That sounds like a lovely program. I have been talking in a different post about preparing psychologically for a performance, not only physically. You cannot underestimate the importance of this, no matter how hard you practice, if you don't prepare your brain for the overly-stimulated situation you will be in there is way to much room for problems to ocurr.I would recommend:1) Practice the pieces in smaller and smaller sections, so you can eventually start any piece from virtually any measure (or every 2 or 3 measures). This will keep you from having memory lapses as you will be able to start right away from the nearest measure. You will have practiced for that.2) How do you have your music memorized? If someone gives you blank graph paper would you be able to write out the notes? If you think about the music in your head do you have to see your hands moving about the keyboard? If you do, you are relying almost exclusively on muscle memory which is the most fickle memory of all in a performance situation. Every night between now and your concert date, while you lie in bed, choose a different movement to go through completely in your head. Close your eyes and see every single note you play, both hands. For example if it starts with a C major chord think to yourself "left hand CEGC right hand EGCE". Do not do it picturing your hands, do it seeing the score. When you start out you might want to have your score nearby as this is not as easy as it sounds. At first it will be very mentally tiring and it may take you even 10 minutes or more to do a page but as you do it every night you will get better and better and eventually you'll be able to do a movement in your head in less time than it takes to play.3)Analyze the biggest harmonic shifts in each piece. This will add yet another dimesion to your memory base so that you can latch on to the basic harmony of a section if you run into problems.4) Visualize your performance: about twice a week or more close your eyes, see yourself in the hall, wearing what you will be wearing, with the right shoes, the lights shining on the stage, the piano waiting for you and the audience there as well. Picture people you know will be there as well as other unkown faces. If you start feeling nervous imagining this STOP the performance. Now focus on a moment in your life when you felt something you did was the best thing in the world, filled youwith satisfaction, could be anything, passing an exam, doing a project that you thought was great, anything. Let yourself get full of that feeling and once you think you have it and can control it, transfer it back to the image of your concert. That is how youwill feel when you are there playing. Satisfied, fulfilled. Picture yourself walking on stage and sitting at the piano feeling this way, if you begin to lose it go back to the happy image and get it back. Start playing your pieces at the performance in your mind, always focusing on the music you're creating, visualize you pleaying from that memory you hae cultivated, you know every note, no need for rushing. Maybe the pedal squeaks a little or maybe someone in the audience has a coughing fit, but none of this matters because you have this amazing feeling inside and the music is jut bringing it out. Do this every week before your actual performance and you will have performed your program completely, in front of an audience, and in control for 5 or 6 times before the actual one. If you do it right, your brain won't know the difference.5) a week to a week and a half efore your recital do a pre-recital at home for your family and close friends. Performing pieces in public for the first time without ever having done a run through for a small group is a bad idea. You will learn so much from that first time, and you ideally don't want it to be in front of the real audience. 6) If for some reason you can't arrange a recital run-through at your home (or someone else's) then I suggest you record yourself all the time, from now until your performance. Ideally both in audio and video. knowing you are being recorded adds nerves to your playing at home and will give you an idea of what things are less secure. Listen to your recordings and use that to show you what needs more work.This may seem like a lot to do, but it can be done. The main things are:- create memory backups and practice consciously- Perform in your head many times before the actual performance- Get your program out in front of other people at least once before your recital.Best of luck, I'm sure you will be fabulous!Elenahttps://www.pianofourhands.com
Do you have any specific tips for my repertoire(esp. Beethoven and Chopin)?
I suggest you record yourself all the time, from now until your performance. Ideally both in audio and video. knowing you are being recorded adds nerves to your playing at home and will give you an idea of what things are less secure.
Topic: Playing my first piano recital 