The Yellow Board

Christmas Traditions

Posted by Dennis on 11/25/2022, 7:36 am

Are there any unique Christmas Concert traditions you directors do with our bands? Audience participation? Unique decorations?

Re: Christmas Traditions

Posted by really retired on 11/26/2022, 11:38 pm, in reply to "Christmas Traditions "

We put up a tree. Students would bring an ornament (bought or created) to put on the tree. All ornaments were saved until the next year and replaced on the new tree. Students would sign their ornament and date it. After 10 years, we had quite a collection. There was even a baritone mouthpiece hung with care. The class voted each year on that year's best - and a prize was given (usually cash).

Re: Christmas Traditions

Posted by Old dude on 11/26/2022, 7:29 am, in reply to "Christmas Traditions "

Putting up a Christmas tree in the band hall has been one of the traditions in my program. Before our Christmas Concert I would decorate it with candy canes and allow the kids to take one each after the concert.

Re: Christmas Traditions

Posted by Gaga on 11/25/2022, 10:30 pm, in reply to "Christmas Traditions "

We always played a concert for one or more of the elementary schools just before the holidays. We played an arr. of Rudoph the Red-Nose Reindeer for the closer and invited the kids to sing along. It was a hoot playing with 500 little kids singing at the top of their lungs.

Re: Christmas Traditions

Posted by Gaga on 11/26/2022, 7:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Christmas Traditions "

By the way, the elementary concert was a very effective recruiting tool for beginner band, too.

Re: Christmas Traditions

Posted by Older than dirt on 11/27/2022, 11:01 am, in reply to "Re: Christmas Traditions "

I encouraged senior band parents to sit in the band next to their kids to see their perspective during their final concerts. Thanks for the idea Bobby Bryant!

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