A beginners question about performance

[robertcross]

i've been practicing piano regularly as an adult (37 years old) with a great teacher for 3 years now. My teacher and i work through repitiore, technique (hannon/ czerny), some sight reading excersises, ear training etc. Shes a violist in my local orchestra.
She usually assigns me some measures of 3-4 pieces a week + encourages me to work on a personally chosen piece, and we'll work through that over time as well.

shes having me go through john thompsons grade 2 book rn, and rcm grade 2. That said, i've never performed a piece for anyone. I've asked her if it would be good to train for a performance, She says she's thinking about incorporating live recitals, but hasn't yet. She also has ensured me performance training is vastly different than training for our practice sessions, and it requires a different skill set.

should performing for an audience be a necessesary part of my journey or right now as a 2-3 year learner should it not be necessary?

shes a great teacher and really our sessions are great, but am i missing something as a learner by not performing any of these pieces?

[brogers70]

As an adult learner, although one with now 25 years of playing, I find performing very helpful and enjoyable. Eventually you may get to a level at which you can play music interesting enough that people will enjoy hearing it, in small venues like churches, nursing home, private homes, etc. It is very rewarding to play for other people. It's also hard to get used to, and the nerves are likely to expose whatever flaws there are in your technique and preparation. So getting used to playing for others, even at a relatively early stage is, I think, pretty helpful. So I'd say, as soon as your teacher organizes a recital for her students, definitely go for it. Also, find whatever opportunities you can to play for family or friends, or play when there's a contractor in your house or whatever, anything to get used to the nerves that come with playing in front of somebody else. The earlier you start, the easier it will be.

[ranjit]

I find it very helpful too. I would go so far as to say it's crucial.