• Latest
  • Trending
Shutterstock

Festival Focus: Getting the Most Out of Your Festival Experience

December 11, 2015
My Story

My Story

July 12, 2025
Doing Better Next School Year

Doing Better Next School Year

July 10, 2025
Bring Harmony to Your Classroom

Bring Harmony to Your Classroom

July 10, 2025
Composing for Middle and High School Choirs – A conversation with Laura Farnell and Reginald Writer – Part 1

How Choir Practice Builds Confidence in Middle School Students

July 5, 2025
I Love ASTA!

I Love ASTA!

July 3, 2025
Technology: DAW Bundles

Features You Must Have in a Small Portable USB Audio Interface!

June 28, 2025
Choosing the Right Microphone(s) to Record Your Choral Rehearsal

Choosing the Right Microphone(s) to Record Your Choral Rehearsal

June 28, 2025
Best Budget Microphones for High School Podcasting

Best Budget Microphones for High School Podcasting

June 30, 2025
The Midwest Clinic Announces 2025 Clinicians and Performers

The Midwest Clinic Announces 2025 Clinicians and Performers

June 28, 2025
Running the Race

Running the Race

June 26, 2025
Sharpening the Tools in Your Toolkit

Sharpening the Tools in Your Toolkit

June 24, 2025
Treat Your Ears to Recordings of Upcoming Jazz Charts

Treat Your Ears to Recordings of Upcoming Jazz Charts

June 24, 2025
Monday, July 14, 2025
  • Contact
SBO+
  • Departments
    • Concert Band
    • Orchestra
      • String Section
    • Choral
    • Marching Band
    • Jazz
    • Modern Band/Popular Music
      • Mariachi
    • Theater
    • Editorial
      • Upclose
      • Advocacy
        • NAfME Neighborhood
        • MAC Corner
        • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Commentary
        • Bubbett’s Bookshelf
        • Leadership Tips
        • Perspective
        • InService
          • America’s Bandmasters
          • America’s Musicians
        • Tone Deaf Comics
      • Features
    • News
      • Headlines
      • New Products
    • Performance
      • Woodwinds
        • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
        • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
    • Technology
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Awards/Entries
    • Teachers’ Choice Awards
    • 50 Teachers Who Make a Difference
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
    • Support
  • Advertise
    • Email PR!
No Result
View All Result
  • Departments
    • Concert Band
    • Orchestra
      • String Section
    • Choral
    • Marching Band
    • Jazz
    • Modern Band/Popular Music
      • Mariachi
    • Theater
    • Editorial
      • Upclose
      • Advocacy
        • NAfME Neighborhood
        • MAC Corner
        • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Commentary
        • Bubbett’s Bookshelf
        • Leadership Tips
        • Perspective
        • InService
          • America’s Bandmasters
          • America’s Musicians
        • Tone Deaf Comics
      • Features
    • News
      • Headlines
      • New Products
    • Performance
      • Woodwinds
        • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
        • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
    • Technology
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Awards/Entries
    • Teachers’ Choice Awards
    • 50 Teachers Who Make a Difference
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
    • Support
  • Advertise
    • Email PR!
No Result
View All Result
SBO+
No Result
View All Result

Festival Focus: Getting the Most Out of Your Festival Experience

December 11, 2015
in Travel/Festivals
Shutterstock
Share on Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

ShutterstockAs soon as I saw my French horn section taking a nap outside the auditorium, I knew we were in trouble.

It had been three long days in the theme parks, including a parade performance that consumed much of an afternoon. Late nights taking in every last ride and fireworks finale was beginning to take its toll. And now on the day of our adjudicated performance that we had worked so hard to prepare musically, the energies were starting to fade.

“Well,” I thought. “So Children’s March and Nimrod are going to go really well today.”

Fortunately, the troops rallied. We somehow, somewhere, got a second wind, went onto stage and performed wonderfully….ending up receiving first place in our division. Deep down I knew we had dodged a bullet that could have shot down weeks of preparation and deflated the confidence of the students in the wind symphony. I had learned my lesson.

It’s no surprise that bringing your ensemble to perform in a quality festival experience can be an educationally rewarding opportunity for musical growth. As a teacher, the ability to have your group perform and receive feedback from experts in the field helps them improve as musicians and helps you improve as a conductor–and usually reinforces the lessons you teach from the podium every day!

Along with the musical preparation necessary for success, an additional important ingredient to remember is to set a pace for the performance day that will allow your group to be at its best. This means not packing every moment of the day full of activities, but rather building a lighter and more flexible schedule into the day. And while it may run antithesis to common thought, you will likely find that it will make for a more optimal experience in the long run.

Conventional wisdom usually falls into one or more of the following camps:

• A full schedule means less idle time for problems to arise.

• We’ve come all this way to “x” destination so we need to make the most of every minute to get our money’s worth.

• I don’t want the students complaining that they’re bored.

• This may be the only time some of these students get to travel to “x” location, so we need to see everything and can’t spare any down time.

All valid reasoning, but consider the following as well: your musicians need to be in a condition (physically and mentally) to perform at their best to avoid all your preparation being for nothing. That means they need to have had adequate rest and arrive at the festival with sufficient time to warm up, tune, and otherwise prep for the performance.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen groups arrive at a festival (or clinic, or workshop, or rehearsal with a guest conductor) where the students are in a “fog” or even beginning to nod off because they have been running at such a breakneck pace since they arrived in the city and are exhausted from getting little sleep combined with being “on the go”. This becomes magnified if your group is performing as part of a mass ensemble (such as a bowl game performance or collaborative choir) and affects the performance quality of fellow musicians who have also worked hard– and often paid a substantial amount–for this opportunity. Now your sluggish and seemingly unprepared or uncaring musicians are branded as “that ensemble” for the duration of the event. Not a fun place to be.

Add to that the effect of “sensory overload” present in some locations. Believe me, I love Times Square and theme parks as much as the next person….but the constant lights, sounds, and crowds are cumulatively overwhelming. Throw into the mix doing this all while probably on a diet of more fast food, snacks, and caffeinated sodas than usual….even for teens. This is where exhaustion can very quickly transform to sickness and take performers out of commission.

Then there are the cases of the groups who arrive for their event late due to unexpected traffic issues because they were squeezing in another attraction. Or had “that one student” who got stuck in the museum gift shop, or lost track of time, etc. The students leap off of the bus, hurriedly grab (or toss) instruments and concert-wear out of the bus bays, and go dashing to a warm up room while slapping a reed on a mouthpiece or organizing their music…. all while harried chaperones and directors are prodding them to move quickly. Not exactly conducive to creating a memorable rendition of a lush, serene Grainger work.

While you can’t control the atmosphere of the city, and try as you might you can’t completely control when they actually go to sleep or what they’re feeding themselves, you CAN control the itinerary to make certain that you’re not setting the group up for failure. Just as much as you want to gain the most “value” of your sightseeing time, don’t overlook getting the most value out of the cost of your festival experience.

Plus think of the ancillary advantages:

• Having one or two fewer attractions might save you some overall cost.

• One of the things that we know is always good for young musicians is to listen to other ensembles. Taking the time to sit in the audience to listen to other groups in the festival is a great and usually no-cost way to make this happen. (And, it teaches the importance of concert etiquette and being an appreciative supporter of fellow musicians.)

It’s always possible that one of the other ensembles will perform a work your group is doing later in the year, or that you’re planning to introduce next season. Who knows….you might even hear a new or unfamiliar work that will be perfect for your ensemble.

• This will help you avoid having to deal with possible schedule conflicts. The reality of most festival situations is that for many and varied reasons performance schedules often can’t be finalized until closer to the date, or may change at the last minute. We all know there are times when events unexpectedly run behind schedule. Setting up an admission activity for that day could lead to losing funds that were spent on tickets that will go unused….and the associated unnecessary stress.

Instead, plan flexible activities for the festival day that are not dependent on a particular time–exploring parts of the city in chaperone groups, seeing unique neighborhoods or parks, or doing some souvenir shopping, for example. Or simply take the time to hear some of your fellow performing ensembles–they’ll likely be grateful for having you in the audience, and maybe will return the favor and stay for your performance. What a tremendous way to build community.

Certainly you always want your musicians to have a fun and memorable experience. However, you also want them to take full advantage of these opportunities to have a performance that reflects the hours of preparation you’ve dedicated (and the true quality of your program) or to completely absorb the wisdom of a renowned clinician. A “less is more” approach will usually lead to a quality over quantity result…and allow you to keep the musical and educational focus that is critical to the success of your program always at the heart of what you do.

You may also like:

SBO Presents the 21st Annual 50 Directors Who Make a Difference The 22nd Annual 50 Directors Who Make a Difference SBO Presents The 19th Annual 50 Directors Who Make A Difference 2012 ’50 Directors Who Make a Difference’ Report The 23rd 50 Directors Who Make a Difference Report
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

POPULAR STORY

  • 50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference

    50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference

    1357 shares
    Share 543 Tweet 339
  • When Selecting New Choral Music, Choose Success

    1293 shares
    Share 517 Tweet 323
  • Concert Band Set-up Fundamentals

    1093 shares
    Share 437 Tweet 273
  • The Immediate Threat to School Music Programs

    1008 shares
    Share 403 Tweet 252
  • TI:ME Announces Free PreSonus Revelator USB Microphone at 30th Anniversary Celebration at TMEA

    970 shares
    Share 388 Tweet 243
ADVERTISEMENT

SchoolMusic.Travel

Top 10 School Music Travel Destinations in the Northwest USA

Top 10 School Music Travel Destinations in the Northwest USA

Mountains, music, and vibrant cities — the Northwest offers unforgettable experiences for student groups. 🎷 1. Seattle, WA – Innovation Meets Inspiration• Why it’s great:…

Top 10 School Music Travel Destinations in the Northeast USA

Top 10 School Music Travel Destinations in the Northeast USA

From Broadway to Boston, the Northeast inspires music students with rich culture and iconic venues. From Broadway lights to historic concert halls, the Northeast is…

Top 10 School Music Travel Destinations in the Midwest USA

Top 10 School Music Travel Destinations in the Midwest USA

The Midwest is the heartbeat of America — and it beats in 4/4 time. The Midwest is the heartbeat of America — and it beats…

Top 10 School Music Travel Destinations on the West Coast

Top 10 School Music Travel Destinations on the West Coast

Coastlines, concert halls, and creativity — the West Coast delivers stunning performance opportunities. From iconic performance halls to scenic coastal venues, the West Coast offers…

Next Post
MAC Corner: Music Parents We Couldn’t Do Without Them!

MAC Corner: Music Parents We Couldn’t Do Without Them!

  • July 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • June 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • May 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • April 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • March 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
© 2005 - 2025 artistpro, LLC
7012 City Center Way, Suite 207
Fairview, Tennessee 37062
(800) 682-8114

No Result
View All Result
  • Departments
    • Concert Band
    • Orchestra
      • String Section
    • Choral
    • Marching Band
    • Jazz
    • Modern Band/Popular Music
      • Mariachi
    • Theater
    • Editorial
      • Upclose
      • Advocacy
      • Commentary
      • Features
    • News
      • Headlines
      • New Products
    • Performance
      • Woodwinds
      • Percussion
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
    • Technology
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Awards/Entries
    • Teachers’ Choice Awards
    • 50 Teachers Who Make a Difference
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
    • Support
  • Advertise
    • Email PR!

© 2005 - 2024 artistpro, LLC 7012 City Center Way, Suite 207 Fairview, Tennessee 37062 (800) 682-8114

Wenger EndurAd Promo