End-of-Year Music Class Awards: Tips, Ideas & Editable Certificates

classroom ideas end of year

How to Host a Music Awards Ceremony Your Students Will Never Forget

Are you approaching the end of the school year?
Then it’s the perfect time to create a meaningful moment for your students with a music classroom awards ceremony!

Still mid-year? Bookmark this post! It's an idea worth saving for when the time is right.

Why End-of-Year Music Awards Matter

As music teachers, we get the unique chance to connect with students in creative, powerful ways. Ending the year on a high note (pun fully intended!) helps reinforce:

Positive memories of music class
Confidence and self-worth
A strong sense of belonging
Ongoing interest in music

When you take time to recognize each student with a personalized music award, you're doing more than giving out a certificate—you’re planting seeds of self-belief that can last for years.

Plan a Music Classroom Awards Ceremony Step-by-Step

Here’s how to turn a simple awards handout into a fun, heartwarming event your students will remember:

Set the Tone with Positivity

Start your ceremony with this announcement:
“For the next 45 minutes, only positive words will be spoken in this classroom.”

This sets a respectful, upbeat tone and helps discourage teasing or side comments.

Prepare Your Awards

Print out your certificates in advance (editable ones make this easy!)
Organize them in the order you’ll hand them out
Consider projecting each award on the board as it’s announced

💡 Tip: If you want to add some suspense and fun, ask a student to read the award description out loud and let the class guess who it’s for!

Create a ‘Red Carpet’ Moment

Add flair with these small touches:

Play music as students come to receive their awards
Take photos (check your school’s media policy first!)
Create a hashtag like #MaloneyMusicAwards and share highlights on your class page or newsletter

Celebrate Every Student

The goal is to make every student feel seen. Awards don’t have to be for musical talent alone—think about personality traits, teamwork, effort, humor, or creativity.

Here are some fun, music-themed ideas:

Future Maestro Award
Always on Beat Award
Music Room MVP
Ukulele Enthusiast Award
Harmony Helper Award
Most Likely to Join a Band

Don’t Have Time to Make 25+ Unique Awards? I've Got You Covered!

Creating custom awards for every student can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be.

My ready-made Music Award Certificates take care of everything:

Over 118 unique, editable awards
Middle school appropriate (Grades 5–8)
Instant download
Customizable with student names
Perfect for print or digital use

You can easily choose the awards that suit your students best and personalize them in minutes.

End the Year with Purpose and Positivity

While some classes are battling end-of-year burnout, you’ll be creating a celebration your students will look forward to every year.

These small acts of recognition leave a big impact—and might even inspire your students to stick with music in the future.

Quick Tips for a Smooth Music Awards Day

Practice name pronunciation in advance
Keep your stack of awards organized
Use instrumental music in the background to set the mood
Make it a tradition—students will look forward to it!

Make It Easy: Grab Your Editable Music Awards Today

Ready to make your music classroom award ceremony stress-free and fun?
Grab the full set of Editable End-of-Year Music Awards and start planning your best class.

The MTR Music Award Certificates contain over 118 EDITABLE certificates, which allow you to add students' names to each certificate!

While many other classes deal with a lack of engagement or discipline issues, you can take advantage of making a memory your students will remember for years to come!

Wishing you a smooth road to the end of the year.