How to prepare your students' recital?

[canardroti]

Hi there, I am organizign a little recital for my students to participate in.
I reserved a location thinking it was the most important thing. However, I did not think about things like preparing flyers with map and direction. Should I have a reception afterwards? Should I handle little certificate? I am not part of any club or teacher's organization and maybe 5 of my students will play . Any input would be appreciated.

[myriadwhims]

Hi there, I am organizign a little recital for my students to participate in.
I reserved a location thinking it was the most important thing. However, I did not think about things like preparing flyers with map and direction. Should I have a reception afterwards? Should I handle little certificate? I am not part of any club or teacher's organization and maybe 5 of my students will play . Any input would be appreciated.

Hi, I just got done hosting my own student's recital last night.  I ended up collaborating with a couple other teachers. (It's a lot of work managing a recital alone).

 It is important that the parents can get to the location.  You can make easy directions using Google Maps to hand out to parents.  Make sure they have a way to get in touch if they get lost.  A few snacks like lemonade and cookies are always a hit, plus coffee for the parents is always appreciated.

I personally don't do certificates.  Instead I focus on being positive and making sure to congratulate each student that plays in order to make the recital as fun as possible. 

[lostinidlewonder]

Be encouraged to visit your local newspaper and ask them to do a story on your student concert. You should also visit social clubs, churches, schools etc and offer them free tickets to the event. This will draw more people to your concert. Also invite local politicians and vips, invite the newspaper to come as well to do a story on the concert.

You should encourage your students family to maybe all bring one "finger food" dish each for the concert during intermission? It is always nice to have this. You should also think about doing something at the end of the concert so the performer and audience can mingle.

You should perhaps also play at the concert, especially if the level of your students is intermediate/beginner. You should also think about what you want to say about each of your students to the audience and perhaps get your students to say something about the pieces that they will play, who the composer is, what the piece is about etc.

Think about decorating the stage too with some flowers or something. Maybe a local florist can sponsor

[berniano]

Having an informal reception afterwards is always fun for the students and their parents, esp. as it encourages the students to stay for each other's performances. Also, I've found that the parents and their students like to get to know each other at receptions. Make sure the parents can get to the recital by emailing them the directions so that they can print them off themselves and not have to be worried about losing papers. Also, print up a program with composer, piece, etc. Students and parents love to save these, and it's less hassle than a certificate.