So you’ve landed your first music teaching job and are planning your very first concert. You’re excited, nervous, and possibly experiencing some very real nightmares. Some directors hate having their back to the audience. Others get nervous when they have to speak publicly. Don’t worry — you’re not alone.
Planning your first concert can be very overwhelming and stressful. Unlike the Math teacher who doesn't post the tests of their students on the wall, the students in your Band class are showing their summative assessment publicly, for everyone to see and hear. The odd thing is, this is totally normal for us. The good news? You can absolutely do this without losing your mind — but only if you plan smart, not hard.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the major pitfalls new music teachers fall into, especially the all-too-common tendency to program pieces far beyond their students’ ability levels. We’ll explore the psychology of learning, how to build audience-friendly programs, and how to save your sanity along the way.
1. Set Realistic Musical Goals — Not Fantasy Camp Standards
Let’s get one thing straight: your beginning or developing band/orchestra/choir is not the the top wind band at the university from which you just graduated. Nor should they be.
Many new directors fall into the trap of programming grade 4 and5 music for ensembles that can barely play in unison. Why? Because we’re eager to impress. You've got to leave that attitude at the door. But here's the truth: programming music that's too hard results in stress, poor performances, and diminished student confidence. What's worse? If you continue over programming, the students will simply not return and your enrollment will always suffer.
Students learn best in their “zone of proximal development” — the sweet spot where tasks are challenging but achievable with guidance (Vygotsky, 1978). Going too far above their skill level doesn’t motivate them — it frustrates them. [APA on Scaffolding Learning]
✅ Pro Tip: Choose pieces ½ to 1 grade level below your ensemble’s top capability. They’ll sound better, learn faster, and build confidence. Plus, they’ll have time to master intonation, phrasing, and musicality — the actual magic of live music.
From My Experience: My college Band Director once told me, when you are sight reading something and the students can't play through it without continuing to fall apart, then the piece is too challenging for the students to learn in a few months. They lack important musical knowledge that can't be learned to mastery in the amount of time needed.
2. Plan a Program for Your Audience — Not Your Ego
You might love that new grade 6 work that you heard at Midwest with twelve-tone harmonies and a spoken-word poem about dystopia. But your audience? They’re here to hear music — preferably music they can tap their toes to.
This does not mean that your entire concert band program should be Selections from Disney. Of course you will have to program pieces from your state select list for concert band festival assessment. There are thousands of masterpieces for wind band that are carefully curated for the repertoire--and you need to teach those. However, music programming shouldn't be solely chosen on the difficulty level. There is difficulty in all music--the difficulty comes in using your musical training and educator skills to teach the students and make it sound great.
Remember: Your audience is primarily made up of parents, grandparents, and community members. They want melody, rhythm, and moments that make their hearts swell with pride.
📣 According to a study by the Audience Agency, audience engagement increases when programs include recognizable, varied, and emotionally resonant works. [Source: The Audience Agency]
✅ Pro Tip: On your spring concert, it's ok to spice things up. Play something fun. I once attended a concert led by distinguished educator Rob Rawlings from Montgomery County, Kentucky. The "fun" piece he programmed for the spring concert? The Horse. He also programmed The Horse for the recessional at graduation. Side note: both of his ensembles earned distinguished/superior ratings at state that year.
3. Build Momentum, Not Mountains
Your concert should have a clear arc: start with something strong but simple, build to your best piece in the middle, then close with a crowd-pleaser. No one wants to sit through 90 minutes of relentless, slow, “educational” music that sounds like a textbook set to wind ensemble.
✅ Pro Tip: Aim for a 25–35 minute total performance for your first concert. Add brief, engaging student or teacher narrations between pieces — it gives students time to reset and helps the audience feel included.
It's always better to leave the audience wanting more, not less.
4. Keep Rehearsals Focused, Fun, and Forward-Moving
You don’t need to rehearse the whole concert every day. In fact, that’s one of the worst ways to prepare. What's worse? Reading a song from beginning to end, day in and day out.
Rotate your focus — work on 1-2 pieces at a time with clearly defined goals (e.g., measure 24-48, fix rhythmic articulation, tune chords). Students respond better to short, targeted practice than to endless full runs.
🎓 Studies on student engagement and retention show that progress is more effective when students receive specific, frequent feedback and feel a sense of success during each session. [Edutopia Research on Feedback Loops]
✅ Pro Tip: Use visible progress trackers (a board or poster) showing what sections of each piece have been “mastered.” It gives students ownership and visible proof of their improvement.
Consistent, attentive, and well-planned rehearsals will lead to successful concerts.
5. Communicate Like a Pro — Even If You Feel Like a Rookie
Nothing calms chaos like solid communication. Send out detailed schedules to parents early. Post weekly rehearsal goals on the board. Email admin with updates about student progress. Invite other staff to come to the concert — it builds goodwill and shows you’re a team player.
✅ Pro Tip: Give students a checklist a week before the concert: concert attire, time to arrive, instrument supplies, sheet music, and even a "What To Expect" guide. The fewer surprises, the better.
6. Create a Pre-Concert Ritual (and Stick to It)
Avoid chaos in the final hour by having a consistent pre-concert routine. Start with a warm-up that you always use. Keep voices low, instruments tuned, and energy focused. Have a helper (parent or responsible student) organize chairs, programs, and water bottles.
✅ Pro Tip: Avoid last-minute sight-reading. The concert is about showcasing what they know, not testing what they can guess. Save surprises for April Fool’s Day.
From My Experience: I was known to bring bananas to Solo and Ensemble for students who I knew were going to nervous. Why? Bananas help lower stress levels by helping lower your blood pressure.
7. Reflect, Celebrate, Improve
After the concert, debrief with your students. What went well? What could improve? This builds community, trust, and buy-in for the next concert.
🎉 Bring snacks the day after, show photos or video clips, and celebrate their success. Confidence is built in moments — and your first concert is one of the biggest.
🧠Want to take it to the next level educationally? Have a printed assessment rubric ready for each student and have them write what they heard in the performance, both good and bad. It will help them understand these issues during the next concert cycle if they are prepared.
8. Psychology Matters: Your Calm = Their Calm
Students mirror your mood. If you’re panicking backstage, they’ll feel it. If you’re cracking a smile and giving a thumbs up, they’ll perform better. Emotional contagion is real — it’s how humans subconsciously "catch" feelings from one another. [Harvard Business Review on Emotional Contagion]
✅ Pro Tip: Before the concert, take 2 minutes for deep breathing. Visualize the performance going smoothly. Set the tone. Students will follow your lead.
Final Thoughts: You’re Building Musicians, Not Machines
Remember — the goal of your first concert isn’t perfection. It’s progress, pride, and passion. Your students will remember the feeling of applause and achievement, not whether they missed a note in measure 37.
By setting realistic goals, choosing music that fits your ensemble, and communicating clearly, you’ll create a concert experience that energizes everyone — you included.
You’re not just planning a concert. You’re shaping a lifelong relationship between young musicians and music itself.
Further Reading & Resources
NAfME Concert Planning Resources
JW Pepper Editor's Choice for Band
Psychology Today: Your Brain on Music
The Audience Agency Research: Building Audience Connection
Prep Beats – Classroom Management Tips That Actually Work for Band
Disclaimer: Always consult with experienced educators when selecting repertoire or designing public performances. There are many resources out there but I have found the Wind Repertory Project™ to be a priceless resource for programming, concert notes, errata, compose information, and more.
Written by Prep Beats staff writer. For more helpful tips, classroom resources, and band director sanity-savers, visit www.prepbeats.com.
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