Keeping Children Safe in Music is a new joint initiative between the Musicians Union, the NSPCC, Youth Music, and the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music).
As part of this project, 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 in the series entitled ‘Inappropriate Demonstration’ depicts a 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 are not enough to change habit patterns (in fact, we have a term for it: ‘unreliable sensory appreciation’). In this profession, ‘not touching’ is simply not an option, and I know that many music teachers feel the same.
***UPDATE***
Follow the discussion on this topic on the ABRSM forum here: www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=44570