Recitals are a wonderful way to gain performance experience. They provide a unique opportunity to showcase your musical skills in a fun, safe environment surrounded by family, friends, and other musicians.
It’s normal to feel a mix of excitement and nervousness before a recital. One of the best ways to boost recital-day confidence and success is through careful preparation in the weeks and days ahead.
Below we have shared some effective recital preparation tips to help optimize your practice time and prepare you for the special experience of performing for a live audience!
Practice Like You’re Performing
Treat some of your practice time like a live performance. Walk up to your instrument, sit down, and play your song from beginning to end as best you can. This will allow you to get the feel for performing your song as a whole. You might pick up on areas to focus more practice and gain confidence playing your song all the way through!
Control Your Tempo
When preparing for a recital, it’s a good idea to decide on tempo ahead of time! We often play faster when we perform in front of others.
First, sing your song to yourself to decide what tempo feels right - not too slow and not too challenging. Experiment with playing your song at different speeds while you practice at home. Then, continually practice at the best tempo for you - one that allows you to play the easy and harder parts of the song. Finally, when recital time comes, play the song once more in your mind to find your tempo again for a well-paced performance!
Record Yourself Playing
To get a fresh, outside perspective, you can record yourself playing your recital piece with audio or video. Play it back and listen closely. What do you hear? What parts are you playing really well? What parts could use more practice? You might want to listen to other musician’s recordings of the song too for inspiration and a better understanding of your own playing.
Most importantly, use what you hear to target future practice sessions and to notice how far you’ve come!
Perform a Mini-Concert
Performing for family and friends is a wonderful way to prepare for a recital. Invite them to a live performance at your home and treat it like a mini-concert! This gives you the opportunity to practice playing your song for a live audience and gives them a special sneak preview.
Mark Your Sheet Music
Sometimes we need to look away from our music for parts of our song. To make sure you stay on track and play seamlessly, create visual cues on your sheet music. Highlight or circle spots on the page for your eyes to scan and quickly find. When you need to return to the page, you’ll know right where to go. This will allow for a seamless, stress-free performance!
Play through Distractions
While most recitals are quiet, you never know what unexpected disruptions might take place - like a baby crying or someone dropping their keys. To be ready for this, try playing through distractions at home. Ask your friends or family to try and distract you while you play your song all the way through. They can make loud noises or dance around. Practice holding your focus no matter what is happening around you!
Practice Consistently, Then Rest
Consistency is key! It’s better to practice frequently than in sporadic bursts. Try to make the time to practice a bit nearly every day. Then, plan for a break before the recital. Use the time to rest and relax. This will allow you to be prepared and refreshed for recital day.
Have Fun!
Enjoy this opportunity to play an instrument and grow as a musician. You are part of a long line and big community of musicians who are learning and developing just like you. Recitals are a great time to delight in your unique skills and talent. Relax your shoulders, take a deep breath, and feel the song as you practice and perform. Remember that you are giving the gift of music to everyone who hears you play. You have already done the hard work - now it’s time to go out there and have fun!
For more ideas - click here! 20 Awesome Recital-Ready Tips
