Hello all. I'm a 28 year old who started taking piano lessons again. I studied very seriously during junior high and high school... I'm a late-intermediate/early advanced student and started taking lessons again about a year ago. I was wondering if anyone is in the same boat and has hosted their own piano recital at a church or recital hall? Did you plan like a year out? Was setting a date a good motivator? Just looking to see if it's weird of me to have a piano recital.

Your teacher doesn't host recitals for her students?

No... what's funny is that I'm her only adult student. She's awesome... we really clique... but she really targets the youngings.

So you aren't allowed to play in recital with her other students? If that's true, I can see nothing wrong in setting up recital opportunities for yourself, if you can get an audience!

I have hosted my own recital, and I have a few friends who have done so, too. Yes, setting the date is a great motivator.

While it may differ for you, I had my repertoire pretty well in hand before setting the recital date, as I did not want to be learning against a deadline. Using the deadline, however, as a "polishing" motivator was quite a good and successful venture.

Regards,

Chopin Gal,

I'm also in the DC area, probably intermediate-advanced level also (though a lot older than you!). Maybe we could do a joint recital, or get some others interested. What do you think?

P.S. Setting a date to get anything done is always a motivator.

I'm seventeen and I've hosted my own recitals for a few years now. I invite friends, family, music-loving seniors from a local residential home (they are VERY sweet and supportive!), people from church and whoever else can come. I have it at a church where my old teacher is a music director.

It is probably a great motivator. I've always had my recital near the end of the year right before major performances such as festivals, competitions, and ARCT exam. For me, it's those events that are more formal that helped me stay focused and motivated; as for the recital itself, I think of it as an excellent opportunity to perform all my pieces I've been preparing that year.

I highly recommend having your own recital. Even if your teacher might host one, it might not be as easy for you to play as many pieces as you'd like if she has a lot of other students as well. So go for it- I think it's wonderful to create as many performance opportunities as you can for yourself!

I'd like to have a recital but...am I the only one who finds this idea intimidating and embarassing? I have difficulty saying, "Look at me".

I think the idea of a joint recital is a good one, and you could do no better that Piano Again - who plays cello as well as piano.

What does "late-intermediate/early advanced" even mean?

I've hosted my own recitals. Nothing wrong with that. It doesn't even need to be a big "formal" event. You can do something very casual, with just a handful of friends/family, and some bites and drinks. Make sure to save that 2nd glass of wine for after performing though, I've run into that trouble before...

I agree with Bruce about having a good command of the pieces well before your actual performance date.

Don't think of it like that Deborah. If you're embarrassed about the attention, try to concentrate more on the fact that you're sharing music with others, rather than trying to show-off.

Daniel

Anyone with friends and family... has a potential audience!

I think a recital is a great idea - it is a way to celebrate and share the fruits of your hard work.

I'm going to have to think about that. I guess I do need an attitude adjustment. In a few months I'm going to be taking part in an adjudication and some master classes so I think it would be a good idea to practice in public. I was thinking of putting together a program for my Mom's assisted living facility. Nothing too heavy or too loud such as lots of Bach and maybe some Brahms and Mozart. The piano is terrible but if I can pull it off on that clunker, it should help my confidence.

True dat.

The thing is, performing is a skill in itself, apart from the skill of playing an instrument. But it's part of the playing experience, so I think if you want to fully experience playing music, you need to perform in some way.

I've performed a lot on the cello but very little on the piano. It's something I'd like to do more, but I need to get myself organized to do it.

Family and friends aren't all that interested, and I don't want to force it on them, so it would be nice to find some other audiences.

I think that's a great idea.

My extended family (siblings and their families) just put on a recital for my Mom yesterday, as a birthday gift for her. As Daniel said, I didn't think of it as showing off, but as a way to do something for her that she would really enjoy. It was a little rough in places, but she loved it. She is not an emotional person, but she laughed, cried, and sang along at times. And she told us she would carry the memory with her for eternity!

I'd take that over fame and fortune.

You're right, and it's worth remembering when you're having one of those days when you feel you haven't achieved anything and time's running out to do anything much about it.

And whippen boy, I'm glad you're back. I missed you!

My teacher encouraged me to host my own recital rather than appear with the "kids" in the annual recital. I've done it twice and it's been a good experience. If you don't have a good place to do it at home, your teacher may be able to arrange a school, retirement home or church for you to play in. If you're inviting your own friends and family it's a very supportive environment. You may be able to find some others who would like to participate. I agree with having the repertoire fairly well along before setting the date; you never know what might happen to ruin your timetable!

It's also a great idea to have just a few friends listening informally at home, if you need experience. I ask friends to do me the favor of listening so I can practice performing, and they're usually happy to do so.

Last year a friend of mine hosted his own piano recital in his home. About 15 were in the audience. His family served us wine, cheese, and desserts. He sent us each a formal invitation about 3 weeks prior to his event and asked for RSVP's. My husband and I attended and it was wonderful: intimate setting, great piece selection, lovely playing. The performer spoke to us before each piece, telling a bit about the composer, etc. It was memorable. He humbly but proudly shared music with us.

I accompany a singer who has at-home concerts quite regularly. The audience is usually about 30, and everyone really enjoys it (wine, cheese and desserts also ). I don't do much solo playing any more, but at these gatherings I often do play something, as well as accompanying, just so I don't forget how...

And that's worth remembering too, on one of 'those' days... The feeling is mutual.

With my student recitals I often had adults--over 18 and some doctors, dentists, lawyers, etc--who genuinely wanted to play and they were often at varying stages of development. I mixed the kids in with the adults and the audiences seemed to enjoy all of them.

I only hosted one for myself. I had given a program at Hilton Head for the music association there tho I was in Beaufort and had not advertised that I was playing. A few from Beaufort found out about it and came. Later I was asked by a number of people who had missed it if I would do it in Beaufort for them. I decided to make it cost them!

The CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association) was needing some funds so I sent invitations to those who had asked--30--and had a friend attend to the punch, wine, and goodies for after. It was in my home on my new Estonia concert grand and I collected $300 for the charity. It went well.

So, I think, if you need to perform for the experience or just for the satifaction of of allowing others to hear and possibly to rate your playing then do it!

Yes, I think your own home is preferable if that's a possibility for you. Among other advantages, you'll be playing on the piano you know the best, and not having to get used to one you've never played on.

And I agree it's a good idea to talk a little between pieces. Make sure you make eye contact with the audience -- it helps with the nerves. Try to be relaxed and funny in your remarks.

I also agree that you shouldn't try to learn new pieces, once you've decided on a date for the recital. I always figure it takes at least as much practice time to "polish" a piece as it does to learn the notes.

My only other suggestion is, keep the program short. Even an hour might be too much. Just do a few of your best pieces, then take a bow and bring out the refreshments.

"Always leave them wanting more" is a tried and true showbiz adage.