How to Prepare for a Recital | Recital Tips

May 1, 2023

5 min read

Updated: Sep 26

It is never too early to talk about recital prep and practices! If you are new to this whole music thing it can be a little overwhelming with all the nuances and standard practices involved in being a part of the music scene. Recitals are a part of every musician's journey and as exciting as it is, it can also be super nerve-wracking.

Let's talk Recitals and Expectations

Before we get into some tips, let's get on the same page by going over what recitals are and what are the expectations of recitals: You can think of recitals as performances that showcase an individual or group of individuals’ hard work. Recitals are meant to be a joyous time surrounded by the performer’s family and friends, who of course are there to give 100% support.

That being said, recitals can still feel nerve-wracking.

Even when the environment is supportive, like our recitals here at Melody Mart, getting up in front of people and performing can feel like a lot. You might be worried about making a mistake, forgetting your music, messing up your entrance, or simply having everyone’s eyes on you.

This is a very normal human response!

As teachers, most of the time, we are looking for growth, effort, and courage. A recital is not about proving that you are the best musician in the room. It is about giving yourself the opportunity to share what you have been working on. It is also important to remember that everyone performs differently. Some students love the spotlight. Some students feel nervous weeks in advance. Some students are excited until the moment they walk on stage. Regardless, when preparing for a recital and working on performance practice, the goal is to prepare well enough that you can walk into the performance feeling supported and ready to do your best.

Without further ado, here are some tips that can help ease your nerves and prepare you for the big day.

Practice is Essential in Recital Preparation

There are many benefits to practicing your instrument. I know-- you have heard it a million times in all corners of the internet, from teachers and parents alike-- but practice is more than just going through scales over and over again. Practicing intentionally and efficiently goes beyond developing technical expertise; it is also practicing to comfortability in a performance setting. If you never perform in front of people, you're never going to get comfortable! Lucky for you I made this guide on How to Practice.

Mock Performances are your best friends

Whether you like it or not, performing before the performance will help you immensely. A mock performance is exactly what it sounds like: a practice performance before the real one. This could mean playing your piece for your teacher, your family, a friend, another student, or even just recording yourself and pretending the camera is the audience.

The point is to practice under recital-like conditions. That means starting from the beginning, playing all the way through, regardless of what happens. In a real recital, you do not get to pause, rewind, or say, “Wait, let me try that again.” Mock performances help you get comfortable with the nerves because you are essentially learning how your body reacts under pressure and how to manage the sensation of flight, fight, or freeze.

Another beautiful thing about mock performances is that they help you identify what still needs work. Sometimes a piece feels solid when you are practicing alone, but the second someone else is listening, your brain suddenly forgets how to function. It can inform your future practice sessions and zero in on what you actually have to practice.

So before recital day, try to perform your piece for some trusted loved ones at least once. It will be even better if you do mock performances few times.

Take some classes or lessons

More often than not, you need a coach or lesson teacher to help you through the experience of performing-- and of course all the technical stuff that comes with learning or mastering your instrument. We offer private instruction and group classes that help you perform your absolute best!

Create a pre-performance routine

If you are not used to the sensation or the feeling of getting up on stage, it is likely that you are nervous of the unknown. You've never experienced something like this and your body does not interpret that as a non-dangerous environment. Your body cannot distinguish between being chased by a lion or just doing a performance-based task. We're all worried about our perception or the way we look in front of people. Take a breather and create a pre-performance routine. You can take a Look at mine here: Ms. Esperanza's Pre-performance Routine

Make your life easy and plan out your Recital Day

It is very easy to forget the stuff because life can be crazy! But you really want to make sure to carefully plan the big day. You certainly don't want to be rushing around all day or risk running late or worse, missing the recital entirely! Planning out your schedule will ease your mind on what you have to do because there is something you can always reference. Plus you can make it a fun thing, plan out what you will do afterwards as a treat for all the hard work you or your loved ones did!

Dress to Impress

If you dress well, you will feel better. Think about all the times you've been complimented about your clothes -- it always gives you a little bit of pep in your step. In most cases, you should be dressing semi-formal to formal dress for recitals unless noted otherwise. Regardless of the recital guidelines, looking spiffy will only boost your confidence, no matter how anxious you may be! Just make sure the clothes are functional to your instrument end won't distract you from your own performance. Need more information on how to dress for a recital? Check out this blog!

Invite your fans!

Having people you love present will help you feel at ease. Family and friends you trust will support you through the thick and thin. There is something incredibly special about knowing that someone you love is going to be there for your performance. It is safety, it is love and it is wonderful!

Most importantly, have fun!

Recitals are a drag if you don't find at least a little bit of whimsy! Music is a joy and you cultivated a skill that is unique to you so you should share that with the world.