Top Tips for Planning a Student Concert: Student Roles & Communication

Welcome to Part 2 of the Student Concert Success Series! In Part 1, we covered timelines and repertoire. Now, it’s time to focus on making sure every student feels included and supported.

This post explores:

• How to ensure every student is meaningfully involved
• Strategies for building performance confidence
• Clear, friendly communication with parents and caregivers

👉 Start from Part 1
👉 Continue to Part 3: Rehearsals & Logistics

1. Ensuring Every Student Can Participate

Not every student wants to be center stage—and that’s okay. The goal is to make the concert feel inclusive and empowering, whether a child is leading a solo or managing the lights.

◼️ Roles Beyond Performing

If a student doesn’t feel comfortable performing, offer other meaningful roles:

• MC or announcer
• Backstage assistant or stage manager
• Tech support (mics, music playback)
• Usher or greeter
• Program designer or decorator
• Slide clicker for digital presentations

Let students sign up for roles based on their interests—this builds ownership and confidence.

◼️ Supporting Nervous or Shy Students

• Offer small-group or duet performances
• Include body percussion or rhythm parts
• Provide movement-based or speaking roles
• Allow students to perform only for the class at first

Create an environment where participation looks different for different learners—and that’s celebrated.

◼️ Rotate & Share Roles

Rotate parts during rehearsals so students experience different elements of the performance. This also reduces stress and keeps engagement high.

◼️ Include Students with Diverse Needs

Make sure your space and planning accommodate all learners:

• Wheelchair accessibility
• Visual schedules or social stories
• Calm-down space for overwhelmed students

Ask learning support staff for input—they often have brilliant, practical suggestions.

2. Helping Students Overcome Performance Nerves

Nervousness is normal! Some kids might be excited-nervous. Others might be on the verge of panic. You can help them reframe nerves and build confidence with a few simple strategies.

One great way to approach this is to teach students what stage fright actually is. When they understand why it happens and what it feels like, they’re more likely to stay calm and take control.

If you want to go deeper, I’ve created a resource specifically for this: “Understanding Stage Fright / Performance Anxiety”—a printable and digital set of activities that walks students through the mental, behavioral, and physical aspects of stage fright and gives them TEN easy strategies to help reduce it.

You can explore the topic using:

• Printable worksheets or a student workbook
• Google Slides for interactive lessons
• TpT Easel format for digital delivery

Here’s a quick look at some ideas pulled from that resource:

◼️ Normalize the Nerves

Let students know even professionals feel nervous. Share personal stories or videos of performers talking about stage fright.

• Talk about the difference between fear and adrenaline
• Emphasize that performance adrenaline is a good thing—it means your body is preparing to do something exciting and important

◼️ Confidence-Building Tools

Help students practice easy calming strategies:

• Deep breathing (Smell the flower, blow out the candle)
• Power poses
• Positive affirmations ("I am ready," "My job is to try")
• Visualization (Picture yourself performing and hearing applause)

◼️ Low-Stakes Practice Opportunities

• Run-throughs in class with peers as audience
• Invite another class to watch a rehearsal
• Record a rehearsal so students can reflect on what went well

◼️ Create a Supportive Culture

• Celebrate effort over perfection
• Encourage peer compliments after performances
• Assign performance buddies for encouragement

If you’d like to give your students a deeper understanding of what stage fright is and how to deal with it, check out the full Stage Fright resource—which includes:

• 10 practical tips
• 3 student worksheets
• 1 written response activity
• Printable, Google Slides, and TpT Easel formats

Because when students understand stage fright, they’re more able to control it—and truly shine on stage.

👉 Click here to check out the full resource on TpT and explore everything it includes.

3. Communicating With Parents

Concert success hinges on well-informed, supportive families. The best communication is clear, timely, and friendly.

◼️ What to Communicate

• Date, time, and location of the concert
• Student arrival time and dress code
• What students need to bring
• Rehearsal dates (especially any out-of-hours rehearsals)
• Photo/video policies
• RSVP or permission requirements

◼️ When to Communicate

Use multiple platforms if needed: printed letters, email, school portals, and apps like ClassDojo or Seesaw.

◼️ Encouraging Parent Involvement

Parents can help by:

• Volunteering for supervision or setup
• Taking photos or video (if permitted)
• Helping with costumes or props

Include a simple volunteer form or Google Form to make signing up easy.

◼️ Keep the Tone Warm & Appreciative

Let parents know their support matters:

"Thank you for helping your child feel confident and prepared. We can’t wait to share this special event with you!"

Wrapping Up Part 2

Concert planning is about more than music—it’s about building community, confidence, and inclusion. By thinking beyond the stage, you create a space where every student can shine in their own way.

In Part 3, we’ll dig into the final stretch:

• Rehearsal planning and concert day setup
• Equipment and tech tips
• Creating a smooth, memorable performance experience

You’re getting close to concert day magic. Let’s keep going!

Want more support on rehearsal planning and concert-day setup? Read Part 3 here—where we cover everything from managing tech to creating a smooth flow between performances.

Need help with performance anxiety? Check out this Stage Fright Resource that includes 10 practical tips and printable student worksheets.

Looking for more time-saving, engaging resources?

Check out MTR's collection of music teaching materials - SHOP the MTR Store or our store on TpT.

Would you like more music teaching strategies? Check out these related posts to keep your lessons fresh and interactive! 

Blog Post: Top Tips for Planning a Successful Student Concert: Repertoire & Scheduling

Blog Post: 10 Tips to Organize Music Resources for an Efficient Classroom

Blog Post: How to Train Your Singers; 7 Must-Know Vocal Tips

Blog Post: Teaching Music Notation: Fun & Effective Strategies

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