Safeguarding for musicians

Last updated: April 2026

Good safeguarding practices are very important for keeping children and vulnerable adults safe, in every environment. As a musician, this specifically applies to several situations, most notably teaching. In this blog, we’ll look into good safeguarding practices for musicians…

Important – While everything has been done to double check the authenticity of this information, it is an interpretation. Consult with safeguarding professionals and read official government advice when formulating your safeguarding policy.

What is safeguarding?

The term “safeguarding” refers to the procedures that are put in place to keep people safe in a specific environment, and the process for taking action before and if something happens to them. Specifically, the NSPCC says that safeguarding means:

It’s worth understanding that while this specifically describes children, it could also apply to vulnerable adults, and other vulnerable groups.

Depending on the setting, you may also have to carry out a risk assessment.

Similarly, the UK government built six key safeguarding principles into the Care Act 2014, with respect to health and social care. While they are primarily for that setting, there are some general principles that can apply across different settings, and make them worth reading:

1. Empowerment

Ensuring people are supported and confident in making their own decisions and giving informed consent. Empowerment gives individuals choice and control over decisions made.

2. Protection

Providing support and representation for those in greatest need. Organisations can put measures in place to help stop abuse from occurring and offer help and support to those at risk

3. Prevention

It is crucial to try and take action before harm occurs, preventing neglect, harm or abuse is the primary objective. Prevention is the act of organisations working to stop abuse before it happens. Raising awareness, training staff and making information easily accessible are all ways that they can demonstrate prevention measures and encourage individuals to ask for help.

4. Proportionality

We must take a proportionate and least intrusive response to the issue presented. Proportionality ensures that services take each person into account when dealing with abuse. They will respect each individual and assess any risks presented.

5. Partnerships

Forming partnerships with local communities can create solutions as they can assist in preventing and detecting abuse. Partnerships give organisations the opportunity to work together, as well as with the local community.

6. Accountability

Being accountable and having complete transparency in delivering safeguarding practice. Safeguarding is everyone’s business and accountability makes sure that everyone plays their part when it comes to safeguarding vulnerable people. Everyone is accountable for their actions as individuals, services and organisations.

Personnelchecks.co.uk

Where might safeguarding be applied by musicians?

Perhaps the most obvious circumstance where musicians might encounter safeguarding is when teaching.

Whether you work in a primary or secondary school, teach as part of a charity or for-profit music school, or just teach privately on your own, you should always be clear on the safeguarding procedures.

While teaching is the most obvious example, there are other situations where a knowledge of safeguarding will apply.

For example, if you are putting on performances in a care home, workshops for people with special educational needs, community music sessions, or even doing a one-off performance at a private school, perhaps as part of an end of year fete or something similar. Safeguarding vulnerable adults in these settings is just as important as child protection, and requires awareness of issues such as consent, dignity and the potential for financial or emotional abuse.

In short, if you are in any way working with children or people of a vulnerable group, you should be up to date with your safeguarding.

If you are working within an existing company or school, you should be told about their safeguarding procedures. It is also good practice to include safeguarding requirements in any contracts for live work, particularly when performing at schools, care homes or events involving children.

If you’re looking to set yourself up as a music teacher, check out our blogs on setting yourself up as an online music teacher, our complete guide to music lessons for students, or our complete guide for music teachers.

DBS checks for musicians

If you teach music to children or work regularly with vulnerable adults, you will almost certainly need an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. This is a criminal record check that helps employers and organisations make safer recruitment decisions. For musicians who teach privately, you can apply for a DBS check through an umbrella body such as the Music Mark network or the Musicians’ Union.

An Enhanced DBS check with a Barred List check is the standard requirement for anyone in regulated activity with children. If you teach one-to-one lessons, run group workshops in schools, or provide music therapy sessions, this applies to you. The check needs to be renewed periodically, and many organisations now use the DBS Update Service, which allows continuous monitoring rather than requiring a new check every few years. The cost of obtaining a DBS check is a legitimate business expense for self-employed music teachers, and it is worth factoring into your music tuition pricing.

Safeguarding for online music lessons

With the growth of remote music teaching, safeguarding in online lessons has become increasingly important. Many of the same principles apply as for in-person teaching, but there are additional considerations around technology and digital safety.

Key safeguarding measures for online music lessons include: ensuring lessons take place on a reputable, secure video platform; recording lessons only with explicit parental consent; making sure the student is in a shared or visible space in their home; keeping your own background professional and appropriate; and having clear policies on communication channels (avoid using personal social media to contact students). Parents or guardians should always be informed of lesson times and have the ability to observe if they wish.

Recognising warning signs

As a music teacher or performer working with young people, you may be in a position to notice signs that a child is experiencing harm. While it is not your role to investigate, being aware of potential warning signs is an important part of your safeguarding responsibility. These can include unexplained changes in behaviour or mood, reluctance to attend lessons, visible injuries, withdrawal from social interaction, or a child making disclosures about their home life.

If you have concerns, you should follow the safeguarding procedures of the organisation you are working with. If you are a private teacher, you should contact your local authority’s children’s services or the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) for advice. It is always better to raise a concern that turns out to be unfounded than to ignore something that could be serious. Keep a written record of any concerns, including dates, what you observed, and any actions you took.

How do you put safeguarding into place as a musician?

When working out your safeguarding policy, it is important you take into account all the principles above, as well as making sure your safeguarding is transparent and comprehensive.

Any parent or institution that wants to you to your safeguarding policy should be provided with it.

The ISM has an excellent free online webinar on safeguarding for musicians, available here:

ISM also have safeguarding advice for anyone looking to do music tuition remotely.

ABRSM has also collated a series of videos made by the Musicians’ Union in partnership with EDUcare on safeguarding procedures for children.

They detail how some examples of situations that safeguarding policies should avoid (or address) are things like inappropriate communication with children, inappropriate demonstration of technique, dealing with a difficult group situation and responding to concerns about abuse.

How did you come up with your safeguarding policy? Do you have any advice for other musicians looking to do the same? Leave your tips in the comment below…