Services & Support
COVID HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY FOR FACE-TO-FACE BRASS TEACHING
From Monday 12th April 2021, England enters stage 2 of the Roadmap out of lockdown. From this date, face-to-face tuition is permitted for all children without restrictions on the reasons for which they may attend. Below is my own policy for the resumption of face-to-face lessons.
Distancing: The ‘one metre plus’ is the government’s present advice and keeping this distance will be the best way to protect both myself and my students. When teaching brass instruments it is best to seek the maximum distance as is practical between myself and the pupil.
Ventilation: If possible, windows should be open in the teaching room, and outside lessons could be taught if practical.
Instruments: The student will use their own instrument. Condensation from brass instruments should be released either into a pot which should be disposed of outside the house, or onto a towel which should be washed afterwards. I will not be able to assist directly with the maintenance of brass instruments (oiling valves, etc).
Equipment: Every pupil should cover the bells of their instruments with an appropriate bell covering (I recommend MoistureGuard filter covers). I will bring a Perspex screen (2 metres high x 1 metre wide) to each brass lesson and can set it up with the pupil and me either side of it. It would be wiped after each use. The joint handling of music should be kept to a minimum; I shall keep as much as possible on an iPad and can take photos or scans of pupils’ music if I don’t have copies readily available. I shall bring my own music stand to every lesson. I will not mark up pupils’ music or write in notebooks, but will encourage them to do do so themselves in the way that has been done online, and I am happy to send follow up notes over email. I will bring a face covering and am happy to wear it if required at all times other than when demonstrating on the trombone!
Health and Guidelines: Face-to-face lessons should not go ahead if anyone in the house is displaying COVID-19 symptoms. I shall check for emails and phone messages before travelling to every house for a lesson, and can instantly send a zoom link and begin a remote lesson if it emerges a face to face lesson cannot be taught as planned.
Quarantine: If somebody in the household where I am due to teach has returned from a country outside of the UK or Ireland within 14 days, a face-to-face lesson should not be taught and the lessons during the period of quarantine should be taught on zoom.
Contact tracing: If, in the event that someone in a household where I have taught tests positive for COVID-19 and I have delivered a face-to-face lesson in their house within 48 hours before developing symptoms I would be happy for them to provide my contact details for the NHS Test and Trace service. Similarly, if I were to test positive I would contact directly anyone whose house I had been to 48 hours before developing symptoms.
Matt Harrison 11th April 2021