Let’s face it; piano recitals can be threatening. Very few six, seven, or eight-year-olds feel perfectly comfortable on stage in front of a crowd. So nobody’s surprised, that when their name is called these little piano students blast to the bench, rocket through their piece and then promptly sprint for the sidelines.
Did they announce their name… or the name of their piece? Nope. Did they remember to bow? Nope. Did they pay attention to the dynamics in their piece? Nope. Can you blame them? Nope!
Getting up in front of a group of people is a challenge for any person at any age. If you want your young piano students to shine at their next recital, it’s simply going to take time and practice.
So today, we’ve created a printable you can use to prep your piano students before the big day!
Piano Recital Task Cards
A few weeks before your next recital print multiple copies of this printable, cut out each of the cards and get them laminated. Place all of the cards in a hat.
At the end of each piano lesson have your students pull one Piano Recital Task Card from the hat and then use the card to bookmark their piano recital piece.
Now, each and every time they play their piano recital piece that week, they must perform the task that is written on the card.
And that’s it! Your next recital will be a shining example of piano students bowing low and long, announcing their pieces with gusto and controlling their speed.
Note: The printable includes a blank card if you wish to focus on a recital reminder that we didn’t mention.
Want to make your next recital a smashing success? Then you need fabulous music! Check out www.pianobookclub.com and become join the excited piano teachers who receive brand new supplementary music books every single month for just $8 (with studio photocopying license!).
Robbin says
You guys are always right on time! My recital is Saturday, and these cards are going home with students TODAY! Thanks.
Marian says
Perfect! I thought my students were the only ones who “rocketed to the piano and started playing without sitting down!” LOL! Thank you!
Barbara says
What a great way to get the students to practice long before they “have” to perform in front of a crowd. Just thought of another use for them: Someone on an earlier post suggested a mini-concert of parent and siblings at the lesson. The “guests” could pull a card out of the hat and the student has to remember to do that element for a particular song. Then they select another for a different piece, etc. Makes it more fun and less intimidating. Hopefully then when it’s time for the bigger crowd performance it’s already a habit. As always, thanks for great ideas and printables:)
Drema says
What a fabulous idea!
Our concert is coming up in a month.
I like that idea too, thanks to whoever that brought this up: of having mini-concerts for a parent or sibling. That can even be one of their homework assignments a week or two before the concert — to play mini-concerts that week.
Also, if this mini-concert assignment has a little card where they have to get their audience to sign as part of the studio practice-incentive to win points or music money or something, that would make it interesting too! And if they can get people other than just parents or siblings but friends, neighbours, as creative as they can be….they can get more points or something! Great fun way to spread the news about your studio too~ =)
Jenny says
These are great! Thanks so much. I can’t wait to use these. I’m also adding “adjust the bench”. Thanks again!!
Linda says
Is it necessary to give their name and title of their piece if there is a printed program? Thanks for the great ideas!
Susan Pope says
In my studio we play a “game” months before the recital. All students must practice walking andante, NOT allegro to piano, standing by piano (with arms relaxed beside their bodies & not holding onto clothes or hands in pockets!) standing tall and not slouching, they say their “NAGS” (Name, Age, Grade, School.) i.e. “My name is ‘John Doe’, I am 10 years old and I’m in the fifth grade at Longwood Elementary School.” Then they say the title(s) and composer(s) of the piece(s) they are going to play, even though all of that is printed in the program. It’s a fun thing for them to practice at home before they give their mini “recital” to their family as many times as possible in the weeks before our “PPP” (Piano Performance Party!) As all parents are required to attend students’ lessons they get to see how child is doing with that! Many parents have thanked me for helping child learn to stand in front of a crowd and be confident! While they are going to piano and sitting down on bench, I like to say one or two things about each student so they can sit and compose themselves, think about starting position for each piece. I may say ” When John is not playing his piano, he enjoys being a Boy Scout and playing tag football with his older and younger brothers and he has already had performing opportunities to share his talents with the Lions Club by playing ‘The Star Spngled Banner’ at the opening of their meeting and also playing the Offertory at his church on Youth Sunday! They are taught to keep hands in lap and only lift from the wrist to start playing and at end of piece to do the same as they finish piece and put hands back in lap & wait for uproarious applause, then stand beside piano and take a SLOW deep bow with head & eyes looking at floor, not at audience! We practice doing it all wrong so they see how bad it looks to rush to piano, start playing before they sit down, rush through song & get up fast before hands leave keys, take a duck bow (w/tail up in air!) and rush back to seat! We really have fun with all this recital practice!
With love and music!
Ms. Susan
Leigh Ann Martin says
This is fabulous performance etiquette!
Andrea says
Thanks for reading Leigh Ann! 🙂
Leigh Ann Martin says
Yes saying the name of the piece to be played even though it is listed in the program is good performance etiquette. It not only anchors the performer by releasing some of that nervous energy but is an opportunity to connect with and appreciate the audience.
Carolyn says
curious — I don’t have a color printer and want to print these cards out without using up my black ink! lol. What is the best (economical) way to print them out? These are AweSome by the way!! Thanks!
Andrea says
Sending them to Staples (or similar) is just 39 cents a page – I do this with all of my printing as it’s the same cost no matter how much ink is on the sheet 🙂