It’s the time of year that many teachers have recitals. Why have recitals? Because we want to have goals for our students? Because the parents want to see their children perform? Because teachers want to have a statement of teacher-worth? I have a recital twice per year – once in the winter and once in spring. I find it an excellent process for setting goals and for helping students prepare for exams. It is also a worthy time to acknowledge parents and other people who have been on the “learning-team”. I make sure the recital program has all the student names and acknowledges all accomplishements for the year. How about you? Do you have recitals? The preparation for the recital is a lot of work. Do you find its worth it?! Hope you will leave a comment!
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I think there are many wonderful lessons learned by children when they perform at a recital. Some are; how to handle nerves, how to prepare well, how to graciously accept applause and later compliments, how to shake off a performance that doesn’t go as planned, how to support their peers. The work involved in planning and executing a recital is worth it because the children are worth it. : )
Recitals also help to create a sense of community. During the recital you can communicate in a special way just how precious these children are, and how great it is to be their teacher. You can highlight what has been learned by beginners, and younger students are inspired as they listen to the older students. You can honour (often tearfully) graduating students. It is a very special time. Especially if you have a time after your recital with refreshments etc., families get a chance to visit with each other, and with you.
Definitely worth it!! Students get a chance to show off what they can do, and a chance to hear what their peers are doing. This can be motivating as they hear something they want to learn next. Hearing what less advanced students play can help them (and their parents) identify how far they’ve come since they worked on those same pieces.
Another benefit is that younger students can listen to more advanced students and anticipate how they will be able to play in a few years. Older students can hear younger students and remember how they were playing a few years ago and how much they have improved. Sometimes I put recital programs (and pictures) from past years on a display table so that the newer students can see that three years ago, the older children (who look so old to them) were playing “Mary had a Little Lamb.”
Recitals are such an integral part of all studios. Children shine, parents beam, and friends are amazed. This year we changed the name of our “recital” to “a musical celebration” and we celebrated making music together. It’s a slight name change that really sums up what a recital is all about.
It is such a great opportunity for family involvement. We call it “Family Day”, “A Musical Celebration”. EVERYONE sings “The Sunbeams” song. Piano students sing a few of songs. Music Pups and Sunrise with moms or dads are on stage for a couple of song. There is a rhythm ensemble from the younger piano students and bells from the older students. There are the solos, of course, and I have a couple of MBIII graduates come back to be guest performers a few years after their graduation. Parents and students love that and find it very inspiring! We also honor the composition finalist/winners and EVERYONE sings “So Long, Farewell”. It is so good for families to be able to talk to each other and see the whole scope of the program. Some do not think beyond their own class of 5. It gives them a whole new perspective! I love it!!!
I wholeheartedly agree with recitals. I learned long ago that “you just never know what can happen at a recital” and have often been pleasantly surprised. The “difficult” student that was struggling all year has been known to rise up and give an amazing performance – thus ending the year on a high note and encouraging practice over the summer and a return in the fall. I have worked with many “blended” families, and the recital has been an opportunity for them to come together, put their differences aside, and support the performing child – a memory for the child, perhaps, for one time when both mom and dad were in the same room at the same time. Often grand-parents are involved, and when they see first hand in a formal setting how well the child is doing or has progressed, they get “on board” and start kicking in with emotional support and financial support for tuition,books and instruments that the parents could not afford. It ends up being a win-win for all, as the children are thrilled to have grand-parents in the audience.
Recitals a) Give the student motivation to practice and get their piece in better shape than when there isn’t one. b) It gives students a chance to practice their stage presence, and become comfortable performing and speaking in front of others. c) It helps them be rewarded that they can share with others what has been practiced in private for a while, and d) Recitals help CELEBRATE a student’s achievement!
That’s why, in my music studio, we not only have our Christmas and June Recital, but we also have Music in Action (a Ribbon Festival) National Music Certificate Examinations, Playing for Other Teachers, go to concerts, Adjudications, Explore Music! and other events. Our Music Teacher Association (SCMTA is wonderful in that it keeps our students playing for events regularly, which really contributes to their musicianship and education.