It’s that time of year in the piano world when the biggest buzzword is “recital.” Whether you’re hosting your first recital or your 10th, the goal is always this: Make sure that every student has a memorable and enjoyable experience.
This means that students need to feel comfortable with the piece they’re going to perform!
So, what is the purpose of a recital?
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Okay, so we’ve established how wonderful and beneficial recitals are – however, they do take some time and energy when it comes to preparation. But all of that preparation is SO worth it when I see my students’ faces LIGHT UP after their performances. #confidencebooster
Remember, this shouldn’t be stressful. Keep it fun, inviting, and above all – memorable. ♥️
When it comes to preparation, here are the must-knows about recitals ⬇️
Table of Contents
To dress up or to not dress up…
Personally, I give my students the option because I want them to feel comfortable. Whether you choose to ask them to dress up OR give them the choice, just make your expectations known!
PS – I definitely emphasize that this is a special event that they’ve worked hard for and that I (and their parents) would like for them to dress up. But at the end of the day, I am just glad that they show up!
A seat for everyone…
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Something special…🌹
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Choose a piece to perform…
Switch it up…
- It boosts the confidence of my beginner players! If they go first, they often correlate this with thinking they suck.
So now I randomly select the order of performances. Plus the little kids then have to stay and listen to the big kids play!
- The flow of the recital is fast-paced! Most of the little kids are beginners and so their pieces are around a minute, where the older kids might play for 3 or 4 minutes. Mixing it up keeps it from having all of the short pieces in the beginning and all of the long pieces at the end. Plus, It’s fun to watch a short beginner piece and then a longer, more advanced piece!
Setting the stage…
When it comes to decorating and setting up, you don’t have to break the bank! I usually buy all of my decorations from the dollar store or Amazon. I like to stick with a spring/summer theme since our recital is always in May. However, some teachers have specific themes and may want to align their decorations to match the theme!
I also host a potluck after the recital and everyone brings an appetizer or dessert to share! It’s a fun time to talk to everyone after the recital and give congratulations before summer break!
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Introduce performance etiquette…
We want to do our best in preparing our students for being in front of a crowd! In order for the recital to run as smooth as possible, here a few things to go over with your students:
When to bow
When to start playing
How long to wait before exiting the stage
What happens if they make a mistake
How to receive applause
Where to go after they finish their performance
Acknowledge each kiddo…
Have fun…
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