Author - Gary Race

Now that you’ve written the script, and selected and rehearsed all the musical selections, what do you need to know about actually performing your presentation in front of the students? In the third installment in his series, Gary Race takes you through the final process, step by step.

Three sessions will get your presentation polished. The first involves practicing the script itself, and getting all the details in place (where did I put that garden hose??). The second involves blocking the show – getting the stage directions figured out. Gary recommends making a diagram and even using a rubber ball (in rehearsal) to identify who has focus during different parts of the show. Now you’re ready for the dress rehearsal, preferably with a test audience of real children!

Finally, Gary discusses all aspects of the performance itself: how to set up your space, how to introduce yourselves, what to wear, and how to handle Q & A sessions. And of course, it’s important to constantly assess your own performance from all angles.

If you follow all of Gary’s suggestions in this series, you should be able to develop and present a first-class instrumental educational experience, while thoroughly enjoying yourself in the process. Educational ensemble performances should be fun for both you and the students!

Now that you’ve selected a theme and thought about the music you want to perform for the children, how do you go about preparing the presentation and writing the script?

In the second installment in his three-part series, Gary Race explains the process of selecting the specific pieces that will work with your theme, and then writing the script that will connect all the pieces together.

He describes several techniques you can incorporate into your “show,” such as directed listening, audience participation, and visuals. He has some interesting advice about how to do instrument demos and the dangers of trying to “wing it.” Following his directions, you should finish your second meeting with a list of repertoire and a draft of a script in hand.

Now you’re ready for Part III: Rehearsal and Performance, coming in July.

Have you found yourself in the position of being asked to put together an ensemble performance with some of your orchestra colleagues for in-school performances or a community outreach program, and not quite knowing how to go about it?

It was almost ten years ago that Yvonne Caruthers, National Symphony cellist, first met Gary Race, a consultant who was working with the NSO Education Department to develop their education and community outreach programs. She was very impressed with the work he did to get them started. So when I asked her to solicit articles about outreach programs, it was natural that she should turn to Gary to write down the approach he’d used with the NSO. Gary credits his extensive experience with the Head Start program and developing outreach programs for several opera companies for his expertise in this area.

Gary has written an excellent three-part series, leading orchestra players through the process of putting together an educational or outreach ensemble program. The first installment, Ideas, lays some ground rules and describes the first meetings, where players take on various roles (such as the Idea Stimulator and the Conversation Director) to get those ideas rolling. He goes on to present a list of questions the group can discuss to help put together an agenda. The goal is to generate enough ideas that, at the second meeting, the group can write a script for their performances.

Stay tuned for his next two installments: Part II: Preparation and Scripting(already posted), and Part III: Rehearsal and Performance (coming in July).