I created my first and only Facebook when I was in the 5th grade. At the time, this newfound platform for communicating with friends, sharing photos, tagging others in photos, and ranting about the struggles of being a middle-class kid living in the United States was the hottest thing anyone could be doing with their life. Then came Twitter, Kik, Snapchat, Instagram, Vine, Tinder, Facebook Messenger, . . . the list goes on. Now tasked with being an educator, a professional, and a role model for the next generation of students, it can be a little daunting to look back at the electronic history of our young and foolish pasts. What we say, what we do, and how we present ourselves online stays there forever, even if we are not the same acne ridden, gossipy, and over-stimulated kids we once were.
The first step I took when the regret and embarrassment of my past social media presence kicked in was edit my privacy settings, making my social media platforms invisible to anyone unless I had added them as a friend, follower, electronic companion, whatever the term may be. I then deleted old pictures, old posts, and old friends no longer an important part of my professional life. Hitting the delete button may hurt a little at first, especially looking back at that super cool water balloon fight you had in the 6th grade, but feeling secure and in control of our social medial presence can make all the difference. It is especially important to remove the ability for anyone to tag you in a photo or a post without your consent and permission. This can be achieved in the settings of all of the aforementioned platforms.
These steps are especially important regarding a future job position. Employers, parents, and even our own students will potentially be snooping through social media to attempt to learn more about who we really are. This image we create must be one that is professional, unbiased, and indicative of who we are TODAY, not ten years ago. For me, this “social media taming” endeavor even extended to YouTube, where I managed to find videos of myself playing the trumpet at a level I would not want administrators, parents, or my students to see, especially when there is a lack of new content to post as proof of my abilities. I want my trumpet playing skill level to exist in the present as much as possible, with my playing and teaching an ever-evolving craft.
As a music educator and future band director, social media accounts may also become necessary platforms for communicating with parents and students. Rehearsal times, competition scores, and videos of ensembles are often communicated through Twitter and Facebook by modern-day music educators. While email is always the most professional form of contact, students in particular are more easily reached on social media. This interaction should, of course, never include personal messages or direct posts to students or parents, and instead should include blanket statements and ideas for all eyes to see. Therefore, any sensitive information such as a competitive marching band’s rehearsal progress or individual students’ scores or results from solo and ensemble, All-State, or other activities must be shared in good taste. A student, parent, colleague, or administrator should never have to feel embarrassed because of a post to social media. This sentiment also extends to a program’s finances.
In summation, it is important to always be aware, considerate, and in-the-right with regard to social media. We live in a very unique time in which the tools we use to connect and interact can also do serious damage to ourselves and those around us. The eyes of the world are watching to see what kind of impact we can leave in the short lives we live, and this impact for a music educator must never stray from helping students become capable, cognizant, and empowered individuals.
Tech-ing Music Simply 