It’s that time of the year again! The sun shines longer, signaling summer around the corner. And our students, like little stars, will shine in the upcoming June recitals.
Below are some recital tips from our amazing teachers, so you can keep calm and shine on.
Teacher Ian: Breathe and don’t over-practice
The most important thing to do is to breathe. When we get nervous, we forget about the basic things like taking a deep breath. To be honest, the nervousness never goes away but I trust in my preparation and that helps to keep me calm. That’s why I don’t practice on the day of of the performance. I will make sure that I warm up but not over-practice my recital piece.
Plus, don’t try to fix your instrument before recital day. For example, if you want to change your guitar strings, do it at least 3-4 days before the event, so you get some time to get used to the changes, and deal with anything unexpected. I also like to get some sort of exercise on the day of (but not right before the recital) to chill out, like a hike or a run.
Teacher Roger: Find your routine and stick to it
If you have a routine on the day of the performance, you can rely on it and won’t have to worry every single time. Even the pros get anxious before the show sometimes, but they always stick to their routine. For example: for me, I don’t eat 4 or 5 hours before the performance so I can access my breath better. A friend of mine likes to have chocolates and cookies before the show. Another still enjoys heavy meals and can still pull off his best. Everyone is different, so find the routine that works for you and repeat.
Teacher Chaz: Banana - the power food
Practice sitting on the couch, walking to the piano. Practice your bow. Have your family or friends be there so you can practice under pressure. The amount of practicing needed depends on each student. Avoid foods high in carbohydrates, and too much caffeine. Carbs can make you tired, and too much caffeine can make you more anxious. A banana is good, as it’s packed with potassium and is a natural stress reliever. Try a strawberry banana smoothie!
Teacher Joseph: Practice in acoustic places
I was 16 years old when I performed my first formal recital. I had a piano accompanist and the stage all to myself! I wish I knew the things that I am about to tell you, because I was pretty nervous back then. For example: practice playing in acoustic places that resemble where you are going to perform. Do everything you can to make the experience feel similar. Usually before I practice, I do scales - playing notes on the violin to warm up. Taking a few minutes to observe your breath also helps.
We hope you found these recital tips from our teachers helpful! We can’t wait to see our students shine on the stage!