How to Prepare for a Recital

There are several steps a student must take in order to have a successful recital. Listed below are several things that will help the student become more confident and well prepared for their recital. No one thing is more important than the other when preparing for a performance. If all of the steps listed below are done to the fullest ability of the student, then he/she will have a successful performance.

A. Practice. This cannot be stated enough. Practicing needs to be done on a daily basis; at least five times a week. Practice length will vary depending on the skill level of the student. The higher the skill level, the more time required. This means stepping away from video games and the computer.
B. Slow practice is best. This does not mean a student should never
practice their music at tempo. Practicing slow allows the student to find where
the difficult spots are within the music and gives them time to think through the
problems they might face.
C. Practice the pieces you intend to perform every day. This will keep the
piece fresh in the student’s mind. It is easier to perform when you can hear
the music play clearly in your head.
D. Playing from memory. In order to play from memory, a student has to observe the first three points on this list. A great way to play from memory is to be able to memorize the notes in the music and not solely rely on muscle memory.
E. Perform for family and friends. This will help with the anxiety we all feel before a
performance. The more a student performs their music, the easier it becomes to play that music and perform it in front of an audience.

If a student follows these simple steps they will be rewarded with a successful recital and a memory that will last them a lifetime.

-Tom Sprayberry, M.M.