Do you perform when you hold a student / studio recital?

[hyrst]

I am wondering how often people perform when they hold a recital for their students.  Also, do you think it is desirable / appropriate to play in these situations?

Thanks for sharing your opinion 

[pianowolfi]

I do perform occasionally at my student's recitals. I like it and the feedback from the parents and students is very good. They have often asked me to perform. Sometimes there is not enough time though.

[hyrst]

Thanks for the response.

When I had my first studio recital, I wasn't sure what to do.  I had only beginners, and I thought playing might be a nice  way to end the programme.  Still, I wasn't sure what to do.  I don't remember why, but I did end up playing, even though I didn't put my name on the programme.

Last time, I didn't even mention it.  I had nothing prepared, but was asked to play - I played the adagio from Moonlight Sonata, since it is easy and popular.  When I asked the audience, they all cheered and said I should play - but then, they would probably think they were insulting me if they did anything else.  So, I am still not sure whether their cheers and compliments were because they actually wanted me to play or if they were being polite.

I have another recital coming up in a few weeks time.  I would like to be more prepared this time - either to decline playing or to have something performable.  I would like to lead the way - to know better what the right thing to do is.  I know that the audience have come to support their own children, and to hear what they have achieved.  I don't want to take the light away from them. 

Knowing what is appropriate is why I have started this poll - what do people do?

Thanks.

[thalberg]

I have never performed at my student's recitals, personally.  If you want to play, I'd suggest doing a duet with one of your students.  Parents always love that.  Even if it's easy.

I do have a friend who performed at his students' recital.  Personally, though, I don't like to do it.  When I have my own performance, I do invite the parents and students.

[mcgillcomposer]

I guess it depends on whether or not the student is attractive ...

[allthumbs]

I agree with thalberg, after all it is the students' recital.

[gyzzzmo]

Student recitals are for students. Its good for getting their confidence in performing, making the parents happy and abit of promotion. But its for students only and if you want to play it should be done in a duet.
If you want some bragging, do a personal recital and invite your students

[pianowolfi]

I don't agree with the bragging thing, it's not necessarily bragging to play at a student's recital. My experience is that my students/parents want to hear their teacher play. Some of them even wouldn't find it fair that they "have" to play and their teacher not And I certainly would not play if I actually had the feeling that they don't appreciate it.

[hyrst]

If I played a duet, I wouldn't know who to choose to play with - and what about those who I didn't play with?  Wouldn't they wonder why they weren't chosen?

It's harder than one would expect, to decide all the right things to do - planning the order of performance is another tricky thing. 

Do you think it is possible to worry too much about gettign it right?

[pianowolfi]

If I played a duet, I wouldn't know who to choose to play with - and what about those who I didn't play with?  Wouldn't they wonder why they weren't chosen?

It's harder than one would expect, to decide all the right things to do - planning the order of performance is another tricky thing. 

Do you think it is possible to worry too much about gettign it right?

Yes I think so . I like it most when my student's recitals are lively, cheering, a bit chaotic/improvised sometimes even lol I don't think students worry about if you play a duet with somebody and not with someone else. I use to play the duets I play with them in the lessons anyway. There was never a complaint about this from anybody. As for the order of performance, I find it makes sense to let the little ones play first, in general. They easily get scared and nervous if the olders and more advanced students play first. So I mostly go along the age spectrum.

[hyrst]

Thanks Pianowolfi - you always have really helpful responses :-)

I think I do worry  too much - and certainly fun is the heart of what I want in my students' recitals.  It is nice to benefit from others' experiences.

I have more uncertainty organising the programme this time - but I ended up pretty much putting it in age order, as you suggested.  My best student at the moment is actually one of my youngest.  I have a lot of 7 to 9 year olds, and a  few teenagers or larger 11 year olds.  I had started the list beginning with the 8 year olds, since they have more confidence - then I led to the littler ones before going to the adolescents.  After I had done this, I realised I had the little one (5) scheduled right next to an adolescent who has just begun lessons - not a good way to go!  The little one is going to play Saint-Seans' Swan (she is gifted).  She is very shy, so I didn't want to put her first - but I decided that was the only way to do it without making it seem strange for the older ones.  Maybe age is the simplest and least implicative way of doing things.

I have an awesome, positive and supportive group of students and families, anyway.  Maybe they don't even have any of the thought I worry about.

[thaicheow]

I don't play on my students' recital. I would do a separate recitals on my own, or invite other teachers to join in.

I don't want the audience to feel distract and steal the limelight from my students.

[gerry]

At best, performing at your students' recitals helps to reinforce for the parents your ability to teach competently and gives them a confidence that their $$$s aren't being wasted

[hyrst]

When the parents asked me to play. one said "To show the kids how it is done". 

[gerry]

When the parents asked me to play. one said "To show the kids how it is done". 

Of course the flip side of this is that it might show some of the parents how it shouldn't be done...   Perform at your own risk.

[hyrst]

Yes, that is always a possibility!