Audience Instruction Signs for Your Recitals

April 30, 2019
by Amy
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Organizing a studio recital involves many different aspects beyond student repertoire preparation. I’m sure many of us have stories we can tell about the lessons we learned in our first few years of recital planning.

One of the first lessons I learned was to put up some kind of signage, especially when the recital is not in the same location every year.

Is it a necessity? No.

Can people eventually find their way to the recital hall or auditorium? Yes.

So why use direction signs?

If you’ve ever attended a graduation party, baby shower, or conference, I’m sure you will agree that the minute you see a sign indicating you are in the correct location, you breathe a sigh of relief.

It’s comforting not to wonder if you’re in the correct location or to search for where you’re going. Relieving this slight anxiety for your audience will make a great first impression and add a professional touch with little effort. All it takes is a few signs posted around the building where the recital is being held.

Get this Freebie

This free download includes nine different signs. They are intentionally designed in a simple, no-frills format to be used for any studio and recital. Enjoy!

Consider taking your signage a step further and purchasing a yard sign you can reuse from year to year with your studio logo that says “Recital Here” or something generic that could be used for any kind of performance(s) you organize in your studio! I’ve not done it yet myself, but I love the idea!

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Spring Recital 2018: Songs We Know

May 24, 2018
by Amy
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This past Sunday was my studio’s 7th spring recital. Every year I try to do something different to keep things interesting. Last year we did a studio-wide collaborative project (a narrative suite). In 2016 we did collaborative pieces (duets, trios, 2-pianos 4-hands).

Sometimes in the fall, I hold a themed recital. This past fall, we did a church music recital, and three years ago, we did a color recital (this recital was prior to Piano Pantry, so I don’t have a post on it).

This year the theme was “Songs We Know.” Usually, I reserve the majority of pop-tune playing and such for our summer picnic performance. I decided to forego the summer performance with our house project and all that’s going on this year. Thus, the popular-themed music for the spring recital.

In this post, I’ll share some highlights from this recital, including a list of repertoire.

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Favorite Hymn and Praise Piano Books

October 24, 2017
by Amy
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Finding quality arrangements of hymns and praise/worship music for piano students is not easy. To help make your search easier, in this post, I’m going to share a few that have proven to work well with my students in recent years. I’ll also share snippets from a church-music-themed piano recital I did with my students.

Let’s discuss why finding appropriate hymn and praise/contemporary worship music arrangements for piano students is tricky.

First, hymns are written in a homophonic (and even more specifically, homorhythmic) texture, meaning they sing the same rhythm in a blocked chordal structure – one that is not easy to play for even intermediate-level piano students.

Second, while many churches are moving away from hymns, contemporary worship music trends, and changes so quickly, many “praise” books published in years past no longer resonate with students.

This creates a struggle for piano teachers!

Functional Musicianship in Daily Life

One of my solutions is to ensure all my students learn to play chord charts and lead sheets so we can easily download any worship song they like and learn how to play it or at least sing and accompany using chordal patterns.

Part of my teaching philosophy is that I want to enable my students to be functional musicians who can operate in multiple situations, especially those they encounter daily. For many in my studio, the church is a big one.

One of my students just started playing in their youth worship band, and many others are providing music as preludes, communion, offering, and leading during youth-led services. I have several students who are also singers and love singing and playing contemporary worship music.

The next two photos are from our church music recital.

All my students learn to play from chord charts and lead sheets, and a few older ones work on 4-part hymns on occasion, even if their church doesn’t sing hymns. It’s still an important skill they may be able to use someday!

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2017 Spring Recital: The Magical Forest, A Narrative Suite

May 29, 2017
by Amy
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This year was my studio’s 6th Spring Recital. For the last several years, I’ve been trying to mix things up a bit to keep the end-of-year recital fresh and exciting. Everyone plays a solo in the recital’s first half, followed by a 10-minute intermission.

The second half of the recital changes from year to year. Two years ago, everyone played a jazzy style, and I explained to the audience what they should expect to hear before each style set. Last year we did collaborative pieces, including duets, trios, and two pianos with four hands (some pieces with a live drummer).

This year, we did a studio-wide collaborative project. I pulled out a book I’d been itching to use for several years but didn’t have enough students at the level to perform the pieces until now.

In this post, I’ll share the book we used and the process I went through in pulling this special recital together. I’ll share lots of photos from the recital and also have a free download to help you plan your own production of this narrative suite.

 

The Magical Forest Narrative Suite

The book I chose was The Magical Forest- A Narrative Suite for Piano by Nancy Lau, which combines short narration with pieces. Each piece also has a representative drawing.

Pieces include:

  1. Entering the Magical Forest
  2. Forest Fanfare
  3. March of the Critters
  4. Bear Dance
  5. Waltz of the Deer
  6. The Fairies Delight
  7. Backwoods Bop
  8. Woodland Farewell
  9. Leaving the Magical Forest.

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Recital Preparation Timeline and Checklist

April 18, 2017
by Amy
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It’s that time of year for many when preparations for year-end recitals are in full force. If you have ever had to mentally think through the same basic list of tasks every year for your recital preparation, this post is for you!

The first year I had a recital in my studio, I kept detailed records of what needed to be done, when, food needs and amounts, and more. I’ve continued to do so every year, and this habit has become a planning life-saver.

Using a recital preparation timeline and checklist keeps me sane, saves time (by not having to think through every little detail again from year to year), and saves money (tracking food purchases vs. actual usage).

What Should I Include?

There are three different types of items you will want to create checklists for:

  1. Preparation timeline and checklist
  2. Miscellaneous notes of reflection
  3. Food buying guide

The recital preparation timeline and checklist should include a timeline leading up to the recital, such as what items to complete 3-4 months before, 6-12 weeks before, 3-4 weeks before, the week before, the day before, and the day of.

Miscellaneous notes of reflection are a great place to jot down mental notes for yourself for future recitals. For example, “Don’t do recitals that last longer than 60 minutes without including an intermission,” “Don’t forget you like to keep a clipboard with you for all your announcements and awards,” and so forth.

The food buying guide, of course, is only applicable if you provide the refreshments for the recital yourself (or for the rehearsal). I’ve always liked serving students a pizza lunch after rehearsal as a simple and fun way to build community within the studio.

Over the years, I’ve saved myself a lot of money by taking time to record actual numbers, such as how many people attended, how much food I bought, how much was left, etc., and have really gotten it down to an exact science.

Be sure to sit down no more than a day or two following the recital to make your notes of reflection and record food consumption. I promise your future self will thank you!

Start Your Own Document

To help you get started, I’m going to share a free document of my list of items – many of which you will want to include.

Keep in mind that the content is my personal record. I’m giving you access via Google Docs. Access is view-only, so you will want to download the document and make your own edits.

Click here to DOWNLOAD.

Interested in learning how to organize studio awards? Check out this post: Studio Awards Policies and Procedures.

 

Picnic Performance

July 30, 2016
by Amy
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I’m excited to share with you a wonderful informal performance I host for my students in the summer.

You’ll not only get all the nitty-gritty including repertoire used, and my preparation checklist, but I’m going to show you how this performance can be used as a marketing tool!

Until last year I didn’t do any kind of recitals during the summer. I believe in keeping summer commitments as light as possible, which is why I make summer optional for families. I usually have 60% of my students take summer lessons.

(Since you’re a piano teacher I know you’re wondering…yes my income drops in the summer. However, students who don’t take have to pay a $25 non-refundable holding fee. This amounts to several hundred dollars which helps a little with the reduced summer income.)

Last summer, however, I decided I wanted to do an informal picnic performance for students taking summer lessons.

I can’t remember the exact reason I decided to do this but do recall seeing Irina Gorin posting on Facebook about a picnic with her studio families and I thought it was a lovely idea. I’m always looking for ways to build community within my studio and what better way than to have a meal together!

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Spring Recital 2016: A Collaborative Recital

May 26, 2016
by Amy

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This past weekend I held my fifth spring recital. Each year I try to do something a little different. This year the first half featured student solos, and the second half was collaborative pieces.

In this post, I’ll share a few video clips of student performances and a list of some of the resources I used for collaborative music.

There were several duets, one-piano six-hands, and two-piano eight-hand pieces. Besides a couple of duets here and there, this is the first time I’ve had all my students collaborate.

Learning to play with someone is a skill in itself, and I can say that, without a doubt, all my students felt challenged and yet completely rewarded in the end. Parents and students alike can’t stop saying how much they enjoyed the collaborations. I can already tell my studio families will be expecting a lot more of this from now on, and I’m excited as well!

 

 

Books I PULLED FROM

My favorites!

Bravo Brasilia by Glenda Austin
Current Hits for Two by Dan Coates
Music for Sharing by Margaret Goldston
Grand Trios for Piano by Melody Bober
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey arr. for 2 Pianos / 8 Hands by Melody Bober
Pattern Play by Akiko and Forrest Kinney

Others

First Favorite Duets by Lynn Freeman Olson
Duet Favorites by Jane Bastien
Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Ensemble Book Complete

 

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If you’re interested in the studio awards I hand out after the recital, check out the Studio Awards Policies and Procedures post.

I hope your recital(s) went off without a hitch!

 

7 Hidden Lessons from a Museum Masterpieces Recital

May 18, 2016
by Amy

A local teacher friend and colleague recently hosted a fun and unique recital using Catherine Rollin’s Museum Masterpieces series.

In this post, you’ll hear directly from her about how she executed this recital. I’ll follow up her recap with seven hidden lessons we can learn from her description and plan.

If you’re unfamiliar with the series, here is a YouTube playlist that features the whole series! You can also download free samples from the Alfred site.

(To see photos from my friend’s Museum Masterpiece Recital, click here.)

 

 

 

From MaryLee

I am featuring the four books of Catherine Rollin – Museum Masterpieces.  I heard about them when she conducted a workshop at Taylor University last September.  I knew then, and there I was going to do this for the Spring recital.  The kids all chose their pieces from the insert of the paintings she included in each book.  I asked them what painting caught their attention and then I played the piece.  They have been loving it!  Some asked to play two, so a few are doing that.

I am having my nephew, who is an artist here in Ft. Wayne, talk a little about each painting.  He will have some of his works on display and my students are submitting some artwork, which we will also display.  I have four boys that are serving hors d’oeuvres as we check this all out at the close of the recital.  It should be a lot of fun.

I was just looking up on Pinterest for my instructions on a “shaving cream” painting.  I think I can pull this one off and display it Sunday without knowing it is awful.  I am not talented in drawing, painting, etc.!!

Each painting will be projected on the screen at the front while the student plays.  And my “waiters” will be dressed in suits and bow ties, offering hors d’ (am tired of spelling that word) on silver trays.  A former student who had just finished her first year at IU asked if she could come and take photos of the recital, as she has gotten interested in photography.  Then the pictures will be posted for others to see.

At the workshop, Catherine talked about her parents taking her, as a child, to many museums to see original paintings.  So that had an impact on her.  And the pieces are wonderful, as you might imagine, and they are not all in the key of C or G and are very expressive.

I like making recitals as interesting and as possible fun, as I hated recitals growing up!

 

Hidden Lessons

Not only have we gotten a great idea from Marylee, but there are a lot of “hidden” lessons we can learn from her description and plan.

  1. Even though there’s a focus book, the series has several levels which allow all students to participate.
  2. Students were encouraged to choose their pieces, giving them ownership.
  3. Having all students perform from the same series and assigning roles beyond performing inspires a sense of teamwork –  belonging to something bigger than themselves.
  4. A professional in the artistic field is featured; there is an application beyond just the music.
  5. Technology/visual stimuli are incorporated.
  6. Direct teacher participation.
  7. After-recital activities foster a sense of community within the studio (gives parents time to talk about how great the recital was!)

 

Update

MaryLee has always been a creative and highly dedicated teacher. In 2018, she was named Teacher of the Year by Indiana Music Teacher’s Association!

Studio Awards: Policies and Procedures

May 4, 2016
by Amy
17 Comments

Do you give out awards to your students for various achievements from the past year?

Would you like to do more awards but aren’t really sure what to do besides recognizing student achievements in festivals and competitions?

Do you struggle to implement or track something like this with any kind of consistency?

This post is going to look at a few types of awards that can be integrated into your studio’s awards program, as well as how to track everything by creating a simple “policies and procedures manual” of your own.

 

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