The Recital

by Cathy Bridges

One of the first things I noticed when my kids started taking lessons with Music Arts teachers was that Music Arts' recitals were fun!!

Yes, kids can still get the jitters, but at least they can have a good time in the process! I believe the atmosphere that director Nancy England has promoted helps the students overcome a lot and gives them something to look forward to ...and never mind that they might be dreading getting up in front of everyone -- at least they're having a positive experience!

Having bags of candy playfully thrown at them for answering musical questions correctly in the Intermission Quiz not only helps break the tension, it also gives them a little extra musical knowledge. Not having recitalists lined up in a lockstep order of "worst" to "best" certainly helps keep any sense of inferiority from branding them. In addition, just having an assortment of instruments helps, if only to cut down on the feeling of competitiveness while adding the spice of variety to sustain continued interest. Still, there's a lot more to it than fun and games, as it's not just a means of showcasing what the students have learned; it's also an opportunity to learn poise and gain experience in handling themselves in a public situation. For most kids, this can be an invaluable lesson. I believe it's helped mine, especially after watching the tortuous early years of piano recitals prior to our Music Arts years.

All kinds of learning goes on at recitals. Of course, there's the pride in having ‘completed' a piece, and a recital is a great way to put closure on something that's been worked on for a while. There's also another very valuable lesson to be learned, one not so readily obvious -- learning how to keep panic under wraps, how to cruise through mistakes and how to continue performing the piece in spite of stage fright or error.

At Music Arts recitals, my kids began to learn the joy of playing for others. There are many music students who claim to want to play only for their own pleasure, and there's certainly nothing wrong with this, but I'll bet that deep down, those closet pianists would be happy to share with their friends and relatives if they could just get past the frightening idea that they might make fools of themselves!

I remember when my oldest daughter had a recital with her piano teacher, several years before we moved to Oak Ridge. It was nice to see all the kids dressed up, but there was also so much tension in the air, my daughter was completely tied in knots about it. She was not only completely miserable, it was an ORDEAL she had to survive. Everyone was so serious, and the feeling of criticism was palpable. How different it was when we walked into our first Music Arts recital! The more relaxed atmosphere demonstrated to the kids that the audience was happily on their side, and that mistakes are ignored and forgiven. Sure, kids still make mistakes, but everyone makes mistakes, and it's not the end of the world. Music Arts' kids not only "survive" to tell their tale, but they are being positively equipped to perform again another day.

What if you don't think you're good enough? Well, it might help you feel more confident in your performance if you don't try to get out there and play the most complicated thing you can find! There's nothing wrong with going back to a more familiar piece you finished a month or two ago, especially if that means you can play with more self-assurance. Choose a piece that you enjoy!

Not too long ago I overheard a Music Arts teacher trying to get a student to agree to play in a recital. The kid was absolutely terrified, so the teacher settled for getting the kid (and parents) to just show up and be part of the audience for the next recital. I'll bet that this student came away from the recital with a new outlook on the whole project! In fact, I would like to recommend that Music Arts teachers suggest to their students and parents that participating as a supportive audience become a regular part of their students' music education? It's a win-win lesson for everyone!                

Cathy Bridges' two boys study with three Music Arts instructors, and Daniel, who won last year's composition contest, is now seriously considering music as a vocation.