving to teaching online.
Music Mark - Online Teaching & Safeguarding - Overview of online teaching with links and a useful risk assessment template.
Musicians' Union - Teaching Music Online - Practical hints and tips for setting up online teaching, including what technology you will need and the software platforms available.
JW Pepper - How to Engage Students through your virtual classroom - strategies and resources to help music teachers deliver engaging lessons.
Nymaz - Introduction to Online Teaching Webinar - Insights into online teaching from an experienced teacher.
NYMAZ Resources - A collection of resources from Nymaz's Connect: Resound project with advice and tips on how best to teach online.
ISM - Remote Teaching: Software Basics - Information about the various platforms available for online teaching.
Musicians' Union - Safeguarding during online lessons - Guidance on how to keep yourself and your learners safe when teaching online.
ISM - Safeguarding for Music Teachers giving lessons remotely - Advice and tips for music teachers to set up and deliver remote lessons safely.
Teaching Music Online - Top Tips
We have collated some of the key points of the guidance below:
- Discuss with parents/carers beforehand and obtain parental consent in writing before starting lessons.
- Set up a separate online account just for teaching.
- Create an online teaching procedure/policy for your teaching and undertake a risk assessment for your lessons.
- Ensure parents/carers are nearby when lessons are delivered and ideally dial into a parent/carer account rather than a student's account.
- Ensure both teacher and student are appropriately dressed and that the lesson is delivered in an appropriate place (not a bedroom) with a suitably blank/neutral background (without distractions).
- Keep conversations professional.
- Avoid using 'chat' functions or private messaging with students.
- Make students and parents aware that the online platform is for lessons only, no other contact.
- Ensure students and parents know how to raise safeguarding concerns - update your safeguarding policy.
- Recordings - consider how these will be stored safely, discuss with parents first.
COVID-19 Music Guidance and Research
Useful guidance and research around teaching music or musical activities during the pandemic
Music Mark - Music Unlocked - three live documents which will be reviewed as often as more research comes to light: a short, simple guide for schools (primarily aimed at helping head teachers and governors understand that musical learning can and must be part of the curriculum as pupils return to school), a more detailed guide for music providers (which school music teachers may also find useful), and a ‘literature review’.
Association of British Choral Director - Where have all the singers gone - Research into the impact of COVID-19 on choral singing.
MIA - Musical Instrument Hygiene - links to guidance on how to clean instruments effectively.
Music Mark - Instrument Maintenance Guides - to help parents/students maintain their instruments
