Do you dread the annual Christmas concert?

Here is a little insight into my experience of Christmas concerts over the years and what I have learnt to make it easier for all involved.

I taught Reception and Year 1 in a primary school.  Every year, we did a Christmas concert for the parents/grandparents.  I remember, even as a musician, it being a very stressful time.  As I played the piano, I was asked to learn to play all the pieces of music that accompanied the concert, even though there was a backing CD, along with teaching the children all the songs.  My main learning point here is if you have a great backing track, go with it, don't make extra work for yourselves! ;)

Ready made/bought off the shelf Christmas concerts

The benefit of these productions is that everything is there and ready to use: story, songs, script, backing tracks…  The music is usually brilliant, with lots of jolly backing tracks that the children and adults love.

These may seem like the easy option but they require LOTS… and ... LOTS… of work for everyone involved. The main disadvantage is that everything is NEW to the children and maybe the adults too! 

When learning new songs, the children need to hear the words and the tune.  My main advice, if you decide to go with this option, is that the adults NEED to learn the songs in advance of teaching the children so they can teach without the need for a backing track.  The advantage of having no backing track is that the adult can easily stop and start so that they can teach a little at a time, plus the children can hear the tune they need to sing instead of getting distracted by the exciting backing track.  When the children have mastered a verse or two, then sing along with the backing track.

Doing your own thing!

Since I set up Musical abc, I have also helped with EYFS productions.   What I have learnt from all these experiences is the simpler, the better; it is easier for all involved, the children enjoy it, and the parents love what they do, no matter what!

If you want to do your own thing with the children, brilliant!  Here are my suggestions to make your life easier:

Make the majority of the concert based on songs, rhymes and activities that the children already know.  Start by choosing from songs and rhymes that you have been learning in your setting; select those that the children have been enthusiastic about learning.  Then choose a few simple Christmas songs that you can learn with the children; that way, you have songs to go along with your nativity scene, etc.   You can also include responses to music that the children have created.  For example, movement and artwork in response to pieces of music.  If you are looking for simple songs, take a look at my 50 Fun and Easy Christmas Songs: https://www.musicintheearlyyears.com/50funandeasychristmassongs    

By doing this, it takes the pressure off learning lots of new songs and activities for the concert, plus it shows the parents/grandparents what they have been learning in your setting.

Happy music making!