High School Senior Recital

[cjkeeno]

Hello,
I am currently a high school senior and am preparing for my spring senior recital. My teacher expects a 30-45 minute recital and am wondering anyone's opinion of memorizing the WHOLE program.

I am terrible at memorizing pieces and would prefer to read SOME of the music. Is this okay for a recital?

As of now, I am currently learning Revolutionary Etude by Chopin. Also, my recital will probably include various hymn arrangements (mostly by Mark Hayes), Scherzo in e minor by Mendelssohn. 

Thank you!

[bleicher]

If you perform better with the music, play with the music. However it could be useful for you to perform some of the programme from memory in order to practise memorising.

[cjkeeno]

Thank you for your response!
Yes, I definitely will memorize some of my faster pieces (i.e. CHOPIN! lol) just because it's easier to play these types of pieces memorized.

[asiantraveller101]

Play the hymn arrangements with music; Chopin and Mendelssohn from memory. Once I did a recital of all hymn arrangements, and I played with music since it is just too much for me to memorize all the different arrangements. However, on the other hand, I always play my recitals from memory. Have fun and good luck!

[ramseytheii]

O God, do we really have to go through this again?  Look, no matter what happens on your High School Senior Recital, it won't affect your Juilliard admissions.

Walter Ramsey