"it Isn't Necessary To Touch Children In Order To Demonstrate Options

[Henry Fagg]

Keeping Children Safe in Music is a joint initiative between the MU, the NSPCC, Youth Music, and the ABRSM.

The MU now has 5 videos up on their Youtube site to help music teachers to 'gain a better understanding of their child protection responsibilities and avoid situations that could lead to accusations of misconduct'.

Of course the aims are laudable, but I'm not convinced by these videos.

In particular, the third video entitled 'Inappropriate Demonstration' depicts a grossly caricatured version of teacher-pupil contact, and contains the statement "It isn't necessary to touch children in order to demonstrate. There's always a better way" (01:16).

Personally, I do not believe this is correct, and it reminds me of the issues that Jennie Bristow and Frank Furedi were so helpful in unpacking in their book Licensed to Hug (now in its second edition).

As an Alexander Technique teacher, I know that verbal instruction and demonstration is not enough to change habit patterns (we have a term for it: 'unreliable sensory appreciation'). In my profession, 'not touching' is simply not an option, and I'm sure that many music teachers feel the same.

What does anyone else think about these videos (www.youtube.com/user/TheMusiciansUnion) and the above statement in particular??

[Dugazon]

Moving away a bit from the child-specific problems:

One main pillar of a good student-teacher relationship is trust - and trust works both ways.

It should go without saying that a good teacher will be sensitive enough to treat their students as individuals - that's why I earlier said that "to touch or not to touch" has not really anything to do with the fact whether we teach children or adults, but with the fact that different people have different boundaries.

Having said that: I trust my students to tell me if they feel uncomfortable about something, and I also trust them not to say Yes when they mean No. I encourage them consistenly to be honest about their feelings - they don't need to say things to be polite. Most of my students can do this, some easier than others, and some needed a bit of help with it, but I am quite happy to say that things like this also build confidence.

Whilst I trust my students to tell me if they are uncomfortable with something, and they can trust me in return to be able to read them to a certain extent, I think we have to keep one thing in our minds though:

We act in the student's best interest. So if there is not a basic amount of trust that we only ever use touch with an educational purpose, it's very hard to establish a good working relationship. And this doesn't only apply to touch, but to a whole array of "sensitivities" that one has sometimes simply to be prepared to let go to achieve results.

I'll give you one example - maybe singing is a bit different from certain instruments, but addressing certain muscular issues some people might find embarrassing is very often necessary:
Some students are so tense that they need to lie down first to get in touch with their natural breathing again. Oh the horror of lying on a couch or on the floor! Oh the embarrassment! You have to be able to switch your brains off occasionally as a singer, and that's the place to start.

Another one: Some people are literally clenching their buttocks, and if they don't release their pelvic floor, they will usually constrict on throat-level as well. You might find this odd, but all sphincter muscles of the body are more or less connected, and if you release one, you usually release the others. The same applies the other way round. Simple fight or flight response.

So, if I cannot address this as a teacher, and a student gets into hysterical fits if I just mention the words "pelvic floor", and consequently refuses to do exercises that will help (it goes without saying that there is no need for hands-on manipulation here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ), then they are not willing to keep their part of the bargain. It's sabotaging what the teacher is trying to suggest in their best interest. It's not weird, it doesn't have sexual undertones - it's simple anatomy. And it is sometimes necessary to get over yourself and just do. If people cannot do this, that's fine, and I would never force anyone, but then singing might not be the right thing for them.

If a student is not willing to trust the teacher, then no successful work is possible. I know that trust doesn't build over night, and it is easily destroyed by careless actions, but it always takes two to tango.

[Arundodonuts]

but it always takes two to tango.

Nice comparison. I defy anyone to teach someone to tango without touching them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)