It’s officially spring time, and for many music teachers, that also means that recital season is here. Performing in a recital is exciting for many students, but for others it may be anxiety inducing. Special events like recitals also disrupt routines and predictable schedules. Students have to adapt to a new building, sometimes a new instrument, and new faces watching them as they make music.
In order to help prepare students for a recital, I often create a social story so they can “preview” the event before it happens. A social story can help set up social expectations of a new event and questions that students may have, such as when do I clap or what happens if I make a mistake? Social stories can also help to reduce anxiety among students who may feel dysregulated by a disruption in routine.
Here’s a social story template that you can fill in with the details of your recital. The link will take you to a Canva template that you can substitute with your own pictures and details of your recital.
Some things to keep in mind when you are creating a social story are:
- Details on when and where the event is taking place
- How to get there, where to park, and a picture of where to enter the building
- How long in advance should I be there?
- How do I get to the performance space once inside?
- Who might I see there?
- Where do I sit?
- How do I act?
- Is there a break room if I am overstimulated?
- What do I do when it is my turn?
- What if I get stuck or make a mistake?
- What happens after I perform?
Having answers or examples to help support the social aspects of a new event will help to ease the anxiety of your students and hopefully create a more positive and enjoyable experience for them. Two picture books that also act as social stories for students playing in a recital are My Music Concert by Nisreen Jardaneh and The Whatifs by Emily Kilgore. Social stories are just one way that we can create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for our neurodiverse students.
Happy Teaching!
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