Recital Check List: Are You Ready To Perform?

The Center Stage recital is nearing…are you ready? Here are a few points to check off in order to ensure that you’re ready to perform to the best of your ability. If you can’t confidently say yes to all of these questions, then you know it’s time to talk to your teacher and hit the practice room!

1. Can you play without mistakes?: We’re not talking a little slip of the finger during a passage, or one or two rushed notes. If your mistakes are causing you to stop, pause, hesitate, play under tempo, rush, or restart, then your piece is not recital ready!

2. Is the tempo steady and appropriate?: It is better to take your piece slow and steady rather than trying to play it too fast and risking performing with an unsteady rhythm. The next step is to then make sure it’s the correct speed according to the tempo marking written on your music. If you need help staying steady in the appropriate rhythm, it’s time to get the metronome out!

3. Are there dynamics and articulation?: Dynamics and articulation can take a piece that otherwise would sound bland and boring, and transform it into a fun adventure for the listener. Dynamics and articulation tend to be the last step in polishing a piece, so make sure you’re doing them!

4. Did you record yourself?: The reasons to record yourself are longer than this article. It simulates a live audience environment, it lets you listen to and catch mistakes that you’d otherwise not hear, and it preserves a good performance if you played well. In the last few weeks before the recital, you should be recording yourself a few times throughout the week to check your progress and to nitpick at any small mistakes.

5. Is it memorized?: Unless you’re a beginner, or a very young student, vocal performances should always be done memorized. This helps you connect with the text of the piece, and connect with the audience more. (Side note: if you’re using a mic, make sure you are practicing with one beforehand!) Memorization is optional for other instruments. Depending on the level of your abilities, memorizing can either be just a nice touch, or a necessary requirement. Discuss with your teacher what is right for you.

6. Is the text translated/do you understand the story?: If you’re singing in another language, do you understand what you’re singing? (You’d be surprised how many people don’t!) Even if it’s in English, do you understand the story that you’re telling to your audience?

7. Did you practice the ending/bowing?: Many times after a piece, a student will run off the stage quickly and forget to bow. While this is forgivable, and sometimes cute and funny in certain situations, it still doesn’t look good. When you’re finished with your piece, give at least five seconds to let the sound echo through the room. This also gives your audience time to clap. After this, take a deep bow – many students are understandably shy to do this, but trust me, nothing looks sillier than a half-hearted bow, so go all out! Take two big ones if you’re feeling brave!

If you can say yes to all of these points, then it sounds like you are ready to rock a recital. Keep practicing and good luck on June 25th!