Tips for Planning Concerts
Season 1 | Episode 20
Show Notes
What is your process as you start planning programs for the year, and what tips do you have for those of use who are new to them altogether? Thanks for your input!! I look forward to hearing the podcast.
Questions:
How involved is this program? What is the scale of the production that I have the capacity to produce from a musical standpoint?
Programs take a lot of planning and logistics. What is my capacity to be a project manager in addition to a show producer at that scale?
What’s the point of the program? What do I want families, caretakers, colleagues, and the community to see from this program?
Doing the same thing at the same time in the same way I told them to do it?
What is the expectation for the program? And what is the core value of that expectation?
Spring musical / choir concert vs a time for the community to celebrate students
Backwards Plan: Content
What can students do in terms of musical skills?
Where are the opportunities for students to show what they’re learning at a conceptual level instead of what they’re memorizing?
Choose part of the repertoire
Write the program notes
Develop an ostinato for the arrangement
Decide the form
Create movements
Compose a countermelody
Backwards Plan: Repertoire
When is the concert?
What will we know by then?
How can I take out stress on the part of me and my students?
Concert is in April, we need to start preparing concert material in ______.
We need to have ___ songs ready by ____.
Backwards Plan: Communication and Logistics
Many times , most of headache isn’t about the music. It’s about who shows up when and where and what they should be wearing and what spaces are available.
With an order of program logistics, write the date something needs to be complete, and then the date you need to start thinking about the task
Where does this fall in the school calendar? Where does this fall in the school community culture? Talk to administration, sports leaders, other after-school colleagues, and middle school band directors.
How do you reserve the space?
Talk to administration, reserve the space, confirm that the space is reserved, then send an email to everyone involved as a follow-up
What communication platforms already exist? Use them at the beginning of the year and periodically leading up to the event to communicate with staff and families (Friday folders, school newsletter, front desk, etc.)
What support do you need?
An adult to help with risers (family volunteer, colleague, or custodial staff)
Someone to help move instruments
An piano accompanist if students aren’t providing their own accompaniment
Programs
Programs are an artistic and practical way to showcase musical learning. How we prepare them can make a big difference in our own peace of mind and our students’ experiences.
