Think back to a meaningful performance with your school ensemble: the spring concert featuring graduating seniors, the beginning orchestra’s first live performance, the jazz band’s premiere after months of hard work recruiting members and learning new musical styles.
What do all of these performances have in common? Why are they the performances that come to mind?
They featured ensembles full of students who loved music, students who loved their experiences in your program, and students who loved connecting with their community. Those students came together from a variety of backgrounds to create a singular, synergistic event that stood out from the others. They experienced collective effervescence–a term coined by French sociologist Emile Durkheim more than 100 years ago–the feeling of energy and harmony when people are engaged in a shared purpose.
Where are those students now? Many have graduated from your school district, moving on to pursue employment opportunities, seek higher education, build relationships with stakeholders in your community, and beyond. They carry their musical experiences from your ensembles and continue to advocate for your program, whether they graduated last year or twenty years ago. Recent graduates reminisce about shared experiences, while long-time alumni reflect on their lasting legacy.
Creating an archive of your ensemble’s performances extends the reach of your program’s culture and provides alumni the opportunity to remain engaged with your community, far beyond their graduation date.
Imagine a place where:
- Current students can immediately access their performance recordings, bolstering their pride in performance and providing opportunities for reflection and student growth;
- Recent alumni can connect with and encourage their peers still in the program, providing mentorship and guidance, and actively building a legacy of excellence;
- Older alumni of your program can view performances from years past, reflecting fondly on their experiences in music and serving as ambassadors for your program; and
- Prospective students can explore your ensemble’s performances in an organized way, envisioning themselves as a part of your culture and taking one task off of your recruitment to-do list.
With School Music License, all of this is possible!
Our License Holders can archive all streamed performances on Facebook and YouTube, and share those links on their school’s website, as long as their license remains active. Committing to holding a license with us as a long-term investment for your program ensures you can access every streamed performance, anytime. If you cancel your license, you risk losing access to your archived content. A long-term investment in your license secures your program’s cultural legacy, connecting all students with the program and expanding its reach beyond individual leaders.
We make it easy to bring your program’s music beyond the walls of your school building and into the fabric of the broader musical community!
Recommendations for building your archive:
- Make it Accessible: Create a YouTube section for your program or establish a new district presence. Link to your program’s or district’s channel on the website and prominently display students’ work. Pin a link to the archive on your program’s Facebook page.
- Make it Easy to Navigate: Organize the archive by year, with the most recent year at the top. Stream a manageable number of performances to keep things organized and scalable.
- Make it Meaningful: Feature memorable performances or pieces that hold special meaning. Highlight them on your YouTube channel and promote updates to your community—parents, educators, administrators, and local business owners. Celebrating your program builds student pride, increases visibility, and strengthens growth beyond a single performance.
Build the legacy of your program for years to come with School Music License – and do more with the music you love!
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Photo used with permission from Canva.com
