"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??

[jm-hamilton]

I hear on the 6 o'clock news that the Musician's union and the NSPCC are sticking by their advice to teachers - not to touch pupils. I can expect to be accused of child abuse since yesterday, when I did a duet for a pupil's GCSE assessment. Both parts are quite close on the keyboard and occasionally he did not let go of a note quite quickly enough before I needed to play it, so yes, our fingers touched.

[Fran*Piano]

I hear on the 6 o'clock news that the Musician's union and the NSPCC are sticking by their advice to teachers - not to touch pupils. I can expect to be accused of child abuse since yesterday, when I did a duet for a pupil's GCSE assessment. Both parts are quite close on the keyboard and occasionally he did not let go of a note quite quickly enough before I needed to play it, so yes, our fingers touched.

I've been reading this thread with interest, although I'm not a music teacher (I do teach dance though) and I agree here-I often play duets with my music teacher, and as you said contact often happens, there's nothing remotely sinister about it, and I wouldn't dream of thinking it was strange...my violin teacher often physically moves my hand if I've got incorrect posture, and again, there's nothing untoward about it whatsoever.