christmas recitals

[jpianoflorida]

do you have christmas recitals?    the season gets so busy, I have had my students do "home recitals' for the last 10 years and they are very successful.  Each student plays 5 pieces for their family and friends sometime over the holidays and reports back to me about the recital. The student and parents plan the recital, programs, etc.....   some do it at their church, some at family gatherings, some plan a special recital evening.    i get invited to most but am usually only able to maybe attend 1 or 2.

[penguinlover]

I had one a year ago.  It was pretty small, I had it in my home.  Each student played two pieces, Christmas carols, and I played one.  I had two students do a duet.  I organized it not as to ability level, but as to the Christmas story.  I read the Christmas story in between the pieces.  It turned out very nice, but I really needed a bigger place to do it.

[hyrst]

I am holding the year's big studio recital at the beginning of November - with party and all.  I figure it's a lot easier on the families (and me) before things get too busy with the seasonal events.  I believe it is really important for students to play for each other, to get to know others who are learning and share experiences with them and to play in front of people they don't know (One student had started talking about quitting because school friends didn't care he was learning.  He said, "What is the point in playing if noone will listen to you"  He is very happy that other kids will be hearing him play at the recital).  

The most enthusiastic kids are always playing in front of people at home - grandparents, siblings, parents and friends.  The ones who aren't so keen (I'm lucky enough to only have a couple of those!) won't play for others if I tell them it's an assignment.  Having a recital gives everyone a different type of performance experience - much broader and more demanding one.

I am making my final one a big party - letting everyone know the focus is on the younger students, but trying to cater to all ages (I don't have a big group of students yet, only 15 - next year I will have different age group recitals).  There will be party games so the kids mix and get to know each other - and so the event becomes fun rather than just performing.  (I want the kids to associate performance with fun and appreciation as well as nerves.) I would encourage my students to enter eisteddfods, etc, when they are ready - but I think playing for each other is something that most will do, although few will enter competitions.

The other thing about holding a recital for the studio is building professional and positive relationships with student's parents and friends.  This November, I am going to meet parents I have never met before, and make acquaintance with other relatives and friends.  Friends of students are coming - which means more exposure (advertising).  All the parents who have said they are coming have expressed appreciation of my efforts - another bonus (we don't get a lot of feedback from most parents).  It also seems to foster a professisonal image - it shows we care about the whole development of the student.  (I stress to my students that music is something cultural, something that is meant to be shared - also, performance development and self-confidence affect other areas of life.)

I am fairly stressed, but very excited about the upcoming student recital.  Parents have become focused and more involved (one parent has even bought a suit for a little boy - which amused me rather, but I value), students are thinking about how their playing sounds and are really learning a couple of pieces each.  I wouldn't be without this!

Annah

[jpianoflorida]

all good points...i hold my formal annual recital in april...in june we have nursing home recitals.....

[galonia]

The way my teacher used to hold the Christmas recital was this:

Students would each play a piano piece of their own choice.  Interspersed between the solo piano pieces may be solo performances on other instruments (e.g. some students also play violin or flute) or ensemble pieces (e.g. piano duets, or other instrumental combinations as decided by the students) or original compositions.  This was all meant to be fun - the other three recitals during the year are quite formal.

At the end of the recital, the students would do a group performance of some sort.  Sometimes it might be acting out something e.g. the Nutcracker, or Swan Lake - the senior students would play the music on the piano, and the more junior students would do the acting and the singing.  One year we did The Twelve Days of Christmas - all the students sang as one big group.

Then right after that, one senior student would play a very cheery Christmas Carol, and usually one of the fathers or a more senior male student would come in dressed as Santa Claus and hand out chocolates to all the children (the younger students, as well as the siblings of students).

Then it was party time - the parents can chat with each other, have a cup of tea, while the children ran around and ate sweets and cakes.

It made for a long recital, but because it was all in a fun atmosphere, everyone looks forward to it.  It also meant students are able to showcase other musical talents besides solo piano playing, and work together in groups, which is something solo pianists need.

In our studio, the main examinations for those students who sit them are held in early or mid October, so between then and the Christmas recital (usually late November) everyone in the studio just focuses on preparing for that recital.  Also, my teacher has regular group lessons so they would be used to rehearse the group singing and acting, as well as there being one dress rehearsal of this component before the actual recital.  It's a lot of work!

[hyrst]

A lot of work, yes - but it sounds very valuable and a lot of fun.  Sounds like fond memories.  I hope I can do the same sort of thing some day.

[sayrabee]

Our Christmas recital this year is on Dec. 15th and we are going to celebrate Beethovens birthday and play our own compositions just for fun. So many of my students like creating their own music, it will be nice for them to have the opportunity to play it for others. We are going to give out a "Schroeder Award" and just have more fun with it. Last time was very simple....everyone get up, play their music, and have refreshments. But i want it to be more fun, and i agree...not just something you have to do twice a year. I plan on having a student emcee this time around too, i hate public speaking!

[sayrabee]

whoops, December 16th. I should proof : )

[instromp]

We have one at my school every year.

Not so much just piano but the school band,orchestra,concert choir,gospel choir, and the piano students perform.Its pretty cool, i didnt perform last year but i will this year  .