Tips for Recital Prep

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Preparing for a recital takes practice, discipline, and hard work. We suggest you visualize your best performance, take deep breaths, focus on the piece you are about to play, and then show off what you love about the piece to your audience. Above all, the goal is to have fun and share some beautiful music!

·        Ask Your Teacher

Who better to ask than your own teacher what their pre-recital routines are? Your teacher is equipped with knowledge and experience and can impart excellent advice from a personal standpoint.

·        Stage a Perfauxmance

A mock performance (it could be for the whole family, a good friend, even your pet!) helps you become familiar with the nerves that might arise during the real deal. The more you get used to the feeling, the more you can learn to move through it while performing. As a bonus, constructive feedback from trusted loved ones can help you grow, discover new ways to think about the music, and expand your expressive ideas.

·        Comfort and Style

Express your individuality! Wear something that makes you confident, happy, and comfortable for the recital (within dress code requirements, of course). Comfort and freedom of movement are crucial to avoiding distraction. Feeling fancy can help with self-confidence as well. Don’t forget to practice while wearing your shoes ahead of time!

·        Stretch and Breathe

Playing music is as physical as it is mental. Warming up with stretching before practicing and performing is essential for the body to function to its fullest potential. Breathing deeply enhances concentration and relaxes nerves. Stay hydrated, and try to get good rest the night before the recital as well.

·        Go Bananas!

Bananas are high in B vitamins, which help calm the nervous system. They produce serotonin, which can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety. Bananas are beta-blockers, which means it prevents adrenaline from binding to beta receptors. The result is that your pulse rate and blood pressure both decrease. They're packed with potassium too, which also helps calm your stress levels!

·        Practice, Practice, Practice

A regular practice schedule will be your best preparation tool. Variety also helps keep you on your toes and prepares you for any situation: practice continuing through mistakes instead of stopping to fix them, practice from memory, go back to the music, practice slowly, practice too fast, practice with your eyes closed, practice late at night or early in the morning. When you have practiced your performance until you are comfortable with it, you’ll go into your recital with belief in your abilities. Confidence is key.

Happy performing!