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Remixing the Algorithm: TikTok for Choirs

TikTok and Music Education Recent research on student response to TikTok in a vari-
TikTok and similar video-based social media have the ety of teaching contexts in the past three years revealed ad-
potential to not only serve as a tool of professional develop- ditional benefits. Teachers have reported gaining perspec-
ment for teachers, but also as a window into musical worlds tive into students’ lives, cultures, and worldviews through
beyond our classrooms for our students. Students today live TikTok. Students who have used TikTok in educational
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in a tech-saturated world. Most of our students interact settings report that learning is more fun when using the
with social media on a daily basis, if not an hourly basis. app. As they engage with social media, these students dis-
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One report shared that nearly half of adolescents visit so- played higher levels of attention, interest, and understand-
cial networking sites on a daily basis and spend an average ing. Additionally, higher education students who interacted
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of one hour dedicated to social media use and networking. with TikTok in an educational setting appreciated the op-
This seems like an underestimation in my experience work- portunity to develop digital skills. As navigation of a vari-
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ing with adolescents. Recently, I suggested that a student ety of technological applications is now a necessary skill set
Google something, and they said, “I’ll just look on Tik- for many jobs, these students saw activities utilizing TikTok
Tok.” If our students are already utilizing apps like TikTok as an opportunity to develop technological skills.
as search engines, why shouldn’t we harness their search Although social media can certainly have its downfalls
power for our good in the music room? (many of us have seen the reports on social isolation, cyber-
Music education researchers have suggested that social bullying, misinformation, and safety concerns), apps like
media can serve as an extension to classroom instruction. TikTok are central to how many of our students are build-
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Through the use of social media, students create connec- ing their worldview. In the classroom, we have the opportu-
tions to people and resources online and off that have the nity to model healthy use of social media for learning and
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potential to enrich learning. Because many students view sharing. Through the use of social media apps like TikTok,
social media as an integral part of their lives, the use of our students have access to some of the best teachers and
apps like TikTok and Instagram within classroom instruc- musicians in the world. Singers may explore a variety of
tion may lead to increased engagement, relevancy of the musics, techniques, and styles. Students can share informa-
classroom, and differentiated learning. 4 tion with one another and dig into musical knowledge that
interests them. Additionally, teachers have an extension of
their instruction through social media, opening themselves
up to improved interactions with students, teachers, fami-
Videos Ideas Checklist
lies, and community members. Although social media can-
not and should not replace traditional instruction, it can
Want to post some videos on TikTok but don’t know where to
start? Here are a few easy video ideas to try individually or extend and supplement student interaction with music in a
with your students: variety of ways.

• Share a favorite warm-up and explain why you like it How Do Choir Teachers Use TikTok?

• Demonstrate a vocal technique and describe how it works One does not need to be a TikTok star to effectively use
TikTok in their classrooms. Spend some time on the app,
• Share a sneak peek video of an upcoming performance and you will find that choir teachers are using TikTok in a
variety of ways. First, teachers are using TikTok videos as a
• Try a “guess the singer” video (all singers mouth the words teaching aide in and out of class, teaching notes, rhythms,
while one singer sings) melodies, music theory, musical concepts, musicianship
skills, etc. Second, many music teachers, especially the ca-
• Share the history or cultural context of a piece you love
sual TikTok browsers like me, watch TikTok videos to learn
about or get refreshers on things like classroom manage-
• Show off your singers’ sight reading skills
ment, teaching techniques, or classroom hacks. Third, mu-
• Ask a question or pose a problem for audience response sic leaders are using TikTok as a recruitment tool, reaching
out to all of the singers on TikTok. Fourth, choir teachers

ChorTeach Volume 15 • Issue 4 8 Summer 2023