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On October 20, the Music Achievement Council launched the Virtual First Performance National Day of Celebration (FPNDOC). This special “virtual” edition is being provided as an opportunity for beginning students to experience a successful performance event in that very first concert early in the year even if attending school in a 100 percent virtual or hybrid environment.
The First Performance National Day of Celebration is scheduled annually for the 3rd Thursday of November and the materials for those able to provide a live concert event are available in the toolkit posted online here.
The virtual event, however, has been pre-recorded and is available for directors to preview on this site as well. It has also been loaded up to YouTube for easier access whenever directors feel that their students are ready—ideally, within the first 8 to 12 weeks of school. Hal Leonard has agreed to provide the music from Essential Elements for Band, Book 1. Directors should download PDFs of the parts as well as the studio tracks to share with students. These posted resources can be used for individual/group practicing as they are also used in the Virtual FPNDOC concert itself.
To participate, first schedule a date and time for your Virtual First Performance National Day of Celebration Concert. Then download and share the FPNDOC trailer with your students to inspire them to participate in this nationwide celebration along with other beginning level students from across the country (available here). Download the parts and studio tracks to distribute to your students for practicing here.
On the date and time of your scheduled event, email your students the YouTube link to the Virtual First Performance National Day of Celebration Concert and have them play along, karaoke-style here. Finally, distribute a Certificate of Advancement to participating students and share out photos taken by the families of the participating students. A modifiable certificate template is available here. If permitted, share photos on social media with the hashtag #FPNDOC.
Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM, provides the opening remarks at the concert; Marcia Neel, senior director of Education at Yamaha Corporation, acts as emcee; and Dr. Charles Menghini, president emeritus of VanderCook College of Music, serves as conductor. They have assembled an exciting event that goes a long way to replicate the live concert experience for the students.
