Because the population of today's schools is so multicultural, teachers may find a variety of religious beliefs represented in their classrooms, from Islam, Judaism, and Christianity to Jehovah's Witnesses, Hinduism, atheism, and many others. All of which makes the season of December a little tricky to navigate, even when one is teaching "the universal language." For music directors everywhere, planning a big December concert--often their students' first exposure to the public--can be one frustration after another. December concerts are among the most important and potentially fraught musical events of the school year, but things go easier if music teachers know their audience's expectations and plan accordingly.