Chrissy Ricker
  • Home
  • Publications
    • Piano collections
    • Pop & rock arrangements
    • Video game arrangements
    • Vocal music
    • Instrumental music
  • Search
    • Search my catalog!
  • About
  • Blog
  • Free Stuff
  • Contact

A Recital-Ready Timeline for Students

4/7/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture

Today I am sharing an updated version of this article that I wrote for the blog at Tonara.com. 

​If you aren't familiar with Tonara, it is a unique app with a variety of features that enable teachers to manage their studio and motivate their students to practice. Visit Tonara's website HERE to learn more!


​
Are spring recital preparations in full swing at your studio? We are T-minus 4 weeks from spring recital here at my studio, and the pressure is on!

Do you want to make sure that your students are confident, well-prepared, and ready to perform? Keep reading to find a handy, recital-ready timeline with tips on how to best help students to practice and prepare in the weeks leading up to a performance.

Four weeks before the performance
At this point, students should have their music securely learned--meaning, they should be able to play their pieces accurately and up to tempo. There may be a few small things to polish, but overall pieces should be flowing comfortably and sounding musical.

If students are performing from memory, they should be able to comfortably play their pieces by memory from start to finish without any major memory mistakes. We’ll be giving them tools to put their memory to the test in the coming weeks!

Three weeks before the performance
Now is the time to work on any areas in the music that might need a bit more polish. Students should practice these spots separately at each practice session. Listening to recordings of their music can also help students to solidify any remaining weak spots in their pieces.

If students are performing from memory, make sure they are practicing their music in multiple ways over the next few weeks to test for secure memorization. Slow practice from memory, playing hands separately from memory, starting from memory in several different spots in the music, and thinking through the piece away from their instrument are all good ways to help students to test their memory.

Students should also practice getting into character and “performing” their music cold, without an extensive warm-up. Doing this at random times throughout the week will help students get quickly into “performance mode” and replicate what their experience will be like at an actual performance.

Two weeks before the performance
Let’s get a little help from our friends! This week, encourage your students to do at least two practice performances for family members or friends. Having students record themselves performing their pieces is also a good way to approximate the performance experience.

In your lessons this week, you might help students get comfortable playing through distractions. Shuffle some papers, walk around the room, cough...replicate the types of sounds your students might hear in an actual performance setting and see if they can stay focused and keep playing, no matter what happens.

One week before the performance
This week, students should practice doing a dry run of their performance, both in lessons and at home. Have students practice walking “on stage,” performing, and taking a bow. Try to replicate the performance experience as closely as possible.

If students are wearing any special attire (for example: a fancy dress, a suit jacket, or new shoes) they should practice at least once or twice at home wearing these items. Students should make sure they can play comfortably and have a full range of motion--there is nothing worse than buying a nice new recital outfit and then finding out that you can’t move your arms comfortably as you are on stage performing!

During your lessons this week, explain to students what they can expect the day of their performance. If it is a venue that is new to them, describing the room or showing them pictures can help students to know exactly what to expect. Have the recital program ready, if possible, so that students can see the performance order. Giving students a step-by-step explanation of what will happen the day of their performance can help decrease students’ anxiety levels leading up to the event.

The day of the performance
Remind students to get a good night’s sleep so they are well-rested and ready to perform. Students might enjoy taking a walk or another form of gentle exercise to help with any pre-performance jitters. Some musicians (myself included) have also found it helpful to eat a banana about thirty minutes to an hour prior to performing. Bananas contain natural beta-blockers that may help with anxiety.

As their performance time approaches, remind students to breathe and relax. It is totally normal to be a bit nervous; just remind students that they are well-prepared, and everyone in the audience is rooting for them! Ask students to take a few deep breaths and to visualize themselves having fun and giving a great performance.

Looking for more recital-ready resources?
  • Check out a more extensive article on helping your students play from memory HERE.
  • HERE is a handy "Am I Ready?" performance checklist that helps students in the weeks leading up to a performance.

What do you think? What tips do you give your students to help them get "performance-ready"? I would love to hear from you in the comments!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Chrissy Ricker is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. These are her thoughts on teaching, composing, and all things music.


    Looking for teaching ideas related to a specific topic? Use the "search" feature or scroll down to see blog posts organized by category!

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    2 Minute Teaching Tips
    Active Listening
    Composer Focus
    Composition
    Duets
    Ear Training
    Easter
    Fall/Halloween
    Free Stuff
    Friday Funny
    Games
    Group Classes
    Holiday Music
    Lesson Planning
    Living Composers
    Memorization
    Music For One Hand
    Music History
    Musicianship Monthly
    NFMC Selections
    Online Lessons
    Patriotic Music
    Performing
    Pop Arrangements
    Practicing
    Professional Development
    Repertoire
    Rhythm
    Rote Teaching
    Saint Patrick's Day
    Sight Reading
    Sports Themed Resources
    Summer
    Summer Challenge Calendars
    Technique
    Technology
    Thanksgiving
    Theory
    Tips For Teens
    Transposition
    Travel Teaching
    Valentine's Day
    Wedding Music
    Young Beginners

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to my monthly newsletter to stay informed about my latest publications and free teacher resources. Once you subscribe below, a fresh newsletter will be delivered to your inbox on the first of each month!

    *Your email will never be shared or used for any other purpose besides this once-monthly newsletter, and you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of your newsletter email. 

Subscribe
 © ​Copyright 2016-2025 Chrissy Ricker. All Rights Reserved.
Photos from hyekab25, Giancarlo - Foto 4U, geraldbrazell, djordjemiladinovich, Rosmarie Voegtli, barnimages.com, brownpau, magicatwork, wuestenigel