Our tried-and-true music teacher’s checklist for grade school concerts and musicals.
It’s coming. You’ve known this for months. Yet, the mere thought of your school concert or musical brings anxiety and nervousness still sets in. Instead, take a deep breath and make a plan – you’ve got this! With our Performance Checklist, you can be sure nothing has slipped between the cracks. When performance night comes, you’ll be cool, composed, and ready for the applause.
Behind the Scenes
2-3 Months Before Performance
- Reserve concert location and date, avoiding schedule conflicts.
- Notify school staff about concert date and location.
- Develop, or work with other teachers at your school to develop, the concert theme and songs.
- Send permission slips to parents (include concert date, attendance expectations, and attire suggestions).
- Advertise concert on school website and social media pages.
- Book photographer or videographer. Not in your budget? Ask another teacher or friend to help!
- Order special instruments, costumes, props, backdrops, and additional sound system items as needed. (West Music has everything to meet your needs! We are here to help!)
1-2 Weeks Before Performance
- Print your program.
On the Stage
2-3 Months Before Performance
- Select music repertoire and program order.
- Talk about concert etiquette and expectations with students.
1-2 Weeks Before Performance
- Confirm you have enough audience seating, as well as chairs, risers, mics, and music stands for students.
- Work with your custodians (or whomever will be helping) to ensure proper setup. It can never be said enough, a good relationship with custodians is golden!
- Have students with special needs? Will they need an aide or helper during the performance? Are there adaptions that need to be made to the performance space? Make sure everyone knows their role and is prepared. Maybe schedule some extra one-on-one run-throughs with students to rehearse this new situation.
- Will there be any sound system setup required?
Day of Performance
- Complete stage setup (chairs, music stands, mics, sound system, lights, risers, backdrops, etc.).
- Reserve seats as needed.
- Leave time for warm-up and a pep talk.
Student Essentials
- Check your concert emergency kit and order backup supplies as needed.
- Extra drumsticks, mallets, reeds, strings, valve oil, cork grease
- Small purse-packs of facial tissues
- Throat lozenges
- Bandages
- 2-3 bottles of water
- Double-sided clothing tape and safety pins
- Wet wipes
- Backup power cords, extension cords, & cables
- Gaffer’s tape
- Batteries for any video equipment
Odds and Ends
6 Weeks Before Performance
- Recruit volunteers for stage prep, lights and sound system operation, backstage assistance, door greeters/ticket takers, ushering, and cleanup.
- Write, design, and proof read your program, which should include:
- Music selections and corresponding background notes
- Student and soloist names
- Volunteer and donation recognition
- House rules (turn off phones, picture and video guidelines, bio break tips).
- Write your instructions and any script necessary so that you don’t forget anything or anyone!
- Print or purchase tickets (if necessary).
Day of Performance
- Set out check-in sheets for students and volunteers.
Aaron Hansen is an experienced K-6 General Music educator, passionate about bringing music to life through the Orff Approach. He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Aaron has completed comprehensive Orff Teacher Training, including three levels at the University of St. Thomas and an Orff Master Class. His dedication to the Orff method took him to the Summer International Course at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria. Aaron also shares his expertise by teaching movement at various Orff Teacher Training Courses and conducting workshops for local Orff Chapters.
