A few weeks to a month before recital date my students are hopefully polishing up their pieces! I don’t require my students to play from memory. I have been a little more lenient on this aspect the last four or five years. I feel it is important for a student to play musically and enjoy the experience. If that means they need their music in front of them, then I’m okay with that. Some students perform better from memory, and that is great! I encourage those students to play from memory. During the weeks leading up to recital I like to practice proper recital etiquette with my students. This includes walking on stage, bowing, putting music on the rack if they have it, adjust the bench or piano rack if necessary, taking the time to think about their music before starting to play, picking up their music and bowing after they play, and walking off the stage. I try to be very thorough in going over every little detail. It really makes a difference to the students and their overall experience if they are comfortable in knowing what to do. I have included a couple handouts I like to give to my students when helping them prepare for recital.
What to do when playing in a recital
Strategies for Reliable Memory in Music Performance
There are many ways to put together a recital. Your imagination is really the limit. Where I work, we do two recitals a year. One in the winter and another in the spring. I like to have my students perform two pieces. For the winter recital one of the pieces is a Christmas song of their choosing.
Piano Recital, Winter 2017
Winson: Rudolph; PBJ Blues
Joanna: Jingle Bells; I’ve Gotta Toccata
Esther: Deck the Halls; The Wild Colt
Jasmine: Silent Night; Theme from The Swan
Sophie: Joy to the World; Alley Cat Caper
Thomas: Deck the Halls; Boogie Brigade
Alex: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Scherzetto
Joanna: Singing Away in a Manger (She takes voice from another teacher at CSA. I wish you could have seen her! She is so cute!)
Serina: Santa Clause is Coming to Town; Chopin, Prelude in D-Flat Major.
Priscilla Kjorlaug: Carol of the Bells; Debussy, Prelude from Suite Bergumasque
Piano Recital Spring 2018
Here is a save the date card I made and sent out to all the parents of my students.
Spring Recital 2018!
Alex: Rainy Day Blues by Marin Cuellar, Dance of the Wind by Timothy Brown
Thomas: Olympic Fanfare arr by Faber, Peanut Brittle by David Carr Glover
Esther: Chimichanga Cha-Cha by Jennifer Linn, My Favorite Things arr by Fred Kern
Addy: Scenic Train Ride by Faber, Painter in the Park by Faber
Ophelia: Dinosaur Music Night by Faber, Little Lost Kitty by Faber
Winson: Little Brown Jug arr by Helen Marlais, Calypso Charlie by Bill Boyd
Ishita: Rainbows by Timothy Brown, Merry Merry Go Round by Jennifer Linn
Sophia: Pachelbel Canon arr by Faber, In The Groove by Mona Rejino
Serina: Time Traveler by Kevin Olson, Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64, No. 1, by Frederic Chopin
Will: The I Like Song by Faber, Old McDonald Had A Song arr by Faber
Jasmine: Forest Drums by Faber, Over the Rainbow arr by Faber
Joanna: Do-Re-Mi arr by Faber, Bumbleebee Rumble by Jennifer Linn
Priscilla Kjorlaug: How Great Thou Art arr by Mark Hayes
