When we think of the traditional "piano recital," we typically think of a dress-up event, with students performing their pieces from memory on stage.
While formal recitals are wonderful, they also involve a huge commitment on the part of both student and teacher. And, let's face it, they can also be scary--especially for students without lots of performance experience under their belts!
Today, I am sharing 5 alternatives to the traditional formal piano recital. These are great options for teachers who prefer not to hold a formal recital, or they can provide supplemental performance experience for students in addition to a more formal event.
Keep reading to explore the options...
While formal recitals are wonderful, they also involve a huge commitment on the part of both student and teacher. And, let's face it, they can also be scary--especially for students without lots of performance experience under their belts!
Today, I am sharing 5 alternatives to the traditional formal piano recital. These are great options for teachers who prefer not to hold a formal recital, or they can provide supplemental performance experience for students in addition to a more formal event.
Keep reading to explore the options...
1. Student-Only Piano Party
Who doesn't love a party? A "piano party" gives students the option to perform for a small group of their peers in a relaxed environment.
How to do it: Plan a casual group class and invite your students to share a completed piece or a work in progress. I find it fun to include a mix of ages and levels in my piano parties, as it gives the more advanced students the opportunity to encourage the beginners! I also like to include a couple of theory games and ensemble activities to make the experience more fun and interactive.
You can find many of the lesson plans and activities I have used in my piano parties on my blog HERE.
2. Retirement Home or Coffee House Recital
Looking for a slightly more relaxed recital experience? How about having your students perform for residents at a local retirement home, or giving them the opportunity to provide background music at a coffee house or similar venue?
How to do it: Check with the activity director at your local retirement or nursing home and ask if they have a piano in good condition and, if so, if they would be open to having a group of students come and perform for the residents there.
Local coffee houses, farmers markets, or outdoor shopping areas are also good options for a more relaxed recital venue, and many venues like this are open to having live performers providing background music. However, keep in mind that you may need to provide your own keyboard for these types of venues.
3. In-Lesson "Recital" for Friends and Family
Another option that I have found to be fun and stress-free is to invite students to plan a special recital for a small group of friends and family during their regular lesson time.
How to do it: Encourage your student to plan a short program of several pieces. They might even enjoy typing up a printed program to share with the audience, or planning a few introductory sentences to share about each piece before they play it. Invite a few friends and family to attend this mini-recital during your student's regular lesson time, either in person at your studio or via an online platform like Zoom or Skype.
4. Recording Project
Do you have students with severe performance anxiety, or families with busy schedules that make planning a special performance difficult? I have had success inviting these kinds of students to do a recording project that gives them the opportunity to record a few of their favorite pieces during their normal lesson time that they can share with friends and family at a later date.
How to do it: Encourage your student to choose one or more performance-ready pieces that they can record during their regular piano lesson. You may do a video recording of these pieces on your phone or tablet, or an audio recording using your computer and a software program like Audacity or Garage Band.
I find it helpful to give students the option to do a few "takes" of their chosen piece and then to choose their favorite version to save and share with family and friends. Students are always proud to have a clean, professional-sounding recording of their piece to share after their recording session is done!
5. Virtual Pre-Recorded Recital
Much like the recording project mentioned above, hosting a virtual recital of pre-recorded pieces gives students the option to record their pieces on their own time and to share their favorite versions with the audience virtually.
How to do it: There are multiple options for holding this type of recital. I shared my experiences hosting a virtual recital using YouTube's playlist feature HERE. You may also share pre-recorded student performances on your studio Facebook page or Instagram account (with parental permission, of course).
What do you think? Have you tried any of these formal recital alternatives? Do you have other options to add to this list? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
Who doesn't love a party? A "piano party" gives students the option to perform for a small group of their peers in a relaxed environment.
How to do it: Plan a casual group class and invite your students to share a completed piece or a work in progress. I find it fun to include a mix of ages and levels in my piano parties, as it gives the more advanced students the opportunity to encourage the beginners! I also like to include a couple of theory games and ensemble activities to make the experience more fun and interactive.
You can find many of the lesson plans and activities I have used in my piano parties on my blog HERE.
2. Retirement Home or Coffee House Recital
Looking for a slightly more relaxed recital experience? How about having your students perform for residents at a local retirement home, or giving them the opportunity to provide background music at a coffee house or similar venue?
How to do it: Check with the activity director at your local retirement or nursing home and ask if they have a piano in good condition and, if so, if they would be open to having a group of students come and perform for the residents there.
Local coffee houses, farmers markets, or outdoor shopping areas are also good options for a more relaxed recital venue, and many venues like this are open to having live performers providing background music. However, keep in mind that you may need to provide your own keyboard for these types of venues.
3. In-Lesson "Recital" for Friends and Family
Another option that I have found to be fun and stress-free is to invite students to plan a special recital for a small group of friends and family during their regular lesson time.
How to do it: Encourage your student to plan a short program of several pieces. They might even enjoy typing up a printed program to share with the audience, or planning a few introductory sentences to share about each piece before they play it. Invite a few friends and family to attend this mini-recital during your student's regular lesson time, either in person at your studio or via an online platform like Zoom or Skype.
4. Recording Project
Do you have students with severe performance anxiety, or families with busy schedules that make planning a special performance difficult? I have had success inviting these kinds of students to do a recording project that gives them the opportunity to record a few of their favorite pieces during their normal lesson time that they can share with friends and family at a later date.
How to do it: Encourage your student to choose one or more performance-ready pieces that they can record during their regular piano lesson. You may do a video recording of these pieces on your phone or tablet, or an audio recording using your computer and a software program like Audacity or Garage Band.
I find it helpful to give students the option to do a few "takes" of their chosen piece and then to choose their favorite version to save and share with family and friends. Students are always proud to have a clean, professional-sounding recording of their piece to share after their recording session is done!
5. Virtual Pre-Recorded Recital
Much like the recording project mentioned above, hosting a virtual recital of pre-recorded pieces gives students the option to record their pieces on their own time and to share their favorite versions with the audience virtually.
How to do it: There are multiple options for holding this type of recital. I shared my experiences hosting a virtual recital using YouTube's playlist feature HERE. You may also share pre-recorded student performances on your studio Facebook page or Instagram account (with parental permission, of course).
What do you think? Have you tried any of these formal recital alternatives? Do you have other options to add to this list? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
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