First place goes to...
the Pineapple!

You might want to look at Kenny Werner's book Effortless Mastery. He has practices that can help you train yourself to shift the focus away from yourself and self-consciousness about performance, back to being in the music. I've gotten a lot of help from this with performance anxiety.

Will look that up! Thanks.

Hmm..let me think of a good comeback to that. In the meantime the pineapple can enjoy its moment of glory.

alby, you've gotten lots of advice but I'm going to stick my 2 cents in, anyway.

If your goal is to be able to play in public, this event is a step to that. However, if that is not a goal, I'd tell my teacher in no uncertain terms that I will not perform in any type of recital/competition/public display of humiliation, ever. But, that's just me. You're the boss and IMO, recitals are more for the teachers than the students as a method of free advertising. Some instructors may disagree with me, and that's okay. These are just my opinions.

If you really want to learn to play in front of people without getting the heeby jeebies, try starting out with something much less threatening than a recital, like visiting a nearby senior living center and practice on their piano. Make it fun for yourself. I'll bet the residence will love it and they won't care a hoot about bloopers.

Sounds like your teacher thinks you got something? Also thinks maybe you learned from your last experience?

I don't mean to argue with the concert pianist mentioned. Remember that book I suggested? That woman has been a concert pianist. Also teacher. Mostly she works with accomplished performers who have injuries. Accomplished people having other problems also. She gives examples of great performers and what they do to be relaxed and at home, so to speak, in the environment of performing. I think you will find it extremely interesting. If you read the book.

I'll also give you an example of mine. I have written this here before. When I was a kid I played two instruments in band at school. Didn't play piano then. My band director asked me to do a solo at contest. I accepted. We were there. All the kids were coming out of their solo's saying: "Oh she's tough! I crashed!" By the time my chance came, I was all nervous. I went in there trying to play all perfect and nervous. Even though the judge acted very relaxed and personable. Somehow, something seemed to sweep through there and just knocked me out, four bars into the solo. I stopped. Then knowing I had blown it. I started again, and played like I played at home. Had nothing to lose. Even at the end. I threw in a litte toot toot te toot. What the heck. I had nothing to lose. Right?
Well... I left the room and went out and sat under a tree. Waited to go home. After a while. My band director came up to me and said: "You won! You got a first rating!" I looked at him rather strange. He said: "Go on up to the judging table and get your medal!" So I got up and went to the table. A lady handed me a medal and my judging paper. I ignored the medal and opened the judging sheet. Scrawled all across the paper in big big letters was: "I ENJOYED IT" Now I was really bewildered. I had to think about this. I stopped four bars into this. And I got a first rating. I checked around. Wasn't able to find any other kids from any of the other schools who got a first rating on a solo. No others from mine did. There were quartets and such who got some first ratings. But no solo! Just me??? Why??? I thought about how my band director loved music. He was a very straight person. But when the music started, it was like he turned on. Loved music. I thought about the judge herself. I thought about some of the other kids I knew. One in particular was great at playing the notes perfect, but often times it wasn't music. What I learned that day was that the judge wanted music. She didn't give a diddily about a mistake. She wanted music!
Now people really don't care a diddily about mistakes. They want music. They don't want to endure a perfect performance that isn't music. They want music! You ain't gonna do this if you're nervous. Worrying about mistakes.
If you go out there and give them music. You will knock their socks off! They won't care if you make a mistake or two. You give them music and you've won!
I might add... People who are all worried about mistakes and perfect copy. Music hasn't started to occur to them.

Lovely story, Rmaple. A great read!

Thank you landorrano...

I'd like to share another example on the biggest scale.

Many people don't care for classical. I'm not that crazy about much classical in general. However, there is one conductor who changed me entirely. Do an experiment for yourself....

Go get a copy of a Symphony doing Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Just the last/4th part. It's popularly called: Ode to Joy.

Now listen to that. I guarantee. Any symphony besides one. I personally will think not much of it. Anybody asks and I would say it's good. I will patronize their efforts.

Then...go get yourself a copy of Seiji Ozawa doing Beethoven's 9th. Just listen to: Ode to Joy. It will knock your socks off. It is a fantastic piece of music. Seiji gets it!

There is a world of difference between Seiji and everyone else. Why? I'm afraid the classical world is filled with people trying too hard to do perfect copy. They fail to make it music. They fail to recognize the intent, the heart of the music.

Thanks got sharing Ron, very inspiring read.

This story is as banal as the other was nice. You should have quit while you were ahead!

I'm trying to understand your advice. Are you saying that rnaple should have stopped doing something while a young student? Or are you saying that he should not have told us the story that most of us found fascinating in its entirety?

Hi Keystring.

Hi landorrano.

+1

Yes I want to be able to perform in public, maybe not a job, but if there is a piano somewhere in a hotel or a bar then Yes I want to play them.

To be honest. I'm not sure how to take that?
Is it that everyone already knows all about Seiji?

That caused me to think of the Big Bang Theory show. Where Penny gets Sheldon drunk without him knowing. He plays the keyboard in the bar and sings.
Maybe it's because??? All you have to do is get drunk and you won't care??? Seems to work for millions of karaoke fans. ????

I think alcohol messes with your coordination....don't know about you but I need all the coordination I can get!!. After one glass of wine ...maybe.... More than 1 or 2??

I haven't read all the posts but I'd go for it! What's the worst that coud happen? I have a practice buddy that even signed up for a sight reading-bee. No one else did however so it didn't happen but she takes all the opportunity she can and it really makes a difference in her playing.......I still don't have the nerve but if my teacher wanted me to play in a recital I think it would be a great motivator to polish and perform!!

chances are that the only person in the room who will know that piece as well as you is the teacher.

The kids probably haven't played it. The adults are mostly listening just to their kid.

Unless you trip on your way across the stage, 5 minutes after it's over you will be the only one who remembers the details.

Practice well and go for it. You'll be fine or your teacher wouldn't have suggested it.

had my lesson today. Teacher confirmed she put me in two categories *gasp*! Open age Two contrasting work. And open age romantic work. So it means I will have to prepare three pieces... Within a month! I can play two fairly well, the other one will need a LOT of work. Better start practicing.
Thanks everyone for the inspiring stories and motivation
I let you know how it goes.

Prepare 3 pieces in 1 month?? I would suggest instead to relax on this and take only pieces that you already know, and polish them in that month ;-)

100% agree
you should be fine with them and play without thinking "oh what is the next bar" etc

->albynism
go there and just play it. don't think about the COMPETITION. just treat it as public performance. Try to realax and play.
I know it's easy to say, but as I have little stage experience, I alwasy worried about my playing, and I was about 5 year older in my piano school than other kids and I felt very strangely and non-comfortable being 19 while other were 12

But if it's open age I think there will be a lot of adults.

Unfortunately, in Poland the amateur piano playing, competitions etc completely don't exist so there's even no possibility to participate in competition like this, which I would go with smile from ear to ear, just to play for some public the piece that I like a lot and feel confident,
but I can't

I play 90% classic also, but in your place I would go without heasitating. Just to being comfortable with stage and public.
Maybe you should speak with your teacher about cancelling one piece?
You should feel comfortable, not stressed.

Go there and have a luck

Albynism,
Remember to keep breathing. I've heard that part is important . I applaud you for taking on this challenge and stretching yourself as a musician. As I said before, I think that means you've already succeeded. Best wishes to you for a great and productive experience, and a hope that somewhere along the way you find yourself enjoying the process and the results!

Good morning. One thing for sure: your teacher thinks that you need a push and she is giving it. Sounds like a kind person.

Besides, I'll bet that deep down, in your heart of hearts, you are just dying to play in public!