Program Preparation: Teaching Strategies to Avoid Music Rehearsal Boredom

Does Concert Prep Have to Be Stressful?

Is there a time of year when your lessons start feeling dry and repetitive? For many music teachers, the answer is the same: Performance Preparation Season.

Do any of these questions sound familiar?

How can I avoid spending my days in a repetitive back-and-forth pattern as I play student parts on the classroom piano?

How will the students learn their parts in time for the performance?

How can I keep the creativity alive in my classroom AND prepare for upcoming performances?

I’ve asked myself these same questions countless times. The good news? Performance preparation doesn’t have to feel dull, stressful, or overwhelming. Your next concert can feel different—and it all starts with fresh strategies and a solid plan.

Why I Wrote Program Preparation: Teaching Strategies to Avoid Rehearsal Boredom

Let me take you back to a particularly chaotic rehearsal. While introducing the second new program song of the day, I could see my students growing overwhelmed, tired, and distracted. I was losing them. When it was time to move on, the next activity turned out to be the chorus of the third song—using the same "I sing, you sing" strategy! That moment made me realize it was time to rethink my approach—and that’s where this journey began.

I started experimenting with new ways to teach repertoire and streamline my rehearsal plans. Over time, I developed a system that not only kept my students engaged but also made my job less stressful. This system became the foundation of my book, Program Preparation: Teaching Strategies to Avoid Rehearsal Boredom.

Here’s how the book is structured:

Part I - Strategies for Engaging Rehearsals

The first section is an idea bank of nine strategies and focus areas designed to keep rehearsals fresh and engaging. These strategies help students learn their music while staying active, creative, and excited about the process.

Highlights from Part I: Active Listening

Active listening is one of my favorite strategies because it’s so versatile. By setting a framework and focusing on specific elements, you can teach musical sections in a way that sticks.

Framework Strategies:

• Provide structure for activities (so students know the “rules”).
• Save rehearsal time with clear goals.
• Adapt the content to match your lesson focus.

Focus Areas:

• Explore elements like melody, rhythm, or cultural context.
• Zoom in on challenging sections of a song.
• Use movement or listening games to guide learning.

Part II: A Planning System That Works

 If you’ve ever felt disorganized or worried about running out of time before a performance, this section is for you. It outlines a step-by-step planning system that bridges the gap between daily lessons and concert day.

Highlights from Part II: From Class to Concert

Score Study: Analyze each piece for form, melody, rhythm, and lyrics. Identify potential challenges and choose focus areas for teaching.


Teaching Plan: Break the song into manageable sections, sequence lessons, and align them with your teaching focus.


Rehearsal Plan: Combine tasks from different songs to create a well-rounded rehearsal. Include variety to keep students engaged.

You will also find both digital and printable planning options presented in the final section. With these strategies, you can approach performance season with confidence and calm, knowing your students are set up for success.

A Sneak Peek: Preview the Book!

Curious about what’s inside? You can view a detailed preview showing some of the pages in the book. Click the link below and then hit the View Preview button to explore!

What Teachers Are Saying

“As a first-year elementary music teacher, I carried this book around like it was a Bible! The strategies were so helpful, and I feel so much less stressed.”
— A Happy Music Teacher

Reflect on Your Process

Take a moment to think about your last performance season. What part of the process felt the most overwhelming? Was it organizing rehearsals? Keeping students engaged? Managing time?

Now imagine having a clear plan and tools to tackle those challenges. That’s what this book is all about.

Ready to Transform Your Rehearsals?

Using these strategies has helped me stay organized, keep my lessons engaging, and prepare my students for performances they can be proud of. And I’m excited to share this system with you.

Whether you’re looking for new teaching ideas, better rehearsal plans, or a way to bring more creativity into concert prep, this book is designed to meet you where you are.

➡️ Program Preparation: Teaching Strategies to Avoid Rehearsal Boredom is available on FFlat Books AND in my TPT shop!

Let’s make this performance season your best yet!

Musically yours,