The concert’s over, the applause has faded, and the music stands are getting packed away. But for many music educators, the school year isn’t done just yet. You’ve got a few more weeks of classes—and a room full of students who are already mentally on summer vacation. So, what now?
Instead of counting down the days with dwindling engagement, use this valuable post-concert time to inspire creativity, reflection, and musical growth in your students. Whether you teach choir, band, orchestra, or general music, we’ve curated a variety of meaningful, fun, and educational activities to help you finish the year strong.
Reflection & Assessment: Looking Back to Move Forward
Concerts mark the culmination of weeks (sometimes months!) of preparation. Taking time to reflect not only helps students process the experience but also reinforces the value of their work.
- Celebrate Successes: Start with a group discussion to recognize proud moments and collective growth. Reinforcing the themes of teamwork and dedication is powerful.
- Thank-You Notes: Encourage students to write thank-you notes to those who helped make the concert happen—accompanists, parents, volunteers, and administrators.
- Audio/Visual Reflections: Compare the concert’s audio recording to the video. Ask students: How does what you see affect what you hear?
- Self & Group Evaluation: Use rubrics or tools like Music Performance Self-Evaluation Worksheets to help students assess themselves and their ensemble.
- Student Shout-Outs: Give students a chance to anonymously recognize peers for leadership and dedication.
- Top Three Moments: Create a classroom bulletin board with students’ favorite concert memories.
Fun & Engaging Projects to Keep the Momentum
Break out of the traditional rehearsal routine with interactive activities that keep students musically engaged.
- Reverse Karaoke: Play instrumental versions of popular songs and see who can guess the tune first.
- Choir-lympics or Instrumental Games: Make it a competition! Hold events in sight-reading, theory trivia, or even section-specific challenges.
- Music Meme Contest: Let students create and vote on memes using a common image—creativity and humor welcome!
- Music Madness Brackets: Use a March Madness-style bracket to vote on favorite songs, composers, or styles performed this year.
- Teacher’s Playlist Project: Assign students to research one of your favorite musicians and share a song with the class.
- Conducting 101: Teach basic patterns and let students conduct simple pieces or concert selections.
- J.W. Pepper Scavenger Hunt: Send students online to hunt for music with specific criteria. Bonus: It familiarizes them with the J.W. Pepper website!
- Explore New Curricula: Try something new, like the Start to DJ curriculum for general music.
- Room Clean-Up & Inventory: Organize music, collect uniforms, sanitize equipment, and take stock of what needs repair or replacement.
- Year-End Performances: Prepare for performances at graduation, or plan a recruitment concert or community service event.
Choral-Specific Ideas: Singing Beyond the Concert
Choral classrooms have their own unique post-concert needs. These ideas help students keep singing and thinking.
- Choir-tivities: Use this resource for nonrehearsal-day games and exercises.
- Create a Parody: In small groups, have students write and perform a parody of a concert piece.
- Explore A Cappella: Compare contemporary a cappella styles with traditional choral singing. What techniques carry over?
- Build a Choral Playlist: Have students contribute their favorite choral pieces to a collective class playlist, researched through the Choral Public Domain Library or the J.W. Pepper site.
- Concert Program Planning: Ask students to find a choral piece they’d like to sing next year. Have them present an analysis and make a case for performing it.
Instrumental Activities: Playing, Cleaning, and Planning Ahead
Instrumental students can continue learning while preparing for summer break.
- Intro to Improvisation: Even non-jazz ensembles can dabble in basic improv exercises.
- Sight-Read the Classics: Dust off concert band charts from past decades and sight-read for fun.
- Instrument Checkups: Teach students how to summer-proof instruments—clean woodwinds, check valves, loosen strings, and properly store gear.
- Ensemble Setup Education: Use class time to explain the rationale behind ensemble seating arrangements. Why do clarinets sit where they do? Engage students in understanding the “why” behind the setup.
For General Music Classes
Most of the ideas above can be adapted to general music settings, but here are some age-specific suggestions:
Pre-K–8 Picks:
- Olympic Games for the Music Classroom
- Summer Composing
- Thanks!
- Musical Cups Songs and Activities for the Music Classroom
Secondary Electives Picks:
- Music Class Playlist
- Give Me a Tablet Grooves, Activities, and Ensembles for Touchscreen Devices
- Music Composition Worksheet Set
- Music in the Movies Composition Project
- Music Theory Through Musical Theatre Putting It Together
Final Thoughts
Just because the concert is over doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. These final weeks offer a chance to reinforce musical knowledge, build camaraderie, and leave students with positive, lasting memories of your classroom.
So dive into something different—get reflective, get creative, and most of all, keep the music going!
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The post After the Spring Concert: End-of-Year Lesson Plans & Activities for Music Classes appeared first on Cued In.