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March 13, 2025
Tips and Tricks for Planning a WindStars Pre-Band Concert
The end of the year can be a beautifully chaotic time and concerts can sneak up on you quickly. The WindStars team has compiled tips and tricks from some of the most experienced pre-band educators across the country to help you end the year on a high note.
We will address the following questions:
1. What instruments can I use?
2. What music should I use?
3. Should I use an accompaniment track?
4. Should I feel pressured to give a formal concert?
WindStars pre-band concert in New Jersey, USA
What instruments can I use?
Recorders
Ukuleles/Guitars
Boomwhackers/Bells
Orff instruments/Xylophones
Keyboards
And more!
Pitched
Unpitched
One of my favorite things about the Nuvo pre-band instruments is that they play in C! I can combine my classroom bells, boomwhackers, and other classroom instruments with the Nuvos to create some great ensembles. Next month for example, my 3rd graders will play their Nuvo Recorder+ and the 2nd graders will play desk bells, sticks, and hand drums. It’s a great way to involve multiple grades at the same time in a concert.
-Marcy S.
I combine pre-band instruments with snare drums and other percussion instruments (pitched and non-pitched). It fills out the sound and gives every student an opportunity to be actively involved.
-Scott B.
WindStars pre-band class in Texas, USA
What music should I use?
When I start the year, I have a set list of songs for each class to learn on Nuvo instruments. As is natural, some classes move forward more quickly than others. At our end of the year concert, each class will play the three most technical songs that they have mastered to showcase their skills. My students are proud to play these tunes for their families. We use the free tunes available through the WindStars website. There is a great variety of musical styles in the WindStars music.
-Scott B.
In the first semester, my class plays short pieces with unison melodies and rhythms so they can practice making a sound, learning notes, reading music, etc. In the second semester, we spend ½ the class in exploratory activities (improvisation/movement) and the ½ half of the class working on a grade .5 beginning band piece. We move SUPER slowly with the piece, take the entire semester to learn it, and talk a lot about the new skills they are learning. The grade .5 pieces usually have fun titles or themes that the gets get excited about like “Zombie Dance” or “Candy Cane Lane” and they seem to remember these pieces very fondly.
-Annie G.
My students will sometimes request current popular songs, and if I can make it work, I'll try to honor those requests. I usually create my own arrangements that are a combination of current music and more traditional folk tunes or WindStars original tunes. Having all instruments in C makes it easy to create arrangements.
-Ben W.
My students have only learned the first three notes by the concert so we feature each note individually with songs from the WindStars level 2 books. We use the backing tracks from the WindStars website and I love that each song featured a different style of music in the tracks!
-Erika K.
Concerts are an opportunity to share with parents what students have been learning and experiencing. Use students’ favorite echo game, improvisation activity, or movement exploration in the concert. You can also invite families to participate in some way from the audience. Think singing, movement, clapping, adding sound effects - there are so many possibilities depending on the music you are using.
-Brittany B.
WindStars pre-band concert in England.
Should I use an accompaniment track?
I really like having piano or instrumental backing tracks for my pre-band instrumentalists in a concert. It helps keep them together, helps with pitch and intonation, boosts student confidence, and makes the whole concert sound great.
-Marcy S.
I do not use accompaniment tracks for performances. I either play the piano or have no accompaniment at all. It’s my personal preference.
-Ben W.
Should I feel pressured to give a concert?
Our school views pre-band as an exploratory experience. We want students to have hands-on experience with instruments that are similar to what they will be playing when they move on to band. We are less focused on being concert ready and more focused on making decisions about what instrument they will move on to in beginning band. Our vertical alignment allows us to skip a pre-band concert in 5th grade although we do small in-school performances as time allows. This mindset has helped us double how many students have joined the middle school band. There will be many future band concerts when students move up to middle school.
-Scott B.
We present a concert but I talk between pieces about the learning process. I don’t put pressure on a perfect concert, we acknowledge progress. The pre-band experience should have an emphasis on enjoyment for both my students and myself!
-Amanda M.
Making your pre-band ensemble visible to administation and the community is a great advocacy tool! My pre-band ensemble has performed before a district meeting, at basketball games, and at school pep rallys. Performing beyond a traditional concert is beneficial for not only my students but also my community.
-Ben W.
WindStars pre-band class in Florida, USA.
On behalf of WindStars, we hope your year-end concerts are a joy for both you and your students. Don’t forget - this is an opportunity to celebrate your students’ growth and determination. Have some fun with it!
