All concert programs and theater productions for public performance shall be approved by the Fine Arts Coordinator.  Please use the links above to submit your request.  See below on guidelines for a balanced music program.

Guidelines for Audience Members:

The Fine Arts Department has a goal to educate their audiences as well as their own students.  In this spirit, we have outlined what is widely considered appropriate behavior for audience members at a fine arts performance. We acknowledge that in today’s world there are many types of activities in which our students participate.

What may be appropriate at a sporting event may not be appropriate in the performance setting. Please take these suggestions in the spirit that they are given. It will increase everyone’s enjoyment of the performance.

A good audience member:

• Remains quiet and attentive during the performance.

• Shows their appreciation by applauding at the end of the performance. (Whistling and yelling are appropriate for outdoor activities.)

• Is responsible for the appropriate behavior of young children.

• Remains seated and stays for the entire performance.

• Remains attentive during the performance.

• Enters and exits through the non-performers doors and does not attempt to contact performers backstage or during intermission.

• Leaves or returns to their seat only in an emergency and during applause.

• Remains silent between movements of a song and between acts of a play.

• Leaves food and drink outside the concert hall/gymnasium.

• Remembers that the performance is being recorded (audio and video) for historical purposes and any noise (talking, coughing, baby cries, etc.) will be picked up on the recording equipment.

• Arrives on time for the performance.

• Does not try to distract the performer by waving, calling out or any other inappropriate behavior.

• Remembers to turn off all electronic devices (cell phones, watches, pagers, etc.) for the duration of the performance.

Thank you for contributing to a productive performance setting.

NOTE TO DIRECTORS:  Please include the above guidelines in all your programs.

Guidelines for Students

Performances are an important part of the Fine Arts Curriculum and student participants need to clear their schedules to attend. All major performances, concerts, competitions, and plays are posted in the High School Office, rehearsal room and on the District Website.

On arriving at the performance, expectations include:

• Report to the warm-up/green room area in the designated performance attire.

• Be certain to check out their complete apparel with the parent volunteer in charge.

• Remain completely in uniform/robe/costume (never appear in public with a uniform, robe, costume partially assembled, including all accessories, i.e. stoles, dickies, uniform jackets, etc.) throughout the entire public appearance.

• Stay in the warm-up/green room area prior to publicly appearing in performance.

• Never enter the performance, stage, audience, or reception areas prior to a performance or competition.

• Remember to have all props, instruments, and other equipment in place prior to the arrival of the audience.

 During the performance students will remember:

• Their public appearance begins immediately when they leave the warm-up area.

• Good stage presence, posture, behavior, and delivery is required for an excellent performance.

• Talking, looking out into the audience, motioning, waving or turning around is unacceptable behavior for performance.

• Music groups must keep their eye on the Conductor at all times.

• They do not applaud for themselves or others when on stage.

• Their performance is not over until they are completely out of sight and sound of the audience.

 At the conclusion of their performance the students will:

• Hang up their robe/uniform/costume properly. This would include zipping, fastening, and reassembling all of the accessories in the proper condition.

• Check in the complete wearing apparel with the parent volunteer.

• No food or drink is to be consumed while in robe/uniform/costume.

• Return instruments and all props to their proper storage area.

 After the performance students will:

• Participate in receptions, award ceremonies, and other school related social events.

• Wear appropriate apparel and act in a way that positively represents the school.

Music Educators:

The music area is the only subject in the entire school with the advantage of having an event where all (or most) parents attend expecting to hear from their child's teacher in a formal setting. You have a wonderfully captive audience to spread the good news of music education and show the excitement of what you do. As a starting point, I have created a short list of hints for concert day from a public presentation standpoint. This list is primarily geared toward elementary, but there are some reminders that could be used at any level.

• Make sure your PA system is working well before the day of the performance. If not, get it fixed, or have a back-up option. A bad PA system will ruin your event. Prepare your PA system levels as if the audience is hearing impaired. Too loud is better than too soft.

• Generally, when you speak, square up flat fronted to the audience. Do not fidget with equipment, music, or deal with distractions at this time. Keep you feet planted shoulder width apart with one foot slightly ahead of the other, chest out, shoulders back, chin up and speak loudly and articulately directly into the microphone. Hold the mic elevated, pointed mostly horizontally into your mouth - not vertically.  Adjust the distance from your mouth to control the mic dynamic level.

• With strong posture, speak intentionally and slowly. Scan the room, making brief eye contact with individuals as you speak. Again, speak intentionally and slowly.

• Start by introducing yourself and announce what you teach at the school. Always introduce yourself - even if you have taught there for 25 years.

Good evening my name is Johnny OneNote. I am your child's 4-5 grade orchestra teacher. I look forward to meeting you all. The best way to contact me is....and I am at the school from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Etc.

• Take the time to explain what the kids have learned and how you have taught it. You may do this both at the beginning and before each song. Educate the audience along with the students.

• In the matinee performances, take the time to introduce/explain/demonstrate all the instruments and explain to students how/when they get to join orchestra or band or choir. You could have different sections play part of the songs to demonstrate their instruments. This is a great recruiting opportunity and an educational opportunity for the students in attendance.

• You will have all your colleague elementary teachers in attendance at the matinee. A well-organized demonstration positively reinforces why you have been taking students from their class each week. A poorly organized demonstration may hurt our cause.

• At the end of the concert, square up again, and slowly thank the administration, teachers, custodians, and parents.

• Explain how students will carefully exit first, then put away instruments, then meet up with family

• Ask audience for help folding and stacking chairs and stands. You will need to explain exactly how the chairs stack and how the stands go onto the carts

created by Dr. Boyd Perkins, fall 2022

Months ahead:

• • Set the dates and times for your performances (both matinee and evening times) with the Level Curriculum Coordinator. (March/April)

  • Plan a well balanced program of good literature. Perhaps create for all aspects of the performance.

  • Be certain the music is appropriate to the age and the skill level of the students.

  • Choose literature that meets school policies and practices. Select/order the music.

  • If you are sharing the concert with other directors be certain to work with them to create a complete program (no repetition in selections, use a combined selection for the final number to encourage concert goers to stay for the entire concert, utilize the District Concert Etiquette publication in the building and on the concert program).

  • For some concerts, you may want to include non-music staff members in your meeting and make the performance an interdisciplinary project. (This could be an excellent opportunity to combine Social Studies, the Humanities, Math, Journalism, etc).

At the Beginning of the School Year:

• • Order the needed Sound Shells and Risers (both standing and seated) from Operational Services.

  • Send a list of all the year's major concert performances home in a letter to the parents. Include a form for parents to complete and return to assist with concert work. Committees could include: Decorations, Ticket Sellers, Ushers, Chaperones, Public Relations, Posters, and Reception.

At least 8 weeks before:

• • Meet with parent groups to coordinate Public Relations (Media, Posters, Inter-school/district announcements, alumni and community leader invitations), Ticket Sales, Ushers, Decorations, Reception, and any accompanying Fund Raisers (Bake Sales, etc).

At least 3 weeks before:

• • Send a copy of each concert program (it need not be the official printed program) to the Fine Arts Coordinator for approval. This should include all narrations, announcements, and a copy of the music. This is a required deadline. 

  • Literature for all community performance must be approved in the same manner

  • Send the program to the printer/typist/copy center. Be certain to acknowledge soloists, administrators, custodian, other contributing staff members, support staff, and parents.

  • Discuss specific program needs with custodian/stage technician/Principal.

  • Establish and announce to parent/student the pre-concert warm-up time and location.

A week before:

• • Prepare a list of all participants for the office secretary and Principal.

  • Arrange with the office for any early or late admits to class as related to the matinee performance.

The week of the Performance:

• • Send a copy of the printed program the Fine Arts Coordinator at IPC.

  • Rehearse all speaking parts (including yours if you are speaking) to check for clarity and appropriateness.

  • Mentally rehearse all the logistics (both yours and the students) of the performance

  • Double check with the Parent Committee that all areas are covered.

  • Be certain that you have an adequate number of copies of the music for accompanist, guest conductors, or signers for the hearing impaired.

  • Double check with the custodial staff on riser/sound shell set-up, doors to be unlocked/locked, the time the performance area should be available for seating, special needs related to decorating.

**Information taken from the Activities Handbook (2012-13 Series 300 page 8)

Music Curriculum includes:

• • Balance - a mixture of elements of style, origin, theme, focus, and texture.

  • Sacred - music with a religious theme

  • Secular - not overtly or specifically religious

  • Educational value - activities provided are intrinsic to the learning experience in the various fields of study, are presented objectively and meet the learning objective.

  • Quality literature - literature which has educational and lasting value expressing ideas of universal or permanent interest at an appropriate age level.

Guidelines:

• • Music chosen should be quality literature that possesses clear educational value: musical, historical and cultural.

  • Selections of music should be based upon the maturity and developmental levels of the students and the overall curriculum goals of the music program.

  • Music should be appropriate for the purpose of the performance and the performance setting.

  • Music should be reflective of, and enhance student awareness and appreciation of various musical styles.

  • Teachers should present the music in a sensitive manner emphasizing the educational, musical, historical, and cultural value of the music, rather than any religious/seasonal aspect.

  • Sacred literature should be presented in a prudent and objective manner and be no more than fifty percent of the program.

  • All concert programs for public performance shall be approved by the Fine Arts Coordinator (see form at top of the page).

**Information taken from the Activities Handbook (2012-13 Series 300 page 7)