Orenco Music Student Concerts Musician Guide
Introduction
The Orenco Music student concerts are a fun twist on the standard music recital. Students of all ages learn to play songs from many different genres, then perform with a full band featuring other students and teachers. Since most music is played in a group, we focus on preparing students to play with other musicians. An average show features 50 songs, 150 students, and 9 teachers. Instruments include guitar, bass, drums, piano, vocals, banjo, and horns.
Our student concerts are traditionally held in March, June, and October.
Our Mission
To provide students the opportunity to apply techniques learned in lessons and practiced at home to a real-life group music setting. Our vision is to build a community of musicians and foster an appreciation of the musical arts in our community.
Welcome Message
It is with great pleasure and excitement that we welcome you into the Orenco Music Student Concerts! Our student concerts began in 2011 with a simple idea: What if we took the typical recital format and turned it into a rock concert? Instead of each student performing individually, our teachers team up to create a 50-song setlist, then we turn 150 student musicians loose to learn the vocal, guitar, bass, drum, piano, and horn parts for the songs. We meet up on rehearsal day and concert day to flex our musical muscles together!
Over the past 12 years, our students and teachers have performed 31 concert events, featuring thousands of songs and performers. Visit our Orenco Music “Hall of Fame” proudly displayed in our store to see autographed concert posters from every show. 2018 gave us the addition of the Evening With The All-Star Band concert, highlighting new students, advanced students, and even our teachers. 2019 brought a new venue added into the student concert rotation--Shute Park, a lovely outdoor stage in downtown Hillsboro nestled in a forested park.
As you learn your song and prepare for the concert, here are a few tips:
Have fun! Our concerts are designed to set you up for success. Our team of teachers is here to make all the gear and logistics flow smoothly so that you can focus on playing your song and enjoying the show. While some musicians are here to work rigorously to advance their playing, and other students join for a fun hobby, our overall goal is to play music at the highest quality possible and enjoy the process of making music.
If you have questions, ask! In the following guide, we cover every question we have heard, but are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Our teachers are veteran musicians with many years of gigging experience--we are here to help.
Come early and stay late. Our community of musicians is at its most vibrant when we listen to and support one another! Additionally, listening to other musicians is a great way to improve your own playing. You will see how experienced musicians approach their instrument, different playing techniques, and stage presence.
See you on stage,
Andy, Christopher, Dany, Elisabeth, Michael, Ryan, and Shawn
2026 Event Schedule
Rehearsal - Saturday, September 19th, 2026, 9am-3pm at Orenco Music
Concert 1 - Tuesday, October 6th, 2026, 6pm-9pm at Coyote’s Bar & Grill
Concert 2 - Wednesday, October 7th, 2026, 6pm-9pm at Coyote’s Bar & Grill
Registration
Once your teacher has invited you to perform in the concert, the first step in receiving your song assignment is to register. Please use this Availability Form. We’ll add your registration to your upcoming invoice and make sure you have all the information you need to have a successful concert. Your teacher will only be able to add you to the concert schedule once your registration is complete.
Due to the required planning and limited spots available in the concert, we are unable to offer registration refunds or deferrals. We think the short-term commitment is a very good thing, so when you register for a concert, we hold you to it!
We know plans and schedules can change, sometimes at the last minute. We understand that you may not be able to perform when a work schedule, sports schedule, or illness gets in the way. In this event, your registration cost helps cover the time required for a teacher to prepare to fill your spot to keep the show rolling for other students.
In order to best prepare for the shows, registration closes September 12th, 2026 at 11:59pm.
Once your registration is complete, your teacher will work with you to choose your song and schedule you in the show!
Email List
All student concert communication and updates are sent through our email list. We are happy to add multiple email addresses to your student’s profile to ensure everyone in your family gets the information they need.
Email providers are quite advanced at filtering spam and promotions to a separate part of your email inbox. Unfortunately, our emails often get caught in these filters. The best way to stay up-to-date is to add our email address to your contact list or known-sendee list. This will allow all related emails to come to your inbox.
Songs
Setlist Creation and Workshop Period
Our process begins with a song suggestion. Our teachers are always brainstorming song ideas and adding them to the workshop list.
There are many factors that we consider when choosing songs for the All-Star Band concerts. First, we look for family-friendly songs that feature vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keys, and even horns. Next, we listen for songs that will challenge our students in new ways. As we fill out our setlist, we make sure to have a good mix of new & old, easy & challenging, fast & slow--you get the picture.
This requires trying out a lot of songs, which takes a good amount of time. Our formal name for this process is the workshop period. During this approximately 6-week period, you & your teacher may try out several potential songs to help us complete the next setlist. Every song that makes a final setlist in our student concerts goes through this workshop period. Suggestions from students are a huge part of this process, and we love hearing about what music you are listening to. The song suggestion link is always open!
We listen through every single suggestion that is submitted through the above link. If your suggestion doesn’t make the cut, don’t worry. We receive many suggestions that we find to be great songs, but aren’t a great fit for our shows. The two most common reasons we pass on adding a specific song to our setlist are:
-- unsuitable lyrical content for our family-friendly shows
-- a lack of playable parts for vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and piano
The more ideas you submit, the higher the chances are of a suggestion making the final list. If one of your song suggestions does make the list and your teacher assigns the song to you, fantastic! The song will be assigned to a spot in the schedule and other teachers will add students to complete the personnel.
We take great care to choose songs with PG rated lyrical content. At times we achieve this by substituting specific words. Other songs may contain implicit references to mature subjects without being overt. We believe that with a little editing, these songs can still have a place in our shows. Some songs feature subject material that is too explicit for us to include in a family friendly show. We are always happy to work together to choose a song from the setlist that you approve for your family.
Schedule Creation & Publishing
Three months before each concert, our team of teachers meets to choose songs from our workshop list. These songs create a final setlist and schedule for the upcoming concert. This schedule is finalized before any students are added to the list. If your family has a time constraint or multiple students playing, your teacher(s) are happy to choose songs that fit your schedule. Of course, this limits the available song options.
We understand the importance of being able to confidently plan your family’s schedule. Out of respect for the schedules of all families involved, once we publish the schedule, we don't change times!
Song Assignments
Your teacher will select a song for you from the setlist. We believe that part of a teacher’s job is to introduce you to new ideas. This includes new techniques, new music, new songs, new styles, new artists, and new bands. Don’t worry if you don’t like your song the first time you hear it. It will likely grow on you, and it will certainly contain new techniques for you to learn. You may have a favorite song on the list that your teacher doesn’t assign to you. Often times your teacher is happy to help you learn the song as part of our Understudy Program.
Understudy Program
What happens if, last-minute, a musician can't attend the concert? It is extremely important to have a backup musician, called an 'understudy,’ who can fill in at a moment's notice. This is a great opportunity to add more songs and techniques to your repertoire. Ask your teacher how you can become an official understudy for a song.
Song Preparation
All songs on the setlist include a link to a YouTube version. It is important to use this official playlist as reference when learning and practicing a song. Some songs have different radio edits, album versions, and extended versions. While the song will be available on different music platforms such as Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, and Spotify, the YouTube playlist will reflect the version to be performed at the student concert.
Teacher Approaches
Our student concerts are a wonderful opportunity for students studying with many different teachers to meet one another, play music in a group setting, and showcase and celebrate their hard work. Within the concerts, you may notice that each teacher approaches things slightly differently. Some teachers expect music to be memorized, while other teachers encourage sheet music to be read on stage. Some teachers focus heavily on preparing understudy songs alongside primary songs, while other teachers assign students to focus on just one song.
We celebrate this exchange of ideas and encourage all students to observe how different students and teachers approach their preparation for the concerts, as this is a wonderful opportunity to learn new techniques. Ultimately, your teacher will provide you with a specific set of instructions customized for you to have the best show possible.
Rehearsal
Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsals are held at Orenco Music. The rehearsal is the time for all musicians on a particular song to make sure all the musical parts fit together. Click here to view the current rehearsal and concert schedules. This page automatically updates with each concert, so we recommend bookmarking it.
Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to unpack, tune, and be prepared if your song is ready to be rehearsed before the approximate time listed on the schedule. Sometimes our rehearsals run ahead of schedule. (Really!)
Rehearsal Goals
The rehearsal is an extremely important part of our concert process, as musicians rely on hearing the parts of every other musician. Missing one of those parts at rehearsal can make the concert performance suffer. When the setlists are published, please check your personal calendar for your availability on rehearsal day. Out of respect to the other musicians, missing rehearsal often means the student won’t be able to play in the show. Teachers can make exceptions in some circumstances.
Our goal is for our rehearsal run-through of your song to sound “concert-ready.” That said, don’t panic if the song quality isn’t quite what you were hoping for. Our rehearsals may not be as rigorous as other rehearsals you may have attended. A large part of our rehearsal process is allowing our teachers to see what changes are needed in the practice room before concert day. In this way, the rehearsal functions much like a “practice test.” This is why we hold rehearsal well ahead of the concert. The clarity of what parts need more practice is helpful for students and teachers as they prepare for the concert.
Rehearsal Etiquette
As music teachers, we take joy in sharing excellent rehearsal etiquette with our students. Here is a step-by-step process for building great rehearsal etiquette habits:
Show up early (at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time)
Unpack, tune, and check over your instrument to make sure everything is in proper order
3-5 minutes before your turn, tune your instrument again
When it is your turn to play:
Check your setup:
Vocals - microphone stand positioning
Guitar, Bass, Uke - amp volume, foot-switch, cable slack (not snagged or tangled)
Drums - entire drum set
Keyboard - bench height
After you have confirmed your setup is perfect for you, wait quietly and patiently! We fully understand the temptation to show off a cool new part you have been learning, but that is best saved for another time. We know setup checks are complete when no instruments are being played.
Everything that falls under ‘rehearsal etiquette’ also holds true for the concert!
Visitors and Sound Setup
Family and friends are welcome to join at rehearsal. Our rehearsal setup features monitors (speakers facing the band) but no speakers facing the audience. This will usually make for an unbalanced listening experience when sitting in the audience. The musicians can hear everything they need to hear, which is the important part of a rehearsal!
Concert Venues
No matter what venue we are playing, we would love to see your photos from the show! Use #OrencoMusic and @Orencomusic to tag us on social media.
Coyote’s Bar & Grill
Reservations
Coyote’s strongly encourages reservations, especially for larger groups. To make a reservation, please call the restaurant at (503) 640-7225. While we understand that most families prefer a table with a good view of the stage, reservations are seated based on party size in the way that makes the most sense for the restaurant. We fully support their decisions and are immensely grateful for their accommodations.
Dinner
Thanks to your support, Coyote's kitchen gets quite a bit busier than a normal weeknight, especially at the beginning of the concert between 6:00pm and 7:30pm. To help balance the rush, Coyote's recommends arriving before the start of the show, or planning to eat later in the show. We appreciate your understanding and for helping us remain excellent guests of Coyote's.
Concert Day Info
Checking In
There is no formal check in process at the rehearsal or concerts. When you arrive, your teacher may be in the middle of playing a song or helping another student. A simple wave or hello is the perfect way to let your teacher know that you are present with plenty of time before your song. Guitar and bass players should unpack and do an initial tuning. Drummers should begin warming up on a practice pad.
Attire
There is no specific dress code. Wear what makes you comfortable!
Concert Schedule
Click here to view the current rehearsal and concert schedules. This page automatically updates with each concert, so we recommend bookmarking it.
Timeliness
Our schedules are the product of continual refinement over the past 12 years. With live music, some fluctuation is to be expected, but we have the schedule dialed in such that we very rarely run more than 10 minutes ahead or behind. We request that you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time. This allows us to smoothly continue with the show if a song’s spot comes up a few minutes early. We will not start a song before its scheduled time if a musician is not present, but we will start it at the exact scheduled time.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any flexibility in the schedule if you miss your performance. In addition to the complexity of 150 musicians coming and going from the concert, we are under stringent time-constraints from our third-party venues. We are really bummed when a musician misses their performance, so please leave plenty of time to navigate unexpected traffic or parking issues.
Musician Checklist
Guitar checklist
guitar
strap
pick (and spare picks)
tuner
sheet music (if required)
Provided: amplifiers, foot-switch, and instrument cables
Bass checklist
bass
strap
tuner
sheet music (if required)
Provided: amplifiers and instrument cables
Piano/keyboard checklist
sheet music (if required)
Provided: keyboard, seat
Drum checklist
sticks
sheet music (if required)
Provided: drum set
Next Concert
After your performance, we hope you are buzzing with excitement and eager to begin preparing for the next concert. Often, suggestions for future concert songs may come to mind while you are enjoying the concert. We love hearing your ideas! Submit these ideas to our official song suggestion link. While you are more than welcome to discuss song ideas directly with your teacher, the best way for them to reach the planning stage of our process is to submit it via the official link.
Some teachers immediately begin planning for and working on your next concert song. Other teachers will use the lesson(s) following a concert to work on important technical studies, or to help you unwind after a hard push to concert day. Plan on communicating directly with your teacher to see how your post-concert lessons will be structured. Your teacher is always happy to work with you to meet your specific goals. See the Teacher Approaches section for more information.
A note on our “official” links: Every Student Concert involves approximately 150 students. If we weren’t careful, song ideas, schedule requests, and other similar bits of information could turn into sticky notes, scrap papers, and emails strewn about many desks, pockets, and email inboxes. We prefer a tidy, digital organization, so we are very appreciative of you using the official links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where do rehearsals take place?
A: Orenco Music
Q: Where do concerts take place?
A: Coyote's Bar & Grill
Q: How early should I arrive for the rehearsal and concert?
A: This is the #1 way you can help ensure the rehearsals and concerts stay on schedule for everyone. Please plan to arrive by your scheduled Arrival Time to unpack, tune, and be prepared if your song is ready to be played before the approximate time listed on the schedule. Sometimes our rehearsals and concerts run ahead of schedule. (Really!)
Q: Can we change our rehearsal or concert time?
A: While we cannot alter the schedule, your teacher may be able to change your song to one that fits your schedule.
Q: What if I cannot attend my rehearsal or concert time?
A: We know that schedules are always changing. If you cannot attend your rehearsal or concert time, please email us at info@orencomusic.com
Q: I told my teacher in person, or emailed them directly, about not being able to attend a certain part of the concert. Why isn’t that reflected in the schedule?
A: With 7 teachers, personal emails and sticky notes are very easy to misplace. Use this link to let us know of any schedule constraints, or this link to send in song suggestions, and email us at info@orencomusic.com with questions.
Q: Why am I listed on a song that I'm not playing?
A: We work on the schedule like a team of mad scientists at times, so if you see your name on an unexpected song, let your teacher know and we will correct it.
Q: Why is my name misspelled?
A: Sorry! It's important to us to spell your name correctly. Please let your teacher know and we will fix it.
Q: I have a community board at my school/workplace. Can I have a poster to put up to invite my friends to see me rock the stage?
A: You bet! Please ask your teacher at your next lesson.
Q: I know my friend or family member would have a great time learning an instrument and joining the concerts, but I can't seem to convince them. Will you help me bug them?
A: Absolutely.
Q: What if I have a question not covered in the FAQ?
A: Please email us at info@orencomusic.com