Planning an elementary music concert can feel like navigating a stormy sea of decisions—everything from matching songs to student ability levels to balancing the emotional tone of the program. The stress builds as you juggle song choices, rehearsal time, and making sure everyone is ready for the big night.

But what if there’s a simpler, more effective way to plan? One that helps you build a concert program without the late nights or second-guessing. Let’s break it down.

1) Choose a Theme

Start with a guiding theme to unify the entire concert. Whether it’s teamwork, friendship, or musical stories, having a theme will help narrow down song choices and give your concert a clear direction. But keep the theme broad! This gives you the freedom to choose a variety of repertoire that still fits within the theme, making it easier to find age-appropriate songs that match your students' abilities and interests. Some of my favorites have been Friendship, Teamwork, and Musical Stories. Students, parents, and the audience love it when a narrative or emotional thread ties the performance together.

2) Consider the Emotional Arc

Think of your concert as a story with ups and downs. You may want to kick things off with something exciting and energetic, follow up with lighter pieces, and finish strong with a big, memorable finale. Some teachers even prefer to end with a tear-jerker or a heartfelt song that leaves the audience deeply moved. Whatever you decide, consider this emotional arc before investing a ton of time into selecting repertoire. 

3) Balance the Repertoire

To keep the concert engaging, choose a variety of pieces that challenge your students in different ways:

• Difficulty: Mix in easy songs with more challenging ones to give all students a chance to shine. there is ALWAYS that last minute push to get the repertoire memorized, so it sure helps to have at least one catchy song with a bit of repetition. 

• Lyrics: Some songs with fewer lyrics allow students to focus on vocal technique, instruments, or movement, while wordier songs work on memory and diction. I made the mistake of including too many songs with lots of wordy verses and my students really struggled with memorization. I learned to limit this type of song to make everyone, myself included, more comfortable with our performances.

• Tempo & Meter: Blend fast and slow pieces and different meters like duple and triple to keep it musically diverse.

• Classroom Instruments: Incorporate opportunities for students to play Orff instruments, hand percussion, or other classroom instruments. This adds variety and allows students who may not feel as confident singing to participate in the concert. It also adds an extra layer of excitement for the audience.

• Movement: Consider adding a movement-based song or two! This could be as simple as rhythmic clapping, body percussion, or a choreographed dance. Movement helps break up the program, adds visual interest, and gives a different group of students a chance to shine.

• Musical Styles: Similar to tempo & meter, blending different styles will keep your concert musically interesting. Diverse styles such as a bright, splashy, Broadway-style opener, a ballad, a fun novelty piece, rock, blues, or gospel styles all add to the concert atmosphere and give many opportunities to tie in with your curricular goals.

4) Align with Educational Goals

Make your concert planning serve your teaching goals for the months leading up to the performance. Will your students be focusing on specific rhythm patterns? Solfege sequences? Genres like jazz or folk music? Choose songs that align with what they’re learning in class, so the concert isn’t just a performance but a culmination of their learning.

Personal Experience

I have spent weeks trying to pull together the perfect repertoire for a concert—constantly swapping songs, rethinking choices, and feeling like I’d never get it right. Then, I decided to try focusing on a single theme (for example, friendship) and sticking to an emotional arc for the program. Not only did it cut down my planning time, but the students connected with the music more deeply. And the audience? They were moved. 

One of my best compliments came from my principal the year that I chose Teamwork as my theme because it was also the school theme for the year. She was new to our school that year and she was very excited saying, “I was not expecting that! I loved how you fit with the school theme and everything just flowed naturally.”

Need More Planning Help?

For more tips on how to keep rehearsals running smoothly as you prepare for the big night, check out my book, Program Preparation: Rehearsal Strategies to Avoid Rehearsal Boredom. It’s packed with strategies to keep things fresh and fun during those long rehearsal sessions AND a full rehearsal planning system to ensure your students are ready for their big night.

Program Preparation Book on TPT

Program Preparation Book on F-Flat Books

To make sure your students (and their families!) never forget the big day, grab these Concert Today Reminder Bracelets. They're quick to print, easy to send home, and a fun way to keep everyone on track. Just click the image link below to get yours!

In Summary:

• Choose a concert theme to unify the program.
• Consider the emotional arc to engage the audience.
• Balance repertoire while keeping your educational goals in mind.

Happy planning, and may your next concert be smooth sailing! 

Musically yours,

  

Continue reading

Share:

March isn't just a month on the calendar; it's a symphony of celebration – Music in Our Schools Month®! 🎵✨ For 40 years, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) has designated March as the month to recognize the importance of music education for all children. Let's take a moment to appreciate the profound impact that music education has on our students' lives, transcending beyond the notes on a staff.

My school operated on a year-round calendar for many years and was regularly on break for two weeks in March. This made planning large, month-long activities impossible for me. Still, I found several simple ways to call attention to our school music program. Choose one or two to implement this year!

Simple Ways to Celebrate MIOSM®

1. Bulletin Board: Create a bulletin board outside your music room featuring photos of students making music. Include a "There's Music in Our School" list of field trips, guest musicians, and performances. You may amaze yourself at the number of music events that have taken place in your school this year!
2. Staff Survey: Send a brief survey to your faculty and staff asking them questions about their past and present music involvement. Were you involved in a music ensemble in school? Are you currently a member of any music ensembles? Do you play an instrument? What is your favorite style of music? Post the answers on a bulletin board for students to read. For a more interactive board, separate the staff names from the answers and ask students to guess who is who.
3. Guest Musicians: Invite a guest musician to perform for or with your students. The guest musicians can be local professionals, parents, school administrators, or school board members. If you have a large musical community, consider inviting different musicians for each grade level or class. These guests can be spread out over the month. 
4. Teacher/Musician Performance: Another option is for YOU to perform for your students. Sing or play your instrument for them. Choose whatever style of music you are the most comfortable with and one that your students might be different than what you do with them in class. 
5. School Announcements: Create several short, informational announcements supporting music education that can be included once a week or even daily in the school announcements. Topics might include composer or musician facts, brief listening examples, or music advocacy statements.

Show Off Your Students with a Concert

Planning a student performance in March? Whether you're organizing an elaborate concert or a casual gathering to share some musical fun with your school community, consider incorporating these ideas:

Highlight Diversity: Showcase the various performing groups, guest artists, or music field trips that enrich your school's music program each year. Celebrate the diverse talents and experiences within your musical community.

Amplify Advocacy: Take the opportunity to read aloud several music advocacy statements during the performance. Raise awareness about the importance of music education and its positive impact on students' lives.

Informative "Informance": Consider hosting a simple "informance" to give insight into the types of music learning happening in regular music classes. This could involve short demonstrations, explanations of musical concepts, or even interactive activities to engage the audience.

Interactive Elements: Incorporate interactive elements into the performance to actively involve the audience. This could include sing-alongs, audience participation segments, or opportunities for students to share stories or reflections about their musical journey.

Collaborative Projects: Showcase collaborative projects involving multiple disciplines or departments within the school. This could involve joint performances with the drama club, art installations inspired by music, or multimedia presentations combining music with other creative forms.

By incorporating these suggestions, you can create a memorable and impactful student performance that celebrates the joy and importance of music in our schools.

Music Advocacy is Important

As we celebrate Music in Our Schools Month®, consider how many ways you might use this curated collection of music advocacy statements.  These powerful affirmations highlight the transformative impact of music education on students' lives, making them perfect additions to concerts or school announcements.

 

Unlocking Cognitive Potential: 

Music instruction isn't just about hitting the right notes; it's a cognitive workout for young minds. Studies show that students engaged in music programs often exhibit higher IQ scores and enhanced academic performance. It's like a secret code to unlock their full cognitive potential.

Orchestrating Reading Success: 

Reading and music dance together in a harmonious partnership. Learning to read music enhances language processing skills, creating neural connections that fortify reading abilities. It's a literary symphony conducted by the magic of musical notes.

More Than Musical Notes: 

But it's not just about reading music; making music has its own set of benefits.  Actively participating in music creation strengthens memory, attention, and executive functions – skills that seamlessly transfer to reading tasks. So, whether they're composing their melodies or decoding musical notes, students are gearing up for success in the literary realm.

Rhythm and Melody: 

A Cognitive Ballet: Rhythm and melody skills are the unsung heroes of cognitive development. They boost language and math abilities by enhancing pattern recognition, auditory discrimination, and a deep understanding of mathematical concepts within the structure of music. It's a cognitive ballet where every beat and note contributes to a well-rounded mind.

Building Communities through Music: 

Beyond the cognitive perks, music education is a community builder. Collaborative music-making teaches teamwork, communication, and mutual respect. Group performances create a sense of belonging and pride, fostering a supportive community within the classroom. It's about creating connections that resonate beyond the music room.

Emotional Intelligence in Harmony: 

Music classes are a playground for Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Through playing instruments, singing, and collaborating, students explore self-expression, emotional regulation, and empathy. It's a symphony of emotional intelligence where every note contributes to a more emotionally aware and connected community.

Music for Joy's Sake: 

Yet, amidst all these cognitive and emotional benefits, let's not forget the simple joy of making music. Music for the sake of making music is a celebration of creativity, self-expression, and the sheer delight of creating something beautiful together. It nurtures a love for the art form that lasts a lifetime.

Put Advocacy into Action

Want to bring these advocacy ideas to life? 🎶 Download this free Music Advocacy Toolkit document! It’s packed with ready-to-use announcements, concert script ideas, and affirmations to highlight the impact of music in our schools. Click the button below to get your copy! 🎶

Let's Celebrate!

I encourage you to consider ways, either small or big,, that you can highlight music in YOUR school. For even more ideas,  and the official graphics, sample news announcements, and more, visit the National Association for Music Education website.

As we celebrate Music in Our Schools Month®, let's amplify our voices in support of music education. It's not just about playing instruments; it's about orchestrating a future where every student has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of music. 🎶💙

Musically Yours,

Continue reading

Share:

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.

Continue reading

Share:

 

"What other ways can I introduce this song?"  I was asking the same question as I struggled through the first lesson to introduce our concert repertoire to a second grade class.  The whole class consisted of "I sing, you sing!"  The students and I were all bored and there was way too much sitting for an elementary music class.  That boring class led me to explore all of the ways I could find to teach new music without having the class echo phrases.  

If you struggle with the same challenges, whether you are in concert prep mode or regular class time, this video session is for you!  Originally presented during The Music Crew Virtual Conference 2021 held inside The Music Crew Collaborative Facebook Group, this 30-minute session presents two framework strategies and seven focus areas that will keep your classes or rehearsals engaging and productive.

Continue reading

Share:

Whew! Winter concert is over for this year! Time to breathe.

This year's concert was titled "Dream BIG!"  Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades were featured, and the program consisted of songs from Music K-8, a scarf routine to the Russian Dance from the Nutcracker, bucket drumming to the Nutcracker March, and a combination dance/drumming/chorus number.  One highlight was when our principal played his guitar along with one of the bucket drumming groups!

Continue reading

Share: