Sunday, September 26, 2010

PREPARING TO PERFORM

With Performance Evaluations right around the corner, here are some helpful reminders:

PARENTS
1. Have your child play their performance piece ONE TIME, then go take out the trash (or some other short diversion.) Then have them play it again, once. Have them do something else for a few minutes, then play it a third time. Students need to learn to play their piece well THE FIRST TIME they play it...not after 4 or 5 attempts. They get ONE TIME to play at the evaluations, and ONE TIME to play at a recital. Give them lots of practice playing ONE TIME.

2. Provide an audience! Let a sibling sit on the couch and listen to the "performance." Change the audience, too. Pull a "walking by" neighbor in to hear the piece ONE TIME. It's really important to get used to playing in front of other people. If your child is able to perform the piece at school, that is GREAT preparation! Or have one (or some) of their friends come over. Give them a cookie and let the "one-time performance" begin!

3. When your child is playing their piece ONE TIME, make lots of noise and distractions around them, even tickling their neck or standing by the piano (this should be a FUN, and FUNNY, time), which will help them learn to stay focused on what they are playing no matter WHAT is going on around them.

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TEACHER TIPS FOR STUDENTS - Practice at lessons AND at home:

1. Check your body position. Are you too close to the keyboard? Too far? Adjust the piano bench as needed.

2. Have good posture! Without playing a note, you LOOK like a better performer if you have good posture.

3. Keep your hands in your lap while you look at the keyboard and think of where your hands go. (Know exactly what notes your hands start on. Is it E3, or C5, etc.)

4. RELAX! SMILE!! This is NOT a funeral. (If your parents are smart they'll buy ice cream afterwards!! YUM!!)

5. Take a deep breath, put your hands on the keyboard, release your breath, and begin to play.

6. DON'T STOP! It is MUCH better to play a wrong note and keep going, keeping a steady rhythm, than it is to stop, fix the mistake and go on. DON'T STOP!!

7. SMILE AT THE JUDGE/AUDIENCE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR BOW! It is your job, as a performer, to say "thank-you" to the audience for listening to you. Be gracious, and SMILE!!

Hope this helps!!