Social Media and Music Education

After reading an article by Scott Sterling I have begun to question how and what I use my social media pages for. According to Sterling, “With the growth of social media and its numerous platforms, it can be tricky for teachers to toe the line between responsible use and giving away too much information. Some platforms are great for professional development and promotion, others automatically come with a negative connotation.” (Sterling 2016) I thought for and if I could change a few things about my social media accounts it would be the following. First I would change my social media settings so that only friends can view my pictures and posts. The second thing I would do is delete some old pictures and other posts from my younger days that may be interpreted as unprofessional.

Some tips that I would give to fellow teachers is simply to think before they post something. Before you post something ask yourself how would your audience, public, or even superintendent feel about your post. After thinking that over you can make a decision. Another aspect to consider is who you add as friend. Privacy is very important. Lastly I would recommend that you be careful if you use dating apps or websites. I would recommend that you use an app or website that is not very accessible to your students.

his all being said I do believe that there are many good uses for social media in the realm of music education. The first is that it is nice to have a Facebook, YouTube, or even twitter account for your performing ensemble. This is a good way to share your performances, advertise other concerts, or even fundraisers. The students along with their parents will really enjoy being able to share their craft to the public. I also believe that it is good to have a clean and professional social media page that you can use to share your professional information. Lets say you also do private lessons or composing jobs this would be a good place for others to reach you and to have a positive first impression. Last but not least having a professional page can be very beneficial when it comes to interviews because I am sure that employers will look at your social media pages.

Sterling, S (2016, September 13) A Teacher’s Responsible Social Media Presence. Retrieved from https://blog.learningsciences.com/2016/09/13/a-teachers-responsible-social-media-presence/