There’s nothing quite like the joy of a primary school music concert. Seeing your pupils light up on stage, proudly singing or playing what they’ve learned. Their grown ups beaming as they watch the performance unfold. It really is one of those magical teaching moments that makes it all worth it.

But let’s be honest, organising a concert can feel a bit overwhelming. Between choosing songs, organising rehearsals and communications, it’s easy to get stressed. The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way. With a bit of planning and some handy tips, you can host a successful, fun concert that leaves everyone, pupils, staff and families, feeling proud and inspired.

Here’s how to make it happen.

1. Start Early - Planning is your Best Friend

Don’t wait until the last minute. As soon as you know you want to put on a concert, get your planning wheels turning:

  • Set a date early and communicate it clearly to families and staff. Make sure it doesn’t clash with anything!
  • Choose a theme to help guide your song selections and make sure they’re age appropriate, fun to learn, and achievable within the time you’ve got. Don’t forget your Year 6 pupils! As we soon move into the Summer Term, this will likely be their final primary school performance, so it’s a great opportunity to mark the moment. We’ve recently released a brand new Year Leavers’ Song onto the platform (head over to Awesome Stuff) a cool, uplifting track to make their farewell unforgettable. A meaningful farewell moment in the concert not only gives them something special to remember, but it also tugs at the heartstrings (in the best way!) for grown ups and staff alike.
  • Book the venue - whether it’s your school hall or a local space. Check for things like chairs, sound systems, and lighting. If you opt for a venue outside of school, check the get in time (to allow time for set up). 

Top Tips: 

✨One thing that has worked well for us is collaborating closely with teaching colleagues, particularly the PE lead if they’re using the hall for lessons. By creating a shared plan for lessons and rehearsals, you can ensure everything runs smoothly and fairly.

✨Create a concert schedule. This will be useful later for staff helping with behaviour management or supporting the performance (e.g. assigning instruments to pupils).

2. Keep It Simple and Age Appropriate

The key to a smooth concert is simplicity:

  • Choose songs that are fun, familiar, and achievable.
  • Avoid complex harmonies or long solo sections unless your students are ready and confident.
  • If you’re including instruments, stick to simple percussion, boomwhackers, xylophones, or body percussion, they’re engaging and easy to manage.

Top Tips: 

✨A group of 30 pupils or a small group singing together confidently beats a shaky solo any day.

✨If you are including solos, schedule time to run rehearsals with them outside of whole class ones. It will help to build their confidence. Even better, go into the concert space with them. 

3. Create a Clear Programme

Once your songs are selected, map out a programme. Keep the whole event to 30 - 45 minutes, especially for younger audiences. You might need to go longer if doing a production.

  • When learning songs, break them down into chunks to support learning. At Get Set, we break down songs into listen, learn (my turn, your turn) and performance to support song learning.
  • Rehearse the transitions between songs and groups, this is often where things fall apart and causes confusion.
  • Use visual cues or signs so pupils know where to go and when.
  • Print a simple programme for parents. It’s always nice to include song names and class groups.

Top Tip: 

✨Invite a few pupils to design the programme cover and layout! You can support them and do final checks before printing.

4. Practise Smart, Not Stressfully

You don’t need to run full rehearsals every day:

  • Use regular class time to work on one or two songs at a time.
  • Practise standing in place, entering and exiting the stage, and how to respond to applause (they love this).
  • Do a run through with all classes at least once, ideally in the concert space (get this planned early when talking to colleagues).

Top Tips: 

✨From our experiences, we can’t stress enough how valuable it is to practise walking on and off stage and positions too! It increases pupils’ confidence so they have a strong understanding of the event order and builds independence.

✨Make ‘performance practice’ part of the fun, pretend to be an audience and cheer each other on.

✨Draw out a stage plan and organise pupils into stage order. Take a photo of groups so that you have a record when a teacher or pupils forgets where they need to be!

5. Keep Costumes and Props Minimal

Unless you’re doing a production, simple is best:

  • A colour theme like ‘everyone wears something red’ is easy to manage.
  • DIY props or hand held signs can add flair without extra cost.
  • Most importantly: focus on the music, not matching outfits.

Top Tips:

✨Set a date that pupils need to bring their costumes/props into school before the performance. This is so you can check them and see if you need to get anything extra (always have a few spares though). Always get your pupils to label their costumes and keep them in school. There’s no way of them disappearing then!

✨If some pupils are speaking, send the words home for them to practise and then type them up and stick onto some nice card! It feels and looks much better for the performance.

6. Delegate and Communicate

You don’t have to do this alone!

  • Ask for parent volunteers to help with programmes, seating, or backstage.
  • Loop in classroom teachers early so they can help students prepare and manage behavior on the day. This is when the concert schedule comes in handy (see 1. Start Early - Planning is your Best Friend).
  • Use school newsletters, apps, or printed notes to keep families in the loop on dates, times, what kids should wear, and any other important info.

Top Tip: 

✨Families need several reminders about concerts (timings, date, costumes etc). Keep this information as an email draft so you can copy and paste it straight away. Give this information to the office team so they can answer any queries. 

7. Tech Tips: Sound and Lighting Basics

Technology doesn’t have to be intimidating, it just needs a little preparation. And here’s a bonus: it’s a fantastic way to involve pupils who might be shy about performing.

  • Do a tech check well before the concert. Make sure microphones work and speakers are loud enough for the space.
  • Have backups for music tracks - USB, email, phone, etc.
  • If using tracks, make sure they are instrumentals and fade them out gently between songs.
  • Keep lighting simple, but make sure performers are well lit. Even switching lights on and off between items can help set the mood (and feels professional for prop/scene changes).

Top Tips:

✨If a pupil is performing a piece they’ve been working on in 1:1 lessons, liaise with their music teacher to obtain backing tracks and any sheet music.

✨If using microphones, practise this with pupils so they don’t place them too close or far away.

✨If your school doesn’t have tech, that’s okay! Acoustic concerts can be just as charming, just make sure everyone is arranged so they can be heard. You might have a colleague/parent who plays piano or guitar. Perhaps they can help? 

Pupil Spotlight! 

Not every child wants to be front and centre and that’s okay. Invite pupils to:

  • Run the backing tracks or audio cues.
  • Manage lighting transitions.
  • Place and remove props or signs between performances.
  • Design the programme.

It gives them a vital role, builds responsibility, and shows that being part of a concert isn’t just about singing; it’s about teamwork and creativity behind the scenes too.

8. Capture the Moment

Designate a colleague to take photos or a video of the performance. Just make sure you have the proper permissions.

After the concert, give families time to take pictures with their kids. This avoids mid performance photo chaos and gives everyone a keepsake moment.

Top Tip

✨Get someone from your senior leadership team to do a quick welcome at the beginning of the performance. Ask them to remind families not to upload anything onto social media.

9. Celebrate Effort, Not Perfection

Finally, remember, the concert is about having fun, growth, and creativity not a flawless performance.

  • Celebrate every student for participating, trying, and having fun.
  • You could give out certificates or even have a final group sing along to end on a high note.
  • And most importantly: breathe and enjoy it. You created a memory your pupils will never forget.

Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This!

Hosting a primary school music concert doesn’t have to be a high stress event. With thoughtful planning, a clear structure, and a focus on fun over perfection, it can be a highlight of the school year!

You’re not just putting on a show, you’re building confidence, community, and a love of music. And that’s worth celebrating.