I know we have had this conversation before, but it is in the archives and this is a new year. It just dawned on me it is less than EIGHT weeks until my students' recital (May 4). Suddenly I am in high gear and beginning to think about what pieces can and will be ready. Most students are in pretty good shape, but I may still add new music. I want this to be a very well rounded recital with lots of different styles of music. How about all of you? Are you planning yet and do you have pieces that have been real winners and any new ideas for recitals?

Carole, I have one this Sunday ... ... and that about says it all.

Here are some of this weekend's goodies with very cool MIDI file accompaniments:

Wildcat (Rock Preludes), Hungarian Stomp (Microjazz - Level 5), Cross-Over & Down to Business (MJ - Level 3); all by Christopher Norton.

Let's Sneak Up (Music Pathways - Solos D)

Bear Dance (HL Solos Bk. 1...ALWAYS a fav...play it LOW and LOUD)

March of the Toreadors (Music Tree 2B)

"Bigfoot" (#1 of Vandall Sampler)

Some piano solo/duets ~

Waltz #2 (Steinway Hall) by William Joel (a.k.a. "Billy" Joel)

Moonshadows (First Lyric pieces by Alexander)

Slavonic Dance Op. 46, No.2 by Dvorak (4-hands).


I'm also bringing 3 small keyboards (1 mine; 2 parent's own) for many keyboard ensembles....and a few will be accompanied by my 2 guest artists (a pianist and mandolinist).

It is a jam session for sure!

Ack! Is it that close already???? Mine is May 18. I've talked to all the older students already and they are on their way. I am trying to have all pieces composed after 1900. So far there's a rag by Martha Mier, the prelude from Pour le piano by Debussy (I know I'm pushing it since the dates given for it are 1896-1901!) and the middle movement of Ravel's sonatine. I also will have two movements from Birds by Seymour Bernstein. Better get crackin' with everyone else, I guess!

Yikes! I just got through Christmas, New Year's & Valentine's Day. Now I have to think about a recital, & I only have one young student (other student is an adult beginner who I'm sure won't want to perform in a recital). Any suggestions on what I can do for my 7-year-old student? Perhaps help her prepare something to play for church? She needs a performance opportunity of some sort, but I think a formal recital with only one student isn't feasible, unless I come up with a way to prepare her to give a solo recital for friends & family (like the Suzuki students do). Thoughts?

I held a late winter recital March 1
and will be holding one in Mid June at the close of the current teaching year.

My students vary in age from 5 to 18,
so of course there is a need to promote
pop, rock, blues classical etc.

Some the the songs I helped the students prepare for this recital were:

The Beatles: From me to you, Yesterday,
Eleanor Rigby.
Simon and Garfunkle: Scarborough Fair,

My heart will go on, Heart and Soul
The Ashgrove.

Rhapsody in Blue(Gershwin)Very Challenging
original versions for very advanced students
Awesome song, I love it, and it is a song with a great variety of tonal colors, sweeping chromatic runs and powerful dynamic
rich voicings.

Some all time favs- Star Wars Theme and
The Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark,

Classical Tunes:
The Wild horseman, The Spinning Song, Rondo in F Major(Clementi)

A RCM Grade four study entitled Avalanche, which is really a cool song with lots of fantastic arpeggios It is a great dynamic and wonderful song to play and listen to and scale like runs.Quite a Show piece for sure.
It is a Frederick Harris publication.

Another neat one for the younger grades
of course in the Mouse in the Coal Bin.

The Alley Cat and Wipe Out songs are always
enjoyed by performers and audience alike.

Good Luck with your Ideas for your upcoming recitals.

Thanks for all the good suggestions. Now it is only about 3 weeks and I went to the Arhives for recital ideas-some good ones down there if anyone is interested!!! Sharon L. had some game ideas for recitals and if she is still around, would like for her to give me more info on what she did. Or-if anyone else does this sort of thing-something to keep the audience awake and part of the action. I want the kids to look back on this as fun and not too stressful too(remember how most of us went through "torture recitals" when we were kids?) I may even lose the word "recital" and call it a performance party or celebration. So-speak up if you have any interaction ideas, please. Thanks.

I am presenting a Spring Voice Recital on May 4th. I got a call from a Mom last night who asked if her daughter could sing first and leave in order to attend a friend's birthday party.

I think it will seem rude for her to sing and dash....especially since all the kids sing together at the end. Should I try to be accomodating or make her choose between recital and birthday party?

Hi. I just held my Spring Performance Class and had great success with the following two activities - just customize for the season - this was in an informal setting.

Easter Egg Quest - plastic eggs held theory trivia questions - I color-coded the eggs by level and posted the color key and put every one on their honor. Except for the Primer students who I made sure picked the Primer color. Anyone getting their trivia questions correct picked a small prize from a bowl. To my surprise, students teamed up to help each other. That did not award them a prize but it was very gratifying to see the students helping each other.

The second activity was the Easter Relay. Students drew names. I gave the first student a glass egg and during refreshments that student played anything of their choice, handing the glass relay egg to the the student they drew when finished. I explained the function of providing dinner or party music while others enjoyed their social hour. It was a great success.

You could easily customize these ideas for seasonal and size/room considerations. How about trivia questions throughout the audience for large performances? Very small prizes (even paper bookmarks, etc.) could be distributed by runners (students).

Hope this helps, Lilla

[ April 19, 2002: Message edited by: Lilla ]

I don't think it would be fair to the other kids if you let her leave early, esp. if all the kids sing together at the end. Do the schools allow kids to leave early when they have programs & activities? Heck, no! We parents have to sit through the whole boring mess. Why should we piano teachers play 2nd fiddle to other activities, esp. b'day parties? If I were you, I'd stand my ground on this one, Eric. If you don't, you may open a big can of worms; when other such events are scheduled, your other students may start putting in requests to leave early. If you believe this event is important, then stress to your students the importance of participating, as well as supporting fellow students by remaining present throughout the entire program.

[ April 18, 2002: Message edited by: Jalapeņo ]

Eric, I hate dealing with the issue of leaving the recital early, but it does seem that it comes up every year, at every recital. (I did 4 this year.) In the past I have not made a big deal about it as long as they pre-arranged it with me. I certainly don't want to be surprised about it!

I have observed that most folks who do this are my more wealthy families who, apparently, think their schedule is more important than anyone else's. Unfortunately, they also think their vacation schedules should be the exception to a no makeup policy, so they don't stay with me in the long run. (Sorry for the bit of "attitude" sticking out there.) Although I do not make a big deal of the issue, internally it bugs me a bit. The recital coming up for us on May 23 shouldn't be too much of a problem, since trophies and other awards are given at the end of the recital.