Why are there recitals for piano students? Some teachers like to have them as it gives their students a chance to get experience performing for other people, including their families. Students like to get a chance to play pieces that they have learned over the past months to show how much they have improved and they also want to be motivated by listening to the other students.
There are a few parents of young piano students who see recitals as a place where their child may fall apart with terrible sounding mistakes embarrassing themselves and their families. If a parents has this awful negative view of recitals, they will transmute those destructive thoughts to their child—making it a self-fulfilling prophecy. Oddly enough, it’s many of the same parents that tell their child to play in a recital but at the same time don’t expect a good performance from their child.
Some piano teachers think of a recital as a place for a student to present what they have learned for the past few weeks or months. It’s a place where children play the pieces they enjoy yet perform well. And many teachers believe that some of the parents do more harm than good with the negative mindset and projecting their nervousness onto their child.
Some, if not all students are anxious and tense for recitals, but this is only to be expected and is normal behavior. Children should select a recital piece or two that they excel at playing and that sounds good as a performance. If this is successful at the recital, the student will gain more insight and self-assurance for other upcoming recitals.
The parents should give the child confidence and praise for their pieces way ahead of time. Plan a couple of impromptu piano recitals at home for family and friends, and even have some refreshments afterward, like a real piano recital. Even practice walking up to the piano and sitting down, even bowing!
By performing for the family at home, the student will be more prepared for the upcoming recital and be informed that no one in the audience knows their piece. Also, the student should not wear constricting or too tight belts, pants, slacks, or skirts that would make them uncomfortable or self-conscious. Shoes should be presentable yet cozy and dressy so that the student doesn’t slip and fall, or slip off when pressing the pedal.
Your child might want to record the recital pieces and listen to see if there is anything there they may need to change, such as notes, dynamics, and so on. They may want to tell their piano teacher about it and play for the teacher again before the recital. In sum, a student can learn self-confidence so that the next recital will be even better.
Your child’s first piano recital can be a momentous event in his or her life, so make it a special occasion. But make sure you don’t overdo it and get nervous, as your child will sense it and start feeling those same nervous feelings that you have. Make your child feel confident and loved so there are fond memories of the first recital, and do take the family out for dinner to your child’s favorite restaurant when the recital is over!
Viewed 66 times by 31 viewers
