We’ve said this time and time again on our blog, but it’s worth mentioning once more… a piano recital is a teacher’s most important studio growth strategy.
We could all break the bank on online and offline advertising and still not reap the benefits that a piano recital venue that is busting at the seams provides.
But recitals are not always busting at the seams.
Kids miss recitals because of sports conflicts, school commitments, lack of interest, lack of confidence, and nerves. And while some of these absences simply cannot be avoided, many recital excuses are simply choices students and their families make.
So, given that we cannot miss out on the marketing power of piano recitals, we need to make the choice to attend an easy one.
…And this begins with our students’ parents. If parents have an active role in our recitals and our students’ recital preparations, great attendance is a slam dunk. Few parents would deny a well-prepared piano student who has been working for weeks on her recital piece the opportunity to share her performance.
In today’s post, we’re sharing an email you can send to piano parents to get them on board with their children’s recital preparations and, in turn, your recital.
How To Involve Piano Parents in Recital Preparations
Here’s the email that I send out to my piano parents. Feel free to modify it as necessary…
Dear Susan,
I’m so excited to announce that our Winter Recital has been booked for Saturday, December 17th. We have already selected the piece that Amy is going to perform and she’s really looking forward to sharing it with everyone.
The weeks leading up to a recital can provide some of the most valuable learning opportunities in a young piano student’s education. Because of this, I wanted to share some tips on how you can be involved in Amy’s recital preparations. I know she’d love for you to be a part of the process and to experience her excitement in learning to be a musician.
In the weeks leading up to our recital, you can…
1. be her “pretend audience”. Sit down regularly and enjoy some practice performances. Make sure Amy announces her piece and the composer’s name. It’s great performance practice to play for even just one set of undistracted eyes.
2. remind her to visit the piano frequently throughout the week to practice her recital piece. Regular practice is the most effective way of ensuring a successful recital performance.
3. offer lots of encouragement as she practices. Let her know just how excited you are to watch her share her music.
4. ask her to play for friends and family who stop by your home or set up opportunities for others to hear her play (invite grandparents over, have her play at her auntie’s dinner party etc). Not only does this provide great performance practice, but it also shows her how much you value her hard work.
5. find a way to mark this event as something special. Selecting a special outfit to wear to the recital, inviting family friends to attend, or buying her flowers all contribute to showing her that the performance is meaningful, important and valued. It doesn’t have to be anything grand… often simply a heart-felt note left on the piano is all it takes.
Amy is a wonderful child and gifted musician whose upcoming performance will inspire many other students at our studio. If at any point in the coming weeks you notice a change in her “musical” behaviour, increased trepidation towards the recital, or a reluctance to practice, please let me know so that I can help her through these challenges. They are not uncommon and are often part of the process.
Thank you in advance,
Andrea
Looking To Get Parents Involved Outside of Recital Season?
Increasing parent participating at home often simply means asking them to be involved! This is one of the many reasons I love having a PianoGameClub.com lending library.
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