Planning a recital - any suggestions?

[deirpg]

Hi there!

I had a small recital for just my students at Christmas time, but now I'm in the process of planning a summer recital for students and parents.

I'm wondering if I'm forgetting anything.

- found a place to hold the recital
- need to type up a letter to parents explaining where, when, etc. and asking to bring a bit of food
- Awards and medals for some of the students
- Plan songs for the kids
- get someone to videotape it


Does anyone think that awarding a select few students will cause problems?  I don't want to hurt any of the other students who didn't win.  

Any other suggestions?

Deirdre

[lc3606]

I'm also having my first recital in a few weeks.  I have secured the location, sent out announcements, requested help with refreshments and other duties students can help with (pass our programs, serve refreshments, etc.).  I trust you are working very hard with the students on their pieces?  I have a few that I despair will never learn their pieces satisfactorily.  

One thing I am wondering about though - I teach mostly primer level students and I wonder if the attendees will be unhappy at listening to multiple primer pieces.  I have perhaps 1/4 of my students playing standard repertoire, with the rest playing from Level 1 or Primer Level.  Have any of you conducted such recitals?  What was the response?

[janice]

Don't forget the printed programs!  I gave a recital back when I had students (20 students) I had some programs printed up via computer.  This worked out well because it was basically free for me, and if I needed more, I could just photocopy it off.  I just had an idea, you could do that but use colored paper.  You could actually make a very professional program at little cost to you.
    Also, I had every student prepare TWO pieces.  I allowed my students to use their music <gasp> because I was afraid someone would get up there and blank out, and I just didn't want to deal with that--lol.  I was much younger, so I was fairly immature--lol.
    Also, you COULD have a dress rehearsal.  I never did.  But I guess that that depends on how nervous you are (or your students) beforehand.
    I had my kids play in alphabetical order.  I don't know as that was a good idea, because someone might get up and play a Beethoven Sonata (this is hypothetical, ok?!)followed by "Mary Had A Little Lamb".  Not really--but you get the idea, right?  When I was little, I remember that we started with the easiest piece, and ended with the most difficult.
    How about if YOU perform at the end??  This could be a great motivation for students.  I ended by playing a duet for two pianos.  The kids were totally enthralled by the two huge shiny concert grand Steinways!
    Make sure that every child gets an award of some sort. Go in alphabetical order, so that the last person doesn't feel like they are the worst one because they are last.  Know what I mean? Just try to put yourself in each child's shoes, and you should be ok.
    Decorate the room/auditorium in advance, if you plan on decorating.  I didn't do that, but it's an idea.
    Let us know what you plan on doing and how it goes!  Lot's of luck!!!
                                    Janice

[squinchy]

Don't forget to set aside 2 minutes at the end so the parents can take cheesy photos of their kids with all the other performers!  

[deirpg]

Wow - thank you for all of the input!

I just secured the place where the recital will be held.  Wow, I can't believe I nearly forgot programs.  My husband is a whiz at the computer, so that won't be an issue.

The only problem I have with giving everyone awards is that not everyone deserves them.  If I give awards to the poor students, it lessens the impact of the awards for the exceptional students.  I hope that makes sense.  I understand that kids don't want to be hurt, but at the same time, if I'm rewarding them for not practicing and not working very hard, they'll never work hard.  And it can be quite discouraging for the exceptional students if everyone is aknowledged in the same way.  Do you know what I mean?

Deirdre

[janice]

I understand what you are saying.  I just remembered something that my first teacher (the one who gave out the awards) did.  I would paper clip an index card inside of my notebook each week, and the teacher would put a gold star on it for every 15 or 30 minutes (I can't remember which) that I had practiced that week.  My mom would have to write it down herself, so there was no way that I could have lied.  This works two ways--1)  the weekly reinforcement (gold stars--and I got to lick them myself and stick them on the card all by myself!  Ohhhh, I get shivers thinking about the thrill! lol).  2) I had a goal that I worked at all year long, and that was to accumulate the most gold stars.  And a trophy was given to the person with the most gold stars.  (btw--I won the trophy one year!  Yeah!!)  One problem with this--you would need to modify it some, since the more advanced students obviously practice more.  So you would need to make a variation in it.  Good luck!!

[thomas_williams]

Suppose you give all of your students a certificate to show that they performed in the recital, but give the best ones something extra?

[thomas_williams]

Hey, nice timing Janice!

[bernhard]

The only problem I have with giving everyone awards is that not everyone deserves them.  If I give awards to the poor students, it lessens the impact of the awards for the exceptional students.  I hope that makes sense.  I understand that kids don't want to be hurt, but at the same time, if I'm rewarding them for not practicing and not working very hard, they'll never work hard.  And it can be quite discouraging for the exceptional students if everyone is aknowledged in the same way.  Do you know what I mean?

Deirdre

Yes you are right.

But Janice is also right.

So here are two different sorts of compromise:

1. Have different awards. You can have big diplomas, mediun diplomas, small diplomas. Or golden. silver and bronze medals.

2. This a bit harsher. Do not allow the worse students to take part in the recital as players - they can oly be part of the audience. Only the ones who can play well can play at the recital. This way everyone who gets to play gets to get an award. And the ones who do not play this recital will hopefully mend their ways so that they can paly in the next one. Or you could allow only the good students to play solo, the not so good ones would have to play duets with you.

Probably too late for implementing any of these suggestions now, but you can try them at the next one!

Good luck,
Bernhard.

[janice]

Do not allow the worse students to take part in the recital as players - they can oly be part of the audience. Only the ones who can play well can play at the recital. This way everyone who gets to play gets to get an award. And the ones who do not play this recital will hopefully mend their ways so that they can paly in the next one.  

NOT a good icea!  It might be seen as "cruel" by some of the parents.  However,

 Or you could allow only the good students to play solo, the not so good ones would have to play duets  

this is a fabulous idea!!  And these kids would absolutely love to play with their teacher!  Little do they know WHY they have been "chosen" to do the duet instead of a solo! LOL  And since kids catch on to the enthusiasm of the teacher, you will have to act all enthusiastic and say that they have been specially "chosen" for this wonderful "honor".  Great idea!!

[keyofc]

As far as awards/certificates go - siince I just had my recital Saturday I can tell you how I handled it.
I gave a certificate to everyone - but they were all different - listing something unique about their music.

Best use of dynamics
Works out complex Rythms
etc.
If you look at every student you will find something that sets them apart from the others.  They may lack in other skills, but there is something that they are all better at.
At least this was the case for me.

I also had a practicing contest and gave a gift certificate at the music store for the one who won.  That motivated a lot of them and eased my n erves knowing they really were practicing more.

[mschopinliszt]

Hi.  Just had my Christmas Recital last Sunday and will tell you what i did as far as recognition for recent competitions.  The local chapter of MTNA sponsors a small  festival in November.  I had 13 out of 43 playing.  Out of those 13, 11 received Gold medals, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze.  In order to avoid making the Bronze winner feel even worse than she already did, i highlighted them ALL in the program as *Medal Winner*.  The gold people know who they are, and this enabled the bronze gal - who really did her best - to save face.  Certificates of *participation* are nice to hand out to all.... and quite easy to download on computer.  Good luck!

[drjames]

I went to my daughter's middle school winter band concert this month.  She is in 6th grade and decided she wanted to play the clarinet.  I was quite impressed by what I heard after only three months of instruction.  The 6th graders went first and I thought they were very good.  Then the 7th graders played and again I thought they were impressive.  Then the 8th graders played last and once again I thoroughly enjoyed the performance.  Now if the order had been reversed I don't know that I would have been all that impressed by the 6th graders playing.  I suggest that as a group the beginners go first but in alphabetical order within the group.  Then the next level and so on.  Of course I don't know how many we are talking about but the idea is that starting with the beginners first allows the listener to be continuously impressed by each childs' performance because they don't yet have a much better one to compare it too. Jim.

[bwv772]

Have a look at the current issue (winter 2005) of Keyboard Companion, www.keyboardcompanion.com, for other tips:

- Keep the recital at 45 minutes max;

- Each child shall play his pieces at different times during the program;

- Each child shall play his pieces "should-sound-first-try" at least three weeks before the recital;

- Each child shall choose his own recital pieces;

- Do not make the students sit in the front row and go through the torture of not being able to move or speak while they wait their turn;

- Do not let a child play without warming up;

- Do teach recital deportment before the final dress rehersal;

- Play from memory should be left up to the student;

It's an interesting article that describes in detail all these points.  The magazine itself is great, I love it, it has sections on Teachers/Parents/Student, Home Practice, Music Reading, Technique, Rhythm, Perspective in Pedagogy, Adult Piano Study, Repertoire and Performance, Technology, etc... It's geared for teachers.

It's a neat format, they submit a question to a panel of teachers and experts, for example, "What steps do you assign for the process of sight-reading", "How do you teach the rhythm challenges of the Chopin 'Prelude in E Minor'" and you read what these people have to say about it.  Different opinions and points of view, great reading.

I have no links to the magazine by the way, I only subscribe to it. And I'm not a teacher I'm an 'Adult Student', but I get quite a bit out of it.

[jzp93]

Hi,

My son goes to a music school run by Russian teachers. They have a recital every 6 months (July and December). Each student get's to play 2 pieces. Before the recital a letter is sent to parents telling them when, where and that the recital is a potluck party. Everyone eats after the recital. A special note is also sent saying "Please clap and show your appreciation to students even when they make mistakes. It is hard for student to learn when they feel ashamed or embarassed and it's okay for children to make mistakes". There are over 600 piano students so the recital is held 3 weekends in a row with 27 students per 2 hour interval starting at 12pm, 2pm, 4pm,...giving enough time for a short potluck before the next recital begins. The recital is organized from easiest to the most difficult pieces played last. A certificate is given to EVERYONE saying that they have completed a piano study for 6 months, etc...I don't think awards are good. An exceptional student knows he is exceptional and does not need an award. IT will discouraged other students instead of encouraging them. They will feel; that if they can't play as good they will never be good. Remember, these are children. Do not make them feel discouraged at this age. Most of the students in the first hald make a lot of mistakles which is OKAY. The latter students plays very good. We have 6 year olds who plays sonatina's and 9 year olds who plays invention by back and other difficult pieces effortlessly. What they did with some of the exceptional students was asked them to play extra recitals on another date. This I think is a good idea. But no one got a special award in front of other students for being exceptional.