May is spring recital month. This is very exciting. And very stressful. Here are the things that go into making a recital happen.
1) Booking the venue. For me this is pretty easy and happens a few months beforehand. I have been using the same place for years, so they are pretty quick to approve my using the space.
2) Notifying students/families of the recital date and finding out who can participate. Notification normally happens right after the venue approves the date. I get quick responses from some families and others do not know their schedules yet. For both, I start working with students to pick their recital songs right away.
3) Picking and preparing songs. In general, students should chose songs that they either already know or can learn and be confident playing before the recital. The purpose of a recital is not to show off all your newest skills. It is to get used to sharing what you have been working on/what you have mastered with others. It is also about learning to deal with nerves and do well in spite of them
4) Planning for the day of. Making sure all the students are ready. Preparing and printing programs. Making sure there are snacks for afterwards (with many thanks to the families that bring them :)). Making sure there are enough plates and cups for said snacks. Getting the piano moved and ready for the recital. Having back up sheet music in case a student forgets theirs.
There are a lot of small details that go into making a recital happen. In general, I try to keep recitals as simple as possible and not forget that this is an opportunity to let the students shine.
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