Have you given a "recital" in your home? Input/ideas needed!

[janice]

I read a post here like a year ago, and I can't find it.  The person was saying that they gave home "recitals" or performances for a few friends.  Since I read it, I've been toying with the idea of having one in my home.  I was thinking of "sharing the time" with a friend who plays the flute.  Because it is in a relaxed setting, we could verbally introduce the piece, say a bit about the composer, etc, so no printed program would be necessary.  Afterwards, we could serve refreshments and just stand/sit around and shoot the breeze.  Any other thoughts/ideas/suggestions from anybody?

[dinosaurtales]

I am going to keep an eye on this post, because I have also considered a "friends and family" recital.  I have some friends that have a woodwind quintet ( a good one, too!) and they have several such concerts a year.  The formats vary:  The clarinetist has a sensational house, with a large music studio, where indoor concerts are held.  They can seat 15 to 20 folks, and the summer ones happen around the pool!  Really cool.  In my case, I woiuld do a "smaller" recital - like 2 major pieces and a small one, or some such thing.  Fact of the matter, the folks woiuld be pretty interested in eating and socializing, so I'd hate to take the whole evening with piano playing like a public recital.   What would you  play?

[pianonut]

before we moved to pennsylvania, i had some students in california that would come to 'recital/parties.'  the kids would each play their best piece, practice recital etiquette, eat, play a few games, and then parents could pick them up (or choose to stay).  it was good for my children, too.  they would help prepare some of the stuff, and kept them motivated.

now that we've moved to penn., i am shocked at the amount of homework.  my daughter doesn't seem to have that much extra time.  she is in choir at school, but am hoping to get her back into piano maybe in the summer. 

[dinosaurtales]

Yup It's true.  THey work harder back east.  West coasters have no concept of a work ethic in my mind.  They blow off deadlines like you wouldn't believe.  And it's okay with them!  They'd get canned back east if they did that.

[pianonut]

yes!  very happy with the schools, it's just that i wish i could have grown up here.  my daughter will probably know much more than me very soon.  history is a great subject here, too.  they are having a colonial fair on friday, and things like this make learning fun.  we went to get my daughter a costume.  they do all kinds of colonial stuff at the fair, and you can buy homemade items, etc.

the amount of reading is amazing! the vocabulary list of a 5th grader here matches  what i learned 'barely' in 7-9th grade.  kids today are really smart - but very worked.  sometimes i worry about my daughter being overworked.  occasionally she will get very stressed out.

[dinosaurtales]

That's right!  History is a big deal back there - probably because that's where the history actually is!  Nobody even teaches it here, not like the Revolution and Civil War eras.  They talk about how "mean" we were to the Indians and that's about it.  I really worry about the culture out here.  The kids don't learn anything useful.

[pianonut]

they are careful here, as well, to include all relevant facts of history and are more proud of winning the civil war (abolishing slavery) and obtaining rights for all nationalities, races, and genders than being biased.  i like that approach because as christians we are supposed to be as william penn was to the indians.  fair.  not go back on our word. and, continue to preserve all traditions/friendships.

it is really amazing to drive around and actually see (as you mentioned the historicity) famous places like valley forge.  they have a museaum, films they show, reinactments sometimes, and people who know a lot about the history who are guides around the area.  my suggestion is that if you live on the west coast, take a family trip here, or to williamsburg.  i hear colonial williamsburg is neat, too, though i think i prefer doing my own travelling around (not having a disney like atmosphere) pennsylvania.  daniel boone's homestead is near where we live (rt. 100), pearl s. buck lived here (has a house nearby), and many famous people (composer samuel barber in west chester).

if you visit pennsylvania you have to check out the music school at west chester.  and, go to the kimmel center in philadelphia.  it is really beautiful!

[BoliverAllmon]

All this talk about history has reminded me of a very funny happening. I live in the school district of Anahuac, TX. (thank goodness I was homeschooled) My brother told me about how one day during History they were learning about how Texas won its independence. Specifically, the battle at Fort Anahuac. Some morons in the class (about half of them) commented how ironic that two places in Texas would have the same funny name (Anahuac). My brother proceeded to ask the class do they remember Ft. Anahuac park that is right down the street? Do they remember the two large canons that stand as a memorial? Everyone was like, "yeah, so what?" THEY ARE THE SAME FRIGGIN PLACE YOU IDIOT THAT IS WHAT!!!!

makes me feel real safe and secure with our future.

Boliver

[pianonut]

you make me laugh!  here, if you don't get it the first time, they make sure you learn about it some more.  the teachers are very good in this particular district.  even if kids aren't homeschooled, it seems better to start being more actively participating in their schooling.  i notice parent involvement is HUGE here.  parents still work, but i think workplaces are more flexible or something because you are allowed days off to volunteer, etc.

i must say one thing negative.  i didn't particularly like the music concert (except for the chorus) at my daughter's school - during string and orchestra performances, my three year old held her hands to her head.  maybe she will be a musician.  they didn't seem to have a sense of pitch, rhythm, or anything.  maybe i've just never understood 4th and 5th grade levels and expect much higher.  was thinking to myself, 'i could conduct that' (though never played a string instrument in my life).  is it really that hard to get everyone to play together.  why is there always one instrument at least that just doesn't get it? 

[vera]

I have arranged lots of concerts in my home over the years. It was a pure fun activity, totally unbusiness like. Had a circle of friends and acquaintances interested in them. Would ring around and get people to ring me by a certain date, if they would come. It is no good, if you make a lot of effort,and for some reason the date does not suit .
 Sometimes these friends would bring hangers-on, who would in turn be added to the list of contacts. I would have anywhere between 15  to 40  at each concert. The room would sometimes be packed, that is why you have to arrange the audience beforehand. I had a lot of folding chairs or plastic chairs, to be added as needed.
The audience would supply a huge supper. I would have chosen some particular music, but would be prepared to add at libitum all sorts of requests. Things, that could have been played  at  an earlier concert. Some of these concerts I would do myself, some together with friends. There would be pauses in between for a snack or a glass of wine, and possibly other interruptions. Sometimes the requests would even resume after or during the supper, that would be a long drawn out affair.
It was a very popular activity. I am talking in the past, as the last one was several years ago, after doing it for 30 years or more. I have known others, who did it too, some very business like, with entry fee, and a real planned concert with invited performers, who got a nice bit of income from that. That was in a big house with very comfortable seating, and a somewhat more posh audience.
 One thing I do not much care for, is when you have a group of players who are halfway through preparing something and they play for each other by way of a musical evening. That is too amateurish and  is not suitable for more serious musicians.
I still arrange regular students concerts in my home, sometimes also followed by a garden party in summer, or afternoon tea in the winter. If you are short of room, you remove all the folding or plastic chairs before supper, with help of all the guests.
I can certainly recommend doing this, but you must feel comfortable with people sitting very close to the performers. Just remember the pictures of Schubert playing music with his friends all crowding around the piano. We are really going back to the past, when we do this. But the "salon" of Chopin's time  would have been rather fancier, than the houses we live in now. Still.......

[galonia]

I have done this before - I find performing for my friends much more nerve-wracking than for any examiner, adjudicator or audience of strangers.  I put more pressure on myself to do well, because I do not want to feel like I have wasted my friends' time by playing badly.

Luckily my friends are very supportive.

Several years ago, two of us were sitting an exam at around the same time, so we gave a joint recital.  We each brought friends to her house, everyone brought some food and we had a relaxed lunch.  Then I gave the first half the recital, after a short break for some dessert, my friend gave the second half of the recital.

My old teacher used to have once a year, for her senior students, a "Twilight Recital".  This was in addition to the usual recitals she had for all her students.  The Twilight Recital was in her home, not in a hall, and it was all very intimate, only her most senior students were allowed to perform, and most would only perform one piece.  Exceptional students were allowed to perform more.  Afterwards, there was a really nice supper.