Recital Preparation

Events and Recitals

Recital season is upon us! I don’t know about you but right now I have so much going on that I feel like I’m swimming in deep waters. Spring is such a crazy time. I have so much going on in May that I have officially named it MAY MADNESS!

My recital is on Saturday, May 12th. In order to make my recital a fairly non-stressful event, I have the same “plan” in force each year.  As long as I stick with my plan, I know everything will go well despite hiccups that might come along the way.

Plan 1: Communicate with parent’s- My recital date is published in my yearly calendar, on my website, in my newsletters starting in January or February, in my emails starting about a month before the recital, writing in the assignment sheets and sometimes even a note or two sent home. Even though I might have parents that don’t look at half of this, they really can’t miss everything! (I tend to “over” remind)

Plan 2: Order awards. I always order awards about a month before my recital date so if there are any problems, I have time to “deal” with them. My awards arrived this last Friday and all look good! That is one thing I no longer need to worry about.

Plan 3: Print certificates and type up the program. I try to get started on the program a couple of weeks before the recital but I don’t print them until the day before just in case there are any changes that need to be made.

Plan 4: Hold a recital rehearsal. I started doing this many years ago and will always do this. It is totally worth your time and effort so the students feel more comfortable come recital day. My recital rehearsals are held on the same day students normally come to their lesson but instead they all come at the same time. 4:30-5:30pm on their regular lesson day. If for some reason that particular time conflicts with another activity on their lesson day, they can come on another day, same time. The rehearsal is held in my home. At the rehearsal, we perform for each other as if it was the recital and go through recital etiquette, bowing, what to wear, how to go on stage etc. Then our recital is that Saturday morning.

Plan 5: Celebration! The week following our spring recital, I always hold a group- recital party. It is the perfect way to conclude the year and celebrate their hard work.

Plan 6: Summer workshops begin. After all the recital festivities our summer workshop schedule begins. I start this the end of May to give students that like to take off for the entire summer an option that won’t conflict with their summer schedule. Most are still in school, so there is no excuse. (My workshops are not optional if they are continuing in the Fall.)

9 Comments

  1. Lavinia Livingston

    Your organized list for recital prep is very helpful. where do you get your awards. I’ve had difficulty finding a reliable provider.

    Reply
    • foxxpianostudio

      My favorite place to order awards is Crown Awards. They are very affordable and I have never had a problem with them. They have tons of music award options as well. I have also ordered with Trophy Depot with no problems.

      Reply
  2. Angelica Prado-Stern

    Great Plan Jennifer. :0)

    Reply
  3. Stacey

    Thanks so much for sharing your list with us. As I’m busy preparing a recital for my own students, it’s great to look around and see what other teachers are doing. What are some of your reward “categories”? Also, do you give a certificate to everyone for their participation at the recital?

    Reply
    • foxxpianostudio

      My reward categories come from events they participate in and the yearly incentive programs I do. I do give a participation certificate to all students.

      Reply
  4. LaDona's Music Studio

    There’s no such thing as “over” reminding. And as a parent with kids in numerous different things there are always forms, meetings, details, fees, and so on ad infinitum. I can’t be reminded enough.

    Reply

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