Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum The All-New (Public) Recital Challenge Thread!

Hey gang! Do any of you remember the recital challenge thread from last fall? The one where we all publicly stated a commitment to give a LIVE performance of some sort (none of this Order of the Red Dot business)? The one that VERY FEW people actually reported back on fulfilling their pledge?

Yeah, that one.

Well, it's the spring of 2006, so I figure it's a good time to start again. And I will lead off.

Those of you who were around then may remember that I made what had to be the lamest recital challenge pledge of all history: I said that I would play a piece to some non-family member within the next couple of months. (I will say, though, that at least I did it!)

Now, I am feeling fortified (and not a little tipsy; my husband is out of town on business so I snuck out and bought a six-pack of Sam Adams), so I hereby irrevocably utter the following pledge for myself:

I will volunteer to play some new age piano pieces at a retirement home sometime this summer.

Okay, who's next?

I like your pledge Monica. It is the constant playing for others that will get you or anyone for that matter over their fears of performing in front of others.

I plan on having a big birthday bash in May and of course I will use this opportunity to play for my friends and family.

I will make them listen whether they want to or not... nobody leaves, not even a potty break until I am done....and I have over 1000 songs in my fakebook!!!

anyone want to come? :p

Monica - I deleted my original post. Let me fix it up so your post makes sense.

So how do you go about volunteering? Are there official rules.

There - that's better.

Anyway, - finding non-family members to sit a listen shouldn't be that difficult. Pets don't count, right?

* * * *

S-H,
Who's footing the bill for the roundtrip airfare and overnight accommodations from New York City? What kind of presents to you like? (just kidding). Have fun!

Well...er...I haven't actually gone out and done this yet, so I'm not sure how one goes about volunteering. I guess I was just going to call retirement homes (starting with one that's right next door to my husband's business), tell them that I am trying to get performing experience, and would they like me to give a free recital to their residents? (I wouldn't be heartbroken if nobody showed up, you realize!)

As for the recital challenge, the only official rule is that you have to state a specific goal of playing for some other person(s) besides your family living in your home who hear you all the time. It can be one song played to one other person. (My first recital pledge was playing one piece for my deaf father-in-law! I TOLD you it was lame!) Or it can be playing a full concert program at Carnegie Hall. Or something in between.

Then, you're supposed to come back after you've done it and let us know how it went.

No fair, Sharon! You deleted your post, so now people are going to think I REALLY got tipsy with my Sam Adams!

Just to fill the rest of you in, Sharon had asked what the official rules were for the recital challenge.

[Edit] And now she put it back in! That's REALLY messing with my head...time to go to bed, methinks!

Monica, It's not lame.

It does require a fair amount of confidence on ones part ... but it certainly can be done.

Logging out now. See ya tomorrow.

Sharon

Yeah - I'm hitting the hay too! Good nite Monica, JohnBoy, MaryEllen, Grandpa!!!!
JimBob ...... Elizabeth!

:rolleyes:

Uh oh, Monica's back on the sauce!. come on girl, get it together.

Actually Monica, I think your idea is a great one. The more I think about it, the more it starts to make sense, however, I think you should put down a few guidelines.

first off, playing for friends or relatives may be partially cheating as you already know these people well. I say to count, you MUST play for total strangers.

Sure, you can ease into it by playing at a nursing home, but heres another suggestion.

Here in Arizona, we have a lot of indian casino's. They all have several lounges in them with a piano. When the piano is not being used, simply wander over to it and start belting out some tunes for unknowing patrons.

They will have no idea that you are not the hired entertainment, besides, many of these gamblers are too drunk to notice anyway!

Just a thought!

i dont know, i play for strangers everyday:) when i first got my piano i met ALL my neighbors they said i needed lessons complained about the noise but it was my kids on there it was kind of embarrassing:) my neighbors tell me i am progressing and getting good--i just smile and say thank-you!!! it used to bother me when i made a mistake knowing everyone could hear--so i think living here i have gotten used to people listening---but going out to play.....thats a whole nother ball game!!!heck i did karoake why not eh.....give me time to think about it:) see drunk people have good ideas:) take care guys and have good nights:) i think i will try carnegie hall--hahahahahahahaha:)

I'm not sure that I agree that playing for people you know is cheating. In some ways, it is even MORE anxiety provoking to play for people you care about than for total strangers you won't ever see again. It is not accidental that I chose a retirement home (full of hard-of-hearing strangers I would never have to face again) for my recital pledge!

So, I think a recital pledge that involves friends or non-resident relatives is perfectly okay. The point is simply to encourage playing for others, and the best way to do that is to commit to doing something that is slightly--but not overly so--beyond your comfort zone.

My "recital" is already on the schedule--I get to play for a Guild judge at the end of May, five complete sonatinas by memory. I just hope she judges me the way she would judge the 10-year-olds. If she expects me to be "better" just because I am grown up, I am in big trouble!

That's great Hunky!

Free Depends undergarments.

For those of you attending Super-Hunky's big birthday bash, there will be a supply of free Depend undergarments for the recital part of the party – as Hunky plays 1000 of his favourite tunes.

These are wonderful garments to wear when playing all sports…. They fit comfortably under your clothes, and are virtually undetectable. You can go for hours without a potty break or until Hunky finishes his songs.

What a generous, thoughtful host!

RIGHT ON!!!!!!

Sharon

Note: Sorry for moronic post (up above) Super-Hunky... I was in one of my super "funkadelic wierdo moods"....

* * * * *
Anyway - to the business at hand of why I am posting right now:


Hi.
Background info. Yesterday at the office they had a retirement party ...blah, blah, blah... key people were there... my friend "A" was there and so was the office manager... mentioned to "A" that our retical (just me) is in April at J&R and office mgr was in on the conversation....

Then... I mentioned why not have the next christmas party be a showcase of people's talents (5 hour party - take an hour and make it a "talent show". Off Mgr thought it great idea. My friend "A" is tech mgr chair and has major pull, too (dig people like that ).

Anyway.... so if you're willing to wait about 7 or 8 months, I can pull this off and perform publicy... (I know this is gonna happen, because "A" - who's a guitarist (among other instruments) is itching to get up on that "stage" again and go crazy with some licks - even though the "big" all-lawyers meeting IS this month and he's performing with the "band".

I'll keep ya posted.... it's way down the line... but it's floating in some key people's brainos so oh goody de!!!

(Monica, (I like this idea....)

Bye, bye for now.
Sharon

If it has to be in front of strangers, that's not going to happen for me in the foreseeable future. I just don't play well enough yet!

I did rise to the last recital challenge: I ambushed a couple of girlfriends who came over for coffee. Yeah, I know, doesn't sound like much, but it was the first time after 2.5 years of playing that anyone who was not my teacher and not blood-related heard me play a note...

I think the late-great Liberace didn't think he always played well enough, either, but he got up there and did his stuff - mistakes and all. (Don't let that glamorous fascade fool ya - we're all just people underneath it all)


Anywho - Mistakes are POETIC LICENSE..... that's all they are.

Go for it again, Yellowville.

Sharon

I think that's a SIGNIFICANT accomplishment! (From the woman who played for her deaf father in law...). But, of course, now you just need to make another commitment for this challenge. And it doesn't have to be strangers. Heck, it can even be the same friends if you want. I just think setting a specific goal is a good motivator.

And, Sharon, the office party 8 months off is fine as a recital challenge. Again, I think it is more the setting of a specific goal that's the point.

Most certainly right. I agree.

Sometimes, when you get a specific goal, it turns out even better than you expected - you know about all the psychological stuff. But setting the goal initially gives you hope.

So - I hope that in the Autumn of 2006, there will be a memo going around the office that we are looking for some talented individuals to participate in the (I believe) first ever (name of my company) Holiday Talent Show. Try outs (discussions, etc) in conference room E/F. That would make me so happy.

I love those little mustard seeds of inspiration.

LOL.

I hope everyone (who wants to do it) gets a chance to do it - perform their piano talent in front of others.

BTW - that little diddle (recital) I'm doing for my friend in April - I suppose that counts as well. I tell ya about it when it's done.

Of course, the nerves and doubts come rushing in - but you know what? I'm going to squash those nerves and doubts like a little bug - because there's no time in this life for those stupid doubts and demons that take over our joy.... let's just all go for it..... Life is short.

(Where did that attitude adjustment come from? I don't know. Will it last? I don't know.) :p


Cheers, Monica.
Sharon

Well - Kaplooey -

In the heat of the moment it's always, yes, yes, yes,... but then when the dust settles, you're left with no, no, no.

And so today, I approached the office manager again with my idea ...oh yes - a holiday talent show - splendid...idea...

Well - guess what folks? It ain't gonna happen.

Too much politics involved. Too many people will end up getting their egos bruised.... too much of a headache putting it all together.... not on the agenda at this time....lots of reasons that he didn't actually say, but I understand what he meant by no. I think he may have passed the idea to someone else and that person in fact had the final word (because believe me, the office manager was really gungho with the idea....).

It's okay, I guess. It just wasn't meant to be.

Sharon

I gave in to my daughter's request last week and played my Mannheim Steamroller piece for her- does that count? Other than that, it's been the dog, cats and rat who've heard me play (and my teacher, but she is a rotten kid and MAKES me play for her every week... )

I could say that I will play for my in-laws at Thanksgiving when they come up from NY- how about that?

That's perfect! And what more intimidating audience could you ask for than in-laws?

Sharon, that's disappointing about your talent show idea not working out. Yes, I can see that office politics could make such a thing very tricky. Of course, if the office party ends up being at a place with a piano handy, you could always just casually sit down and knock off a few tunes...

I have a couple of friends that I have played for ever since I began learning a year ago. I would actually shake at first. Now, I can sometimes even talk to them while I play. And they have said that I have really improved since those first days, so it has been a great!! I also played a little for the entire family at Christmas, although it was rather hectic and not many paid much attention!