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April Fools Ideas

Posted by Silly Mozart on 3/31/2021, 7:49 pm

April Fools is TOMORROW!

What are some lighthearted and funny pranks to pull on the band students or the rest of your staff?

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by Two Words... on 4/1/2021, 5:00 pm, in reply to "April Fools Ideas"

Rick Roll

I Rick Rolled the band a few years ago. Well, they sort of Rick Rolled themselves. Leading up to UIL we would sightread short tunes instead of full pieces because they had the procedure down and we just needed to "stay fresh". The short pieces had no titles attached. For April Fools, they all got the same melody: the chorus "Never Gonna Give You Up". It took about four beats before I could see them trying to hold back the laughter. They made it the full eight measures, but the rest of the rehearsal was lost. Well worth it though.

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by Swamplander on 4/1/2021, 2:40 pm, in reply to "April Fools Ideas"

We’re a small school that plays pretty well for our level, but nothing flashy. I went into a serious discussion of how the TEKS require us to look at patriotic music, and that I felt like we could do a better job of that. I said that I wanted to add a piece to the spring concert and that we’d sight reading it today. I handed out Variations on America, and had them follow their part while we listened to the marine band play it. Then I said “here we go. First note” and they got really worried I was serious. We got ready, play the first note, and I said “ok, here we go. 1-2-breathe” and before I got to the downbeat I said “April Fools!” You’ve never seen better looks of consternation AND relief.

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by GG on 4/1/2021, 8:42 am, in reply to "April Fools Ideas"

My flute section got ME one April Fool's Day. When class was about to start one of them distracted me in my office with a "broken" flute while another hid the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition among the music scores on my stand. When I got to it I smiled, held it up, and said "thanks, I really do love sports".

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by Oldie on 4/1/2021, 7:06 am, in reply to "April Fools Ideas"

Pulling out the faeries aire and death waltz for sight reading is a classic

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by Yup on 4/1/2021, 12:32 pm, in reply to "Re: April Fools Ideas"

Years ago I worked at a school that hadn't done UIL in AGES. I spent the whole first 2 years building the program up so they would be ready. I made a big deal about the importance of sight-reading (previous director had basically taught them everything by rote). April 1st I brought the principal into rehearsal, and told the kids he was there to observe and see if we were ready to attend UIL next year. I passed out Faerie's Aire, had them turn it over and counted off the beginning. Several of them gave it a valiant attempt for at least a couple of measures...

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by HBD on 3/31/2021, 10:23 pm, in reply to "April Fools Ideas"

* Tape a piece of paper under the coworkers mouse that says "April Fools".
* Use an old/dead phone and get upset at an "actor" student for being on their phone. Throw it on the ground to get a gasp from the room.
* Get an office phone call or text and send a student to the principals office. Make sure this staff member is in on it.
* Do a fake show reveal of something funny or underwhelming.
* Tell the students the UIL virtual recording was lost and we'll have to meet again next week to rerecord.

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by Funny on 4/1/2021, 10:41 am, in reply to "Re: April Fools Ideas"

I know it will be a little late by the time this is posted, but this is what I did last year:

I taped a $20 bill underneath one chair. Under all the other chairs was a taped post-it with APRIL FOOLS! on it. At the conclusion of rehearsal I told the kids they had such a great rehearsal that I decided to give a reward that that there was a $20 bill taped under TWO chairs. As expected, the students laughed, and said, "Uh huh...April Fools...nice try Mr. A". I then walked over to the chair of my most obnoxious student, reached under his chair and pulled out the $20. I showed it everyone and said, "Well that was one, but there's one more!" Everyone then immediately turned over their chairs to see the April Fool's note as I walked back to my office laughing.

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by Kramer on 4/1/2021, 12:37 pm, in reply to "Re: April Fools Ideas"

That's pretty good!

Re: April Fools Ideas

Posted by jack on 4/1/2021, 12:31 pm, in reply to "Re: April Fools Ideas"

that is beautiful

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