About Music Meetups

However relaxed and supportive our Friday Concerts are, they are still concerts, with performers and audiences. The New School’s Music Meetups – which like our concerts take place twice each term on Fridays at 6.30 – 7.30 pm – are something different.

Music Meetups are student led, casual, sometimes collaborative, but most of all not concerts. First and foremost, there is no separation of performers and audiences. You go to a Music Meetup to share something you’re working on with others. It could be piece or song (or even part of one), in any genre or style. It could also be a song or piece that you composed yourself. The level doesn’t matter. Beginners are as welcome to share what they’re working on as advanced players or singers. Meetups are also opportunities to meet other students and even collaborate with them. The point is that everyone is there to share and to play or sing something in a more public setting. Although Meetups aren’t designed for this, you can also ask other participants for their feedback after you play or sing your piece or song. But please don’t give your feedback unless someone asked for it! (This and other protocols are listed in the Protocols tab.) Although whoever is ‘on’ is welcome to use the stage and piano in Room 12 (our largest classroom), participants are otherwise seated in a large circle. Overall, Music Meetups are a great way to develop your confidence as a performer in a more relaxed setting than our Friday Concerts.

2026-2027 Music Meetup Dates

23 October 2026
27 November 2026
12 February 2027
5 March 2027
7 May 2027
4 June 2027

Music Meetup Guidelines

Because Music Meetups are student-led, it’s important to follow these guidelines to ensure a positive experience for everyone.

• All participants should pay €2 to the school office when they arrive to help pay for lighting and heat.
• Before the Meetup starts, decide as a group how to manage your time so that everyone is given an equal opportunity to play/sing. (Keep in mind that people may join the Meetup after it has started.)
• Also decide on the order of playing or singing. (Since the group will be seated in a circle, you could decide, for example, on who goes first and then move from there in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.)
• Be respectful and listen to each other
• Be mindful of giving feedback – and only if someone asks for it. Encouragement and support are welcome and positive, but constructive criticism should only be given if requested.
• Keep in mind that Meetups aren’t concerts. Participants are there to share what they are working on, whether it is polished and finished or not. So they are there to share their music-making with each other rather than to perform for each other.
• Enjoy the Meetup!