Concert in the Park! My student’s favorite recital!
I used to get overwhelmed when it came to planning recitals. One day I was taking a walk in the park thinking about the recital, I needed a venue that wouldn’t cost too much to facilitate the event. That walk in the park gave me an idea—I could have a concert here! So I did, and it turned out great. Let me tell you why…
1. The venue is free!
In previous years I rented a large room at my local recreation center, which cost a lot of money. My students like the outdoor recital better. Everyone brings their lawn chairs and enjoys the event. One of the parents (with experience as a sound technician) brought his equipment and ran the sound for us. There was shade and everyone could be comfortable (no sun glaring making it difficult for students to read their sheet music).
2. Fresh air calms nerves.
I’ve had students get really nervous before a recital. The kids feel more relaxed in a casual outdoor setting. Everyone has plenty of room to spread out and the fresh air helps lower anxiety. My students have even felt so comfortable that they took the microphone and introduced themselves before performing their songs. 🙂
3. Community Event!
Print out invitations and put them on the door knobs of the homes near by, inviting neighbors to the recital. If you have a neighborhood discuss list or facebook group that is even better! This is also a great way to advertise your music teaching business to the community!
Extra Tips!
You as the person organizing the recital will be busy that day, so I suggest you look for someone who will bring and run a basic sound system for you. But you might be asking… I don’t have a friend who can run sound for me. I suggest asking around for referrals—maybe the person who runs sound at a local church. Check a community college for those studying sound engineering. Ask on sites like Nextdoor.com, or just do a quick web search. Remember to account for the expense of hiring a sound person when charging tuition. When advertising tuition cost, let parents know that you host a recital at least once a year to justify your fees.
What if it’s windy? I use chip clips for this, placing them on both sides of the book and music stand (as you can see in this picture). I’d also suggest you prepare your students to memorize their songs. This is hard for the younger ones, but it’s good to start encouraging them at a young age to develop this skill.
Having a concert in the park has been a great tradition for my students. It give them a chance to share their talent with the community, and enjoy nature and music in harmony!
I have put together a free invitation that you can download and edit on Canva for your concert in the park. Let me know in the comments how your concert goes or if you have any questions.
Photos: DanHuntley.com
Use the template:
