Managing the Concert

Managing the Concert Ch. 17: Planning and Managing The ConcertAdministrative Issues Marisa Bouwkamp

Organization: Cue Cards • Great way to stay organized • Keeps you focused before and after you step on stage • Determines the length of time needed for each section of the concert. • Announcements/ verbal program notes • Entrances/ Exits from stage • Performance

Cue Cards: Example • Before the Concert: • Concert programs: finished and placed outside the auditorium • Ushers: Organize a meeting • Doors unlocked • Equipment • Baton • Tuner • Scores • Announcement Cards

Cue Cards: Example • Warm-up • Double check wardrobe • Line-up for stage entrance • Lock the room when you leave • You may not want students to leave valuables in the room

Cue Cards: Example • Concert Begins • Bring down house lights • Opening announcements • On Stage • List of soloists to acknowledge • List of announcements for the audience

Announcements • Topics • Concert etiquette • Upcoming dates: class trips, deadlines, concerts • Extra-curricular opportunities/ private lessons • Requests for parent help • Student Achievements • Special events • Thank-yous • Mistakes in the program • Presentation • Keep it brief • Small amounts in between ensembles or pieces. • Put in concert program or run on a powerpoint prior to the concert.

Tuning • Before: • Tune each individual or in sections • Use regular tuning sequence with one common tone source • Strings: enlist help from experienced players • On Stage: • Concertmaster: have them enter from stage right and bow. Tune A first then direct students to move to D, G, C, and E • No concertmaster: use a visual cue to signal the tuning note

Student Etiquette • Moving on stage • Change of Ensemble • Emergencies • Seated in the Audience • Have seating reserved to avoid issues during the concert • Posture and Instrument Position • Rest, Standing, and Playing Position

Conductor Stage Etiquette • Entrance: • After the group has settled and tuned • Carry only a baton, have music on podium opened • Don’t look at the ground • Acknowledge the audience • Applause • Be gracious • Gesture to soloists and ensemble • Turn to the audience, smile, bow (head down). • Bow after every piece but only after the other acknowledgments

Conductor Stage Etiquette • Beginning a piece: • Make eye contact with timpanist and players who begin the piece • Lift hands in the conducting ready position • Ending a piece: • Conductor’s hand and players instruments should stay up until the last note has decayed • Lower hands in a way that reflects the style of the ending

Aural Program NotesTeaching Audiences What We Teach Our Students • Comments should be short and objective • Help guide listeners to find something to which they can relate • Allow students/ administration to participate • Topics: • Introduce themes and motive • build layers in a thickly textured piece • break down harmonies • show how a theme transforms • introduce unusual instruments

References • Feldman, Evan, Ari Contzius, and Mitchell Lutch. Instrumental Music Education: Teaching with the Musical and Practical in Harmony. New York: Routledge, 2011. Print • Phillips, Kenneth H. Directing the Choral Music Program. New York: Oxford UP, 2004. Print. • Nimmo, D. (2002). Programming the perfect concert. Teaching Music, 10(3), 34-38. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.gvsu.edu/docview/227142795?accountid=39473 • Music Education Blogs: • http://stengel99.wordpress.com/ • http://musicedhighlights.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/concert-preparation/

Managing the Concert