Recital Prep for Students

 Students, your turn this week! The recital is coming up quickly. Maybe you're feeling nervous about getting up in front of everyone, or maybe you're excited for the big event. Either way, if you know what you need to do, things will go much smoother, so please read to the end!

• On Friday or Saturday before the recital, flag your books! Put a sticky note on the page with the song you are playing, so you can flip to it easily and quickly at the recital! If you have loose sheet music, make sure you have it with you (preferably in a binder and flagged). If you're playing from a book, and you have a page turn and haven't memorized the second page, get your mom or dad to photocopy pages so you don't have to do a page turn. (This does not apply if you're playing from memory, though it won't hurt to bring your books along anyways even if you're not planning on using them.)

• Does it make you nervous to play in front of people? If so, that's OK -- most people feel this way! So, leading up to the recital, perform a lot for your family and friends. This will help you not to be so nervous. Don't forget to get them to sign your music or notebook in pencil! 
• Recitals are special, so now's a good chance to wear your best clothes! Dress nicely, and don't forget to put on your smiles. :)
•    When you and your family come in and sit down, find a spot close to the edge of the seats so you can get in and out easily.
•      This recital is a little different than most of my recitals! You may be playing both of your pieces back-to-back, like we normally do. Or you may be playing your pieces at different times in the program. So please read the program carefully and make sure you check whether you're playing two songs at once, or each of your songs separately!  
• If you're playing both your songs back-to-back, when it's your turn, come to the front, take a deep breath, and say the names of both the pieces you will be playing. 
• If you're playing your songs one at a time, each time it's your turn, come to the front, take a deep breath, and say the name of just your first song (or just your second, if it's your second time up). 
• Then, if you need to move the piano bench forwards or backwards, do it before you sit down. After that, you may sit down, breathe, and start playing! 
• If you make a mistake in your piece, don't panic. Everybody makes mistakes at recitals, sooner or later. Just pretend absolutely nothing happened. Keep playing, keep smiling, and chances are nobody will ever know you messed it up. Don't start over unless it's really, really bad. 
• When you're finished, smile, then bow or curtsey while people are still clapping (once!). After that, pick up your books, and go sit down with your family again. If you have both your songs together, do this after you're done both songs. If you'll be going back to your seat between songs, do this after each song.
• When the other students play, clap at the end of each of their pieces. 
• When we're finished, if you thought someone played especially well, tell them so. Here's an extra challenge: Tell them what you really liked about their piece. (Example: "I really liked how you did your crescendo," or chord, or whatever it was you liked best.)
• Enjoy the snacks! (Don't forget to ask your parents, before the recital, to have a plate of snack food ready to bring along and share.)