1. Download the free BAND app from your app store. The logo is a white lower case “b” on a green background, and it is by Naver Corp.

2. When you create your profile in the app, we require you have your first AND last names so we know who’s in our groups. If you only use your first name, or an alias that disguises your identity, you will be removed from the group. (A nickname that you normally go by is fine! We just need to know who you are.)

3. if you search the app for “Madison Music” or “Madison Drama”, you won’t find them - they are private! You need to either:

•  scan the QR code posted in the Band Room, or 

• email Joel Brown and ask for a link to join the group. 

This is to make sure that only Madison students and families are in our group. Feel free to share the email contiaining the link with other Madison families who want to use the app, but please DO NOT POST THE LINKS PUBLICLY, such as on social media.

The BAND app requires that users under 13 must be verified by their parents as having permission to use the app, per federal law. There are three options for how parents can approach this. Students must get their parents’ or guardians’ permission to do any one of these before using the BAND app.

Option 1: Parents can verify their permission

Parents can verify that they are an adult and give their permission for their child to use the BAND app by entering their credit card for a one time $.50 charge. This is a common way to verify someone is an adult, but it is the parent’s call on whether they want to give their credit card information to Naver Corp., the company that owns the BAND app.

Option 2: Parents can access the app for their student

Parents can choose to not allow their student to use the BAND app until they are 13. This requires the parent to keep close watch on the app and communicate all information to the student.

Option 3: Change the student’s birth year in the app

With the parent’s permission, the student may enter their correct month and day of birth, but change the year so they can appear to be 13. Parents are strongly encouraged to activate the Supervision feature in the BAND app and disable their student’s “Discovery” feature on the app. This will prevent them from joining BAND groups outside of the Madison Music and Drama programs.

• Chat rooms are not private: Remember that all chat is visible to other members, parents and school staff. You will be held responsible for everything you post. Do not post personal information or private, one-on-one communications.

• Chat rooms are not social media: Every time you post, dozens of people get an alert on their phones. Keep the small talk and socializing off the app, especially late at night.

• Keep it positive: Chat rooms should be used to coordinate activities, ask questions, encourage others, and constructively improve the Band, Choir and Drama programs. Complaints, arguments, personal criticisms and problems, and other messages that promote a negative atmosphere should be handled in real life instead of online, and will be removed from the chat room. Users are encouraged to talk about these issues in person rather than any online public forum or social media. Ask a parent, teacher, school administrator or staff member for help if you need assistance with personal issues. We are here to help! 

• Keep notifications turned on for important chat rooms: Phone notifications are on for each chat room by default. You may go into each chat room and turn off notifications, but students must remember that they are always responsible for knowing information posted in chat by staff. If you do not want regular notifications, you can choose silent notifications, or turn on the message count in badge notifications so you can see how many new messages there have been in the chat.