As I mentioned yesterday, our Spring Recital was Saturday! Here’s how it went down:
- It was held at the local library. They have an atrium with a Steinway baby grand piano. In the past, I’ve always held recitals at churches (and once at a school). I look for churches with grand pianos that can be moved to the center of the sanctuary. Being new in town, I haven’t yet discovered which churches have this kind of set-up (plus they have to be affordable). Two of my students suggested using the library, so we did. It costs $50 to rent and it’s a nice location with high ceilings and lots of natural light. I was happy with it!
- I always play something at my students’ recitals. This year, I asked my friend, a violinist for whom I’m accompanying for her semester juries at my local university, to play her jury piece with me. She was thrilled to be asked — but she needed to be first on the program so she could leave early for another event she had in the afternoon. I wish I could let you hear the piece — but I forgot to start the video camera before we played the piece! (I’m still kicking myself.) Anyway, here’s Itzhak Perlman playing it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKI9uoNfC18
- After the violin piece, my students played. I had 10 out of my 16 students play at the recital (the others are adult students, new 4-year-old students, or had a schedule conflict). I knew it would be a short and sweet recital, but I still feel recitals are beneficial enough that it was worth doing anyway!
- After playing, my students stood in the front for a group photo, and I gave them each a rose for their performance. It’s a tradition I’ve been doing for a few years now, although my students in my new town, of course, have not experienced it yet.
- Afterwards, we had a little reception with cupcakes, a Kit Kat piano (a la Pinterest), and cheese n’ crackers.
I don’t think I can share video of the recital since the pieces performed are under copyright, but I hope to share a photo slideshow soon!
Do you all have Spring Recitals coming up? I like holding mine early in the Spring because May and June are such a busy months.
Sounds like a great setup for a recital.
Love the Bruch! One of my favourite movements of a violin concerto – it really tugs at the heartstrings! And, of course, who better at it than Perlman?!
I got your music sheet balls in the mail yesterday – thanks!
Glad they finally arrived! 🙂
You might look into a restaurant with a really nice piano, if the library doesn’t work out. (Sounds like an AWESOME library though!!) I have mine at a local restaurant during the lunchtime hours (it’s a fancy evening-frequented kind of place). I don’t pay anything and they get paying traffic. Works for both of us! Plus, I get free advertisement with a flyer and through traffic. Just have our area around the piano reserved and the kids get to experience being a real-live musician. WAY fun for them!
Joy, it sounds like your recital was very special! I haven’t had one yet, because until this year I had all beginners. But I am planning one for next year- gathering ideas and such. Thanks for always sharing such great ideas with us!
Thanks, Leah!
Sounds perfect! We’ll be having our recital in just a few weeks in the fellowship hall of a local church. I’m going to steal your rose idea–how perfect! I also think it’s important for the teacher to play at student recitals–because few of my students ever get to hear me play. I’m busy preparing Grieg’s March of the Gnomes–fun, flashy, not super difficult and easy to memorize! Hehe.
Georgia–I like your idea of holding your recitals at a restaurant! What a great idea!!
Love your website. I wanted to share about my recital this year.
It was: “A Night at the Movies” All 25 students played movie themes or recognizable songs from movies. I made a power point slideshow that had a photo from the movie for each song no words or titles on the slide show. In the program I only listed student names and a blank line. I ask the audience to write down the song title not just the movie title. At the end of the recital I gave a movie themed gift basket to the person who correctly named the most song titles with: a big popcorn bowl, 4 small bowls, 4 small cans of Coke, 2 bags microwave popcorn, 7 boxes of movie size candies, a $5.00 DVD, and a $20.00 gift card to the theater. I also purchased a huge bag of popcorn from the local theater and scooped into .1oz popcorn boxes I bought online. Guest were given a box of popcorn along with the program. I purchased recital program blanks from PaperDirect.com with movie light graphics. Our ending refreshments were cookie cake, ice cream, and punch. I decorated the table with star shaped balloons. I played a piece as well at the end of the recital. It wa so much fun and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening. I would like to theme next year’s recital also. I’m searching for great ideas.
What a fun idea! Thanks for sharing, Tamara.
It was great to hear about your recital! I wish our library had a piano. I am just starting out as a piano teacher and I have a couple of questions. How many pieces do you have your students play? I have mostly beginners and 2 intermediate. Also, when I was taking piano growing up my teacher had us announce our music at the recital by saying, “I shall play…..” I think it’s a valuable tool to have the students announce their music. What do you think of this?
I love your giving roses idea!
You can have students play how ever many pieces you want. With younger students, I encourage them to play 2 or 3 because their pieces are so short. Other students might play only 1 or 2. It depends on what your students can handle, and how long you want your recital to be.
Announcing pieces aloud is not a bad idea, but I know it often makes students nervous to have speak in front of a crowd. Personally, I figure if there is already a program that tells the piece/composer, there’s no need to also have it announced. However, I think if I had advanced high school students, I might ask them to give the audience some background about their piece. I enjoy it when classical performers speak from the stage, and I would encourage my students to do the same if they are able to speak intelligently about the piece.
Just my two-cents!
Your recital sounds so nice! We have our spring recital tomorrow; I was planning on making the kit kat pianos, but couldn’t find white kit kats *anywhere*!
Look in the baking/candy aisles at your local grocery store. Don’t bother looking in the check-out areas – you probably won’t find them there.
I just found your amazing website tonight and love it! This was my first year teaching and I had 8 students total, most of which are beginners. We went to a local nursing home and played for the residents. It was short and sweet and I am continuing my old teacher’s tradition of giving out a small participation trophy and balloon. I also had a vase of roses and each student gave one to their parents. Attached to the flower was a note that said, thank you mom and dad for your efforts and encouragement to help me succeed this piano season. I’m hoping to transition from my job at a hospital to being a full time piano teacher, as this first year has been incredibly rewarding.
Hi Joy, I’m unable to view your spring recital. =(
I love hearing what everyone else is doing. Great ideas! I have been teaching forever and my Spring recital is in mid-May..later than I usually do it. I have 16 students from ages 6 to 16 playing. Most play 2 pieces, one to be memorized (usually, unless very long). Also almost all of my kids pair up and play duets. I have some that have been partners for years now and they are going to famous one day, haha! We have a lot of fun at the recital. I write a somewhat humorous announcing script and each year pick 2 of the students to also be announcers. It’s sort of a “honor.” I have the recitals in my home– not large, mind you— but my husband and I clear out furniture in 2 rooms and set up lots of chairs, turn the piano and off we go! Everyone brings a treat to share and I provide beverages, paper products, more food, etc. I always give recital gifts, too. Every year it’s different, usually around $6-8 apiece.
This is the biggie thing of the year and worth all the work. 🙂
I just wanted to thank you, Joy, for your incredible blog. I’ve been teaching for about 6 years and having recitals…”piano concerts”…for 3 years. Every year is a new learning experience for me and your website and others I’ve recently found have giving me a lot of great ideas that I can’t wait to implement! Thank you for all your hard work!
You’re welcome, Stephanie! I’m so glad you are taking advantage of all the internet resources available nowadays for piano teachers!