Now I do! Thank you so much. She is the cutest lady and is always so inspiring in her comments! But be sure to keep this studio specific, rather than student centered. The art that conceals art with Emanuel Ax, Schubert and Liszt at Carnegie Hall. At the very least, reducing nervousness will alleviate stress and fright. This introduction also allows the student to place their music and get comfortable on the piano bench or at the music stand without everyone staring at them in silence. A group photo is a great way to keep em in their seats until the last performer too! Hello everyone and welcome to our spring recital. In this way, speaking, for them, is optional. But one very important aspect that can easily go unnoticed until right before the event is a welcome and ending speech. However, this I found turned into a public speaking thing and the students hated it! I used to back out of the way and have each student introduce him/herself, and announce what they will play. Ive become much more comfortable over time but I still write down everything Im going to say. I wrote out exactly what I wanted to say and when, and he did such a great job. This design covers the entire surface of your Old Piano with flowers to make it really beautiful and magical. But Ive worked on projecting my voice and looking/sounding very confident. It could be their confidence, posture, musicality anything that stands out to you as being exceptional. Id like to add another idea which you guys suggested some time back. Step-by-step: The Ultimate Piano Recital Plan - Colourful Keys Remember that it is challenging to get up in front of a room full of people you dont know. Recruiting: A How-To Guide Step 1: Show Them the Band Step 2: Convince Them They Can Play Step 3: Invite them to Join Step 4: Enlist Parent Support Recruiting Documents Retention Beginning Band Concert Middle School to High School Retention Communication with Students Communication with Parents All Retention Resources Instruments Rentals Andside note. I have no time to give thought to what is important to say in a welcome speech. God bless. I just approach a couple of local businesses and ask if they would like to provide a giveaway for my event, and this adds even more excitement to my recitals! Many of my students play a band instrument as well, so my more advanced students will be learning the art of collaborating with them. Ive always liked to open with something so people have a chance to settle into the occasion (quiet their smaller children, stop shuffling programs etc.) However if you happen to take photos /videos of your child with others and would like to share them on any social media platform, we need to be mindful of privacy issues and obtain consent from the relevant parent before sharing. In 2 weeks, my recital is called Musical Movies! You dont want your ringtone to have a spotlight on the track. Some recitals may offer snacks to guests and performers after the performance. Any seniors in HS get special recognition and special gift. What Should I Say to Begin and End a Piano Recital? Tick tock.. Wed love to see pictures/videos if you get a chance. Thanks for your all beneficial blogs! Excellent and thoughtful. We also just recently completed our CD project where students recorded their favorite pieces from the year. I hope this was helpful to someone! As the nature of music education shifts from one of note reading, performance and interpretation to one of creativity, curiosity, composition and exploration, many piano teachers are finding it hard to explain the value and importance of this change with parents. Big Help. So, double-check when the recital starts, and aim to be there at least 15 minutes early. CDs with a singer. I used to feel very frazzled trying to talk and be the host for the evening while simultaneously the backstage organizer and accompanist. Regards, BruceD. Discuss summer lessons briefly too so that they WANT to keep the YAY going through those months and be ready for fall events. !..Welcome to the Topmusic.co YouTube channel! This can be a slightly intimidating thing as a young teacher. I have the same reaction when I can finally sit back and watch the kids perform . If you are running late, wait until a music piece is over before you enter. Now we will have a time for photos and refreshments.. 18. Thanks for all the great ideas. And if we really think about it, we can see that a recital is a unique occasion. If it goes longer, there usually is an intermission and a chance for a bathroom break. At the end of the recital, all students stand for one more round of applause. And At the end of the recital, a family member will speak for me, and she always adds something spontaneous and unexpected when she speaks directly to the students. Some of the points below may feel redundant. At the bottom of the post please share your thoughts on your own welcome speeches and add anything we may have missed. I have been playing w/ my family and singing in a gospel singing group since I was 6 years old. This is exactly what I did to fill in my recital program space! Please remove one of them. Hope that helps a little! Some recitals are laid-back and casual, while others are fancier. So I dont do the speech anymore. Try to stay positive and encouraging in the days and moments leading up to the recital. Besides welcoming them, what sorts of messages are good? I remember when I started teaching in high school I was never really sure what to say! Thanks so much for posting!! Hi Gaylinn Have fun at your upcoming recital it sounds like an awesome theme! For example, youll want to say something like, The children in my studio completed 357 pieces this year! as opposed to, Sarah earned a silver medal in her Grade 6 exam. Occasionally, a student will make a dedication or say something I left out about the selection, but most simply smile and play, and its wonderful. Thanks. What a warm and encouraging greeting to kick-start a recital! Love the suggestions. One year at our Spring recital I took pictures of the students playing, edited them, added the date, framed them ($1 store frames) and that was their year end gift. I have two chairs in the front row with a reserved for parent recording sign if you would like to use one while your child is performing. The audience enjoys laughing a little here and there wakes them up a bit. The more you can show when you have a captive audience the better! My students write their own program notes something brief about the composer and why they chose the piece, what they like about it, what they have learned from the piece, etc. Next up, youll want to gush to about your piano students. Ive been teaching for 37 years and my least favorite part of the year is the opening recital speech. Below is a list of key elements for what to say to begin and end a piano recital. But not this years recital. This Is What The Perfect Piano Recital Welcome Speech Looks Thanks, Trevor and Andrea! Let your students know that youre proud of them! It has transformed the way I teach. Create and print a program. I am in the short & sweet speech opener camp, too! Required fields are marked *. I have a question. I have a short welcome introduction but something I started doing a long time ago has stuck and the audience really seems to enjoy it. Thank you Wendy for this lovely advice about recitals. Today, I share my personal tips and strategies to creating an interesting concert program. Hi Karen! Thank you for helping me to organize my thoughts for my very first piano recital speech! Beginning students usually share a piece or two next to other students. A lot of those things are up to you! I'd love to hear your "2021 piano recital style!" Please share what you are doing in the comments below. "Attended Zia's piano recital yesterday and this little girl always amazes me! When you bring this to their attention, they will be that much more appreciative of the efforts your piano students are making and understanding of nervous slip-ups that might occur. We do have a few gluten-free options, which are labeled for those of you who are gluten intolerant. What a great post! Answer (1 of 3): You bow once before and then sitpauseand then perform! I want to say thank you to parents for investing in music as part of your childs life. We send out weekly newsletters with articles, new music notifications, free webinar opportunities and free teaching resources! One thing that Ive included for many years when students are coming to the stage to present their pieceI share a little about the student so all eyes are taken off them and they can take that time to set up their music, adjust their stand, move the bench, take a deep breath. I would welcome everyone for coming, and then probably talk a little about your relationship with the student: Mention how long you have been working together, highlight some of your students accomplishes over the years you have known her, talk about why you both chose the pieces on the program, where your student is going to attend college, how you much you will miss teaching her, etc. I stand top/center and then we all smile (or sometimes laugh) for about a minute while all the parents take their snapshots! What kind of words should I use? If you are going to watch a piano recital for the first time, then this article is for you. April 30, 2023 | April | Worship Service | By First - Facebook One outfit per recital, please. I took a short break from teaching, instead I made two Most classical pieces have three or more movements. Make sure to turn the sound off on your phone when you enter a recital. 7. At the beginning of the recital, I can barely stand up, and say good afternoon, welcome, before I start to cry. Kristi, I love the idea of displaying the group photo!!!! Speaking at the beginning of the recital is my LEAST favorite thing to do. Thank you for sharing all this valuable knowledge! Parents saw their child perform, they waited for all of the other students, and theyre ready to go! In the afternoon, at . It gets the audience more involved. [Insert any special information parents need to know before leaving] Example: Please remember to drop your compliment cards into the baskets by the doors. There will be a box of trivia questions about each of the 34 movie themes. Happy to make it a bit easier for you Brecklyn not everyone likes public speaking but having a solid plan (and even a script) really does help . Personally, if I were you, I would speak as much as I was comfortable doing. This is really helpful!! Ive also included a sample welcome and ending speech. And I always appreciate when I am attending something and the intro speech is not long-winded, too! I will use these notes for my next recital and prepare my self as just like I have to prepare my musicians. Your email address will not be published. Wonderful ideas on what to say at a recital. Set the date and invite the student and the parents. Everyone always thinks its funny and now I cant leave that part out. Thank you much! Thank you so much for this post! Use this opportunity to highlight all of the accomplishments that have occurred in your studio over the course of the year. New on the blog: 5 Steps for Successful Interview, Pianist in the making. At a piano recital, you can be a fan of someone special to you. Here are three things I always include this is just to get your own expectation train rolling! Delegating some responsibility was my best choice ever and I will never go back! Studentscan look forward to taking theirown personal CD home at the last lesson before the summer break! Best of luck at your recital . Lovely comments Michelle! And even though thats not the point of a recital, the professionalism you show or dont show in this speech can impact how parents feel about and treat you. 6 Mistakes I Made When I Started Teaching Piano - TopMusic.co I only see your students once a week so the part your play in their progress from one recital to the next is very big, and I am thankful for the work you have put in as parents. When Wendy and I were talking about what to say to begin and end a piano recital, she brought up a wonderful point from marketer Donald Miller: you are not the hero, your customer is the hero. So lucky that Ive found your post just one day before my students recital. Likewise, music teachers feel a lot of stress leading up to recitals as well! Typically only one parent is doing the dropping off, or even the communicating that happens on a weekly basis. Dreading your "Welcome" speech at your recital? Use this! | Piano In addition to my teaching hat, I also wear a collaborative pianist hat, so in my recitals, I always invite a guest artist in and we perform something together. Thank you to these wonderful students for working hard, practicing, getting dressed up on a weeknight, and for being brave in sharing your music and abilities with family and friends. Medieval Times. This is one thing I struggle with, and generally muddle through, and reading this will really help me, the next time my students have a recital. Thank you, Wendy!! If you were here last year, you may recognize the returning students, as well as some new faces that were so excited to welcome. After a piano recital, it is customary for the performer to thank the audience for their time and attention. Thanks so much for your advice. Joy, your insight into recital prep is invaluable! As the questions are drawn and answered, the student with the song matching that trivia question will perform. This is perfect thank you! A music recital lets students show off what they are learning in class. These tracks can help a student have mementos from the big day. In doing this, you keep your audiences expectations in check. Before this, the term was applied strictly to dramatic readings. diary | 73 views, 5 likes, 0 loves, 3 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church - Tampa: Concert - "Diary: Songs From. Then I remind everyone to turn off their phones. Lets give all the students one more round of applause. If you feel so inclined, please write what you loved about each performance and well read through them in the next lesson. Parents love taking them too. I know the students are all very excited to play their pieces that theyve been working so hard on. Students had so much fun with weekly piano theory games and with the improv activities we introduced this year. Best wishes to all! Talking at my recitals is my least favorite thing about being a piano teacher and now I have a done for me script! (i.e. 6. Piano students usually invite friends and family to be a part of the audience. *18 audience looks* to wear to piano recitals & classical music concerts! Each and every child here today has shown incredible growth and progress and they should feel very proud of what they have achieved. Apr. Ive never had trouble keeping families around for the entire recital. You can make your dash when the pianists hands come off the keys. Do I need to have a program to give to the audience, or do I just need to introduce each song before I play? I do charge each student a $10 recital fee. 3. He made the environment friendly, using the breaks between pieces to talk to the audience. Best of luck on Sunday . Thank you so much for all these very helpful ideas. I want them to feel like this is a special moment! But what does a brilliant welcome speech look like? But families have really looked forward to this time of special recognition. Joy, I love, love, love your site and all the ideas you have on there. Never clap between movements in a classical piece. I like the idea of introducing the student and the piece while they get ready. Ive been teaching flute & piano for 31 years and in the beginning I was mortified to speak to the audience. Sometimes the pianist or school may sell the music to support the performer or music program. Regarding taking photos and videos during the recital, perhaps should say something about digital privacy and sharing of photos and videos. You worked so hard and did the best you could, you should be so proud of yourself!. A piano recital is a public display of musicianship. My recitals tomorrow and I also hate the pre-recital speech. Most students who learn to play the piano will encounter at least once, and possibly multiple times, the experience of preparing for piano recitals, concerts, auditions and exams. So, I just try to communicate all that important stuff another way. At the end of the spring recital, I call up each student in program order and tell the audience about them and their musical achievements for the year, give them their guild pin and certificates, then a personal gift, often humorous. I have been searching for something to say but this is the best. Hi, Andrea! "Pianos, unlike people, sing when you give them your every growl. Ive probably had around 50 recitals. Ive been teaching for 33 years (yikes! If creating the program is the part that stresses you out, then I've got you covered. I always feel awkward talking at my recitals and never seem to know what to say. I display this photo in frame in my studio all year long. However, a concert is slightly different. Building Block 2 - Gush About Your Students Then, there is a short pause before the next movement begins. 20. My daughter does not want to do the work . The recital runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Forest Park Baptist Church, located at Seventh and Range Line streets. I find its easier than at the end of the program. "Flow" seems to be the word of the month right now. Madonna took her new flame Josh Popper out for an 'amazing' piano recital on Tuesday night in New York City.. We are finishing with Im dreaming of a White Christmas which everyone is singing for the Finale. Theres a lot riding on their commitment to lessons, and recognizing how much they had to do with this milestone for their student is important. Not only did he play his own compositions, but he created new interpretations of pieces by Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, and others. By the time Id been with her for 12+ years my family found it hard not to giggle Happy to provide you with some fresh ideas! I like to create that atmosphere too Diana glad you can use it! This gift is appropriate for both men and women performers. As for the bow itself, arms at the sides, look down long enough to say "cheeseburger" to yourself, straighten all the way up and smile. At the end we present trophies. For More On Effective Practice: Creating a Culture of Practice In Your Home and Peeling Away The Piano Practice Layers In The Weeks Leading Up To The Recital Recital music needs special preparation. This variety gives older students the opportunity to remember what it was like to be a beginner, and younger students the chance to see what their hard work will enable them to accomplish in the future! Yes, thank you. So I decided that I, the teacher, would introduce each student as they came to the paino. When is it my childs turn?. Thanks so much for sharing!! In 1840, Franz Liszt held two performances that he called Liszts Pianoforte Recitals. A couple of students came to me and said they love to play the piano at the recitals, but many would not want to come because of the speaking bit. Sunday and my opening welcome was lacking I was trying to keep it short. 3. This speech takes about 3-4 minutes so it might seem longer written out than it does to listen to it . I also have a group photo at the end of the recital. As a general rule, dont ever leave in the middle of a recital. Hi Sabrina Thanks for sharing your take! In the coming days and weeks, many of you are wrapping up another year of piano lessons with a spring recital. I almost always host a small reception after the recital. If I do a Christmas recital I usually look up some funny, clean Christmas jokes or Christmas movie trivia and I ask those in between. Are there rules about clapping? This is wonderful, Michelle! Please consider donating to support the blog or surprise me with something from Take time during the recital to thank parents! 19. I feel so much better after reading it. Photo: Fadi Kheir. I play mostly at church and funerals. Recitals provide a tangible goal to work towards. Your spring piano recital is one of only a handful of times when your entire studio population is gathered under one roof. 3. Below is a sample, fictitious welcome speech that you can use to guide the writing of your own speech. It includes their name and says {date} Spring Recital. Thank you so much for sharing these inspiring ideas. 2. I am so proud of each of you, and I am so excited to listen to you tonight. First of all: did everyone recieve a recital program who would like one? And Im a photographer.Why I didnt think to do this is crazy! The most important one is nervousness and its impact on the mind, especially for the young. Instead of each musician performing one by one, a concert involves many performers who play music simultaneously. Every teacher and recital looks different but I hope this gives you ideas for knowing what to say to begin and end a piano recital! Your family, who has heard you practice this piece daily for weeks, will absolutely know if youve played a wrong note, or skipped a measure. View all posts by Joy Morin. Alright, without further ado, well get started with the recital, beginning withstudents name playingstudents piece. [start the applause]. Something I do at my recitals is gather a list from the parents ahead of time which includes the students other hobbies, school or band accomplishments, school trips, pets and their names, funny moments, other activities. May we please hear from so-and-so? She often adds little commentary, telling the audience about the great things her students have accomplished and are involved in. It goes over well!!! HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT PIANO RECITAL PROGRAM // What Makes - YouTube To make my piano recitals entertaining (and memorable) for families and students, I play a ragtime piano piece on the piano while my brother juggles up to 5 balls in the middle of the recital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDAEYw-wXco&list=PLQugnKCF3WINetfIgNQcjBhW0MNjfl1P9&index=1, I also try to get siblings who may play a different instrument involved to incorporate other instruments into the spring recital, plus I write a few original compositions for the recital each year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_THCBf4_D5Y&list=PLQugnKCF3WINetfIgNQcjBhW0MNjfl1P9&index=2. I often feel like you are both on my staff of my studio because the reality is that you would be exactly who I would hire to work full time for me! After welcoming everyone to your recital, youll want to immediately let people know that there will be studentsof many different ages, working at many different levels. Most recitals last only an hour or less, so it shouldnt be hard to relax in your seat for that length. When you are sincere, the performer will feel appreciated, and your praise will be more meaningful. I would like to share how I keep my parents in their seats until the end I give recital certificates of accomplishment at the end and do a group photo which I put up in the studio. I would just put it on the program along with your students. This should be even shorter than what you said to begin the recital. I think it is wonderful when teachers perform a piece at the beginning or end of the recital, so I would definitely encourage you to do that. Prepare students for the recital. I think it helps for the students to feel like they are all part of something bigger, similar to being on a sports team! A world-premiere event Sounds amazing. I have my ad going in the local paper and cant wait to give my first recital. You could always say something like, Sometimes I have had students tell me they dont get to hear me play very often, so I thought Id share this piece Or, you could explain the reason you like and chose the piece you are going to play. Ive never considered introducing each student at recitals, but I really like this idea! Piano Recital Dress Code: What to Wear to A Recital? - Tonara Im a professional singer as well should I sing a song? Beginning students may have short pieces that are only two or three minutes long. So my questions are : Do I have to talk about myself during the recital, or should I use the program to write a brief bio about me ? Make sure the audience knows what you expect of them. But sometimes, its even more difficult to play in front of people you do know. I really like your ideas! Theyre reasonably priced. Nervousness can make recitals a frightful experience that requires careful attention in order to avoid not only unhappy experiences but also lasting psychological damage. If youre unsure whether the piece is done, look at your program for cues.