Hi everyone,

I've decided to put together a drum recital for all of my students. The majority of my students are at the beginning and intermediate levels.  I have 2 advanced students. 

If I could get the musicians, I'd like for my students (the ones that can hold a groove) to play along with the musicians.  Otherwise, if I can't, I was thinking they could perform to a minus-drum song.  I'd like for them to play along to songs that are recognizable but I haven't been able to find minus-drum music with vocals.  It's probably okay for them to play along without the vocals but I thought it would be better if the vocals were there.  The next best thing at having a band sound.   

In addition, I was planning for some of my students to perform a 2 to 5 minute drum solo after they completed playing their song.

I have 10 students so far that are capable of performing at the drum recital.  I'd like my other beginning students to play but I'm not sure what to prepare for them to play at the recital.  Although, with 10 students, that's a long recital. 

1.  Any suggestions on a format for the recital? 

2.  Is the minus-drum song play along kinda cheesy?  I'm not sure if I can find any volunteer musicians.  I can't afford to pay anyone.

3.  Any suggestions on how I can get my beginning students involved?  Maybe all of them can play something together?

cc

Outstanding....I haven't heard "3 Camps" done in years. Great idea for the students to do. 

Typically the recital is a time for students to display what they've been working on.

In the past, I've done the following with student recitals:

1. Rudiments: slow-fast-slow. (just one or two rudiments for beginners)
2. Etude or exercise they've been working on.
3. Solo

You can use one or more of the above suggestions, depending on the time allowed for the recital and ability of each student. The important thing, in my opinion, is that each student plays something ... and it's a positive experience for each student.

Another thing I've done is have the students play together. This could be a duet, trio, etc. It might be all on Snare drums or the like ... or could be a full ensemble piece. There's a lot of ensemble material out there beginners. You'll want to select a piece that calls for the instruments that you have available. You can also substitute instruments when necessary.

I've also had the students play a piece written for Snare, but have them play it on a hand drum. Anything to make it fun, while also learning techniques for other instruments. I can guarantee you that your students will LOVE playing on something other than what they normally play on. Get the playing on a Conga or Djembe, playing the same piece or exercise they normally play on Snare ... they'll love it! Obviously if they are playing rudiments in the piece they'll have a tough time pulling that off with their hands (eg. double strokes). It can be done, but a beginner won't be able to play 5-Stroke Rolls with their hands ... at least not very fast. So keep that in mind as well.

Just changing things up will encourage and excite students ... increasing their creative awareness.

There has been real great advice given here......thanks so much everyone. 

I'm thinking about doing a STOMP kind of thing to possibly end the recital but I'll see.  My wife says it may be too much for my first recital.  I really like the idea of all my students playing together. 

I'm not sure I'll be able to get musicians to play along with my students which is kind of a bummer.  And the minus-drum songs I have don't have any vocals on it as well.  But the songs are recognizable.  To name a few:

Hurt So Good
Message in a Bottle
Separate Ways (whoa that 1 Steve Smith fill in there is kinda tricky)
Peg
Run to the Hills
War Pigs
Barracuda
Come Together

I'll just have to make sure my students can hear the songs in the headphones while they are playing along.

cc

Just an update on the progress of the recital......

1.  Well, I haven't received any committments yet from the other teachers to play at the recital yet. 

2.  Most of my students want to play along to the minus drum packages.  Unfortunately, they don't have vocals.  I was thinking of hiring a singer to sing vocals on these performances to make it sound like they're playing with a full band.  Should I do this?

3.  Some of my students are having a hard time locking in with their selected song.  With only a month of practice before the recital, I had to suggest easier tunes for them to work on.  BTW.....there will be a 2 week school break next month so some of my students only really have about 2 weeks of practice.  They seem fine with the change but I'm hoping it doesn't effect their confidence.

4.  I just got the sheet music for some of the snare drum duet pieces so I'll be working with some of the students that will be playing a duet piece in addition to a drumset piece.  I'm looking forward to this part of the recital.

5.  These recitals really do take a lot of work and time on my part.  I mentioned it to a fellow drum teacher of mine and he indicated it wasn't worth it to him because; 1. it would take a lot of his time; 2. he doesn't make any money from it and 3. the parents would expect a recital from him all the time.  It was kind of a bummer to hear this attitude from him because he's been teaching for so long.  I have to agree with him about the financial part.........but it has been a learning process for me too.  And that outweighs any of the negative things he indicated. 

cc