Recital: How it went (read for details)

[puma]

     Not so long ago Elena had posted "why don't we get more feedback-  we give out advice, then you guys play here and there but don't respond!"  Well, here it is:
     I played for a very small recital (about ten people) tonight, playing Chopin's Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1.  I was a little nervous and amped, but my teacher had prepared some snacks and whatnot so we talked for quite a while - about 45 minutes before starting.  I kept zoning out on Elton John's "Your Song" because I had just transposed it and was listening to it a million times.  Two people went before me and played some beginning Chopin and I believe a Bach piece.  Not so bad for beginners.  Then it's my turn....
    Well, from the very first chord, my fingers started shaking.  I don't know WHY, I had played this piece probably a hundred times, maybe more, and I had practiced it for a friend on another piano and that went fairly well.  I actually thought I might just stop playing I was shaking so badly.  Why?  But I continued to play and pretty much aced the first part - one minor mistake but I turned it into a forte and changed the dynamics - so no one noticed   Then the second part came and I played a bit calmer.  Then those runs came and that wasn't so bad.  A botched chord came in, but it didn't throw it off.  But by the time I was playing the recapitulation by the end I was exhausted (as I normally get with this piece) and made a few mistakes - minor ones though.  Mostly I got nervous and left some notes out rather than play them incorrectly (which I had prepared for - I personally think it's better to leave notes out then play them wrong, but anyway).  The number of mistakes I made overall wasn't that large, now that I think of it.   Came to the ending, add a little rubato/improv and PRESTO I'm done!  My teacher said "bravo!" and everyone was clapping.  I guess she was impressed  
    Once I finished, everyone came up to me and said how nice I played.  Stupid me, all I could think of were the mistakes and how it wasn't perfect, but I just played it off - I don't think anyone really noticed!  Then this young woman went to play, about mid-30s...played a really difficult mazurka by Chopin in Ab I believe.  I was the "page-turner" and I felt like such an idiot when I turned the page too early.  Oh god...But it was ok.  She stopped maybe, say, three times during the piece.  I noticed because I was paying attention, I don't think anyone else noticed though.  I was impressed by her playing, actually.  Very melodic.  She drank some wine before she played so maybe that affected it (I quit drinking/drugs a while ago so I could focus on my studies).
    Then my teacher's husband played some inventions and my teacher played Chopin Nocturne in C# minor (NOT the posthumous).  We finished, then relaxed and talked for a while.  I even got a kiss goodbye (!) from the young woman who played the mazurka, so I guess she wasn't mad about the page turn after all.  Maybe the drinking helped her forget, LOL.  I really did feel bad about that page turn.  In any case, she mentioned something about kids so I dunno wth the deal is, I'm being romantic right now, I think it's the Elton John. 
     In conclusion, it went fairly well.  Not as well as I wanted, but like I said, the mistakes were minor.  I doubt if anyone heard them - my mom (of course) said I played better than the teacher, but it's hard to get criticism from a mother.  I really need to play more, however, if I want to calm my nerves - when you're shaky it's hard to express musically, if you know what I mean.  Peace out! 
   

[janice]

THANK YOU for the detailed report on your recital!!! I am so glad that all went well.   And thank you also, for not only telling us what was on the program, but how you FELT you played, whether you thought it went well or whether you thought it sucked. Because that is so important, isn't it?  How we feel we played.  Hey, I just had an idea--why doesn't somebody start a thread where we can vent about how awful we think we played in a performance.  Puma, it certainly doesn't sound like you need to "vent" about this performance!  Keep up the success!

[SteinwayTony]

Mostly I got nervous and left some notes out rather than play them incorrectly (which I had prepared for - I personally think it's better to leave notes out then play them wrong, but anyway).

I can't speak for everyone, but I'd rather hear myself play a confident but wrong note than none at all.  Every missed note to me sounds more obvious than wrong ones.

It looks like your recital went very well.  Congratulations!

[1/2virtuoso]

Puma, that was a very cool post.  It is very interesting to hear what others experience while playing for an audience. 

[nikodr]

About the fingers shake etc.I have similar problems.But the only way to bypass them is to have a VERY strict -and healthy- style while studying and in your personal lifestyle.What do i mean?

When i was younger (maybe two years ago),i slept rather late at night,i didnt have a very healthy style,and my practice was not strict at time.I mean i studied at about 4-5 hours daily max.But these were not spread ok.

For example sometimes i could study 2 hours morning ,3 hours at evening.Other times 5 hours in the morning nothing in the evening,others nothing in the morning and 5 hours after 5 pm.That think made me feel SICK.

I sat down and thought,"Nick if you want your performances to be better,your lifestyle has to be better,you cant be a concert pianist and not have strict program while you study".

Even what we eat has a direct effect on the way we play,the amount of rest or sleep,and the stress about all other aspects of our life.Believe me i have been through this a zilion times.

When you master all those little aspects and have them under your control,and when you manage to have 100% concentration-that means the only thoughts you have at the point of the recital is music and the way you will play-,then you will see that no shaking in hands,no cold hands,nothing will get in your way.

Some practical advice now,because my hands tend to shake sometimes and be cold,i always try to bring them at the right temperature,with some exercises,and play slowly part of the program,until the fingers are ok.

Now this does not mean that you go and play your repertoire in the piano at presto,or that you study in a strict and metronomical style.NO!it just means that you play some other pieces you have in your memory.


Another advice is to stop practising recital pieces 2-3 (others say a week) days before an important concert.Why?Because incorporating last minute fixes in to your play a few days or weeks can result in a very nervous playing,you should now the recital pieces,3-4 weeks before the recital,and you will be ok.


And also your mind has to be clear and feel relaxed,it cant feel relaxed if you push it to learn new things the last days of the recital.

[1/2virtuoso]

I totally agree with nikodr.

I am an ex-junkfood addict, playing changed dramatically after eliminating junk and consuming food that's actually vitalizing. And yes, concentration also improved. Less lingering pointless thoughts overall, plus more *energy* usable for actual practicing, or regular playing.