Online Recital Prep: Things the Parent Should Know

 Is the spring recital really only a week away? Wow! 

   I envy the teachers in other parts of the world who no longer have to do a Zoom recital. Or maybe I don't. If I were doing an in-person recital, it would be either at my house or a nursing home. That would mean I'd have to be better organized than I am currently. In-person is way more fun, but Zoom recitals are easier: All the teacher has to do is show up.

   And give these instructions. 

   Please read! (Even if you're doing pre-recorded videos. Obviously the Zoom settings part won't apply to you, but you might get some ideas for watching the recital later on.)

  Parents, to prepare for a live Zoom performance: 

• Be there -- not just you, but your whole family! The idea of a recital, be it in-person or over Zoom, is to celebrate what your child can do. Just because it's at home, don't make it an excuse for everyone else to be off in their own bedrooms playing video games while your young pianist is nervously performing in front of a screen for other's benefit. 
• Help your child feel relaxed before the recital. Many children get very nervous before a recital, which doesn't help them play their best! All your children are prepared for this. And, much as we'd like it if everything went perfectly, mistakes do happen and they're not a big deal. Remind them of these things. They will be fine!(Tip: Zoom recitals are way more relaxed than in-person recitals. Which means mistakes are even less of a big deal than they were in-person. Not that they were a big deal to begin with. It's all good!)
• Set up comfortable seating around the piano area, including for your young pianist. Please don't leave them on the bench for the entire recital. This won't help them relax. 
• Setting up Zoom: This is very important! Your webcam should be in a similar position as it is for lessons -- looking at a side view of the piano. Except, because I will have students bowing at the end of their performance, you may want to give more room between the webcam and the piano than you would in a lesson, so they aren't smacking their heads on it when they bow. Another important thing: Open your Zoom settings. Click on Audio, then Advanced. Where it says 'Suppress persistent background noise,' turn it to Low. On 'Music and Professional Audio,' select High Fidelity Music Mode. If the audio is not set correctly, Zoom has a tendency of tuning out the piano so you can't hear it. Not good! 
• Log in to our recital five minutes early. 
• Mute yourself while your child is not playing. Remind family members to be quiet while your child is playing. And encourage them to actually listen to the others while they're playing. 
•       Even though it's awkward on Zoom, show your appreciation for each performer (whether they're playing live or pre-recorded video) by unmuting on Zoom and clapping for them when they're done. Other people's children have worked just as hard as yours; please acknowledge that! 
• Help your child participate in the activity I've chosen. Unlike our Christmas recital, there won't be a question to answer, but there will be a Music Bingo sheet for them to practice listening. That will add a touch of fun to our recital, since we can't have the party atmosphere of being together! 
• Optional: Turn recital day into a family party! Have some snacks ready for post-recital. Keep it simple (who needs more complication in their life?!) but fun.