How to organize a student's concert, 1st part

No doubt performing in front of people and... talking to an audience is not easy. Music lessons as the ones I offer, can give you an experience that may be useful to go to a job interview: overcome stage fear!

Sometimes I organize an student's concert since it's a good practice to get over stage fear, in this case showing parents and friends their progress in music. There is much fellowship among the students, since the one who listens has to play next and know how much effort takes to learn. Although some students play individually, they normally play in bands with guitar(s), bass, piano, voice, ... pop, rock, metal famous songs. They don't have to be the most difficult songs or the last they've learned but the ones they feel more comfortable with, so they can put them together with the band. All this gives confidence to overcome shyness.

It's better to offer two dates for the concert, that is to say organize two concerts, since sometimes not all people can come to one of them if they have exams or work to do. And some students like to come to both concerts since they want to play many songs or expand the ones they played before (adding solos...) and the second time they feel much more comfortable after a good experience of the first day. The smallest students may come disguised.

They also sing the songs although sometimes I do it. But my purpose is let them do everything so I try not take part. The voice goes without mic cos just for 30 people is better to use only small amps for electric guitar (like the one on the photo) at a low volume. Then the acoustic and classical guitars may be unplugged and can be heard at the same level. Students use to rise the volume but the most turns up the volume a student, the most does another and then you cannot listen well, just a lot of noise, so better not.

It's also good to choose songs that have an intro or a solo for bass, guitar, piano... and then the whole band continues the song. For example play three songs with these solos, which is very dynamic, so each one of the band members may play as leader in some parts of the concert meanwhile the other members accompany. Or may be a song where there are solos for the different instruments of the band.

Oh! and with this adapter you can plug two guitars to the same amp.

If you use it, put each guitar's pick up selector are in another position. For example one guitar may use the bridge pick up and another the one near the fret board. Then you will distinguish better both guitars since one will give a darker sound and the other a clearer sound.

VERY IMPORTANT! These concerts are in my Studio for my students and their parents. Therefore are private since the space is limited. If you are reading this I'm sorry to say you cannot come! Please forgive me but we won't fit all. This article is just to inform how I use to organize them

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