Our recitals will be Saturday, May 23rd in Rounds at Collegiate School.

Collegiate Students:  9:00 AM and 10:00 AM

Gartens Students:  1:00 PM

Call me if you have any questions!  250-1725

WMMTA’s World Music Festival was held at the Museum of World Treasures March 7th & 8th:

(Above is pianist Yosuke Yamashita…..you can read about that here…..)

Recently I’ve received a number of recital and concert questions, so I’ve answered these below.  Also see “Piano Recital Etiquette, or What do Do When You Attend a Classical Music Concert”

What should I wear to a recital/ classical concert?

If you are an audience member attending a recital and you’re not sure how formal it is, it’s always safe to wear something that’s nice but still casual; think “Sunday clothes.”  But if you are attending an evening symphony orchestra concert, you should wear dressy clothes — a suit for men, a dress for women.

If you are performing in a recital, ask your teacher about appropriate attire for the performance, and here are some additional guidelines in choosing what to wear:

Your clothing should be comfortable whether you are standing, sitting, or walking.  Check to make sure you can actually play your instrument in the clothes you have chosen.  Tight sleeves can restrict your arm movements, skirts can hike up inappropriately, and high heels can make you walk awkwardly.  These are the kinds of things you don’t want to be worrying about when you are about to perform, so it’s best to wear something sensible that fits well!

Girls and ladies:  Don’t wear short skirts, sleeveless dresses, plunging necklines, or dresses with thin straps.  I have witnessed a number of “wardrobe malfunctions” such as a spaghetti strap that keeps falling off the shoulder, underwear showing, etc.  These incidents embarrass the audience as well as the performer, and can be avoided altogether by dressing modestly.

Should I give a gift to the performer after the recital, and what is an appropriate gift? What about teachers?

Gifts are not expected by the performer, but they are a great way to encourage the musician if you feel obliged to do so.  Flowers are a traditional gift, but any small thing the performer enjoys would be equally welcome.  A “congratulations” card, a trip to their favorite restaurant, a small toy or trinket are all nice recital gifts.  Boys may not enjoy receiving flowers, so consider their personality in choosing a gift for them.  More important than gifts are your words to the musician afterwards.  Tell them specifically what you enjoyed about their performance.

Likewise, teachers certainly do not expect gifts, but any given are considered by the teacher to be recognition of the extra effort and time involved in preparing for the recital and coaching the students.  If a recital goes well, the teacher should be congratulated! 

When am I supposed to clap?  What about a standing ovation?

For formal recitals with one performer, it is customary to clap when they first appear on stage and at the end of each piece (but not between movements of a piece).  It is usually pretty obvious, and when in doubt, just follow what the people around you are doing.  Standing ovations are reserved for performances that are particularly moving, virtuosic, and spectacular.  Once while I was in college, I went on a date with a man who had never attended a recital before, and he took me to a so-so symphony concert.  At the end, he clapped enthusiastically and stood up for a standing ovation, and he was the only person in the entire audience to do so, and I almost died of embarrassment.  If you are new to attending recitals, don’t start a standing ovation—again, it is best to just “follow the crowd”.

Should I bring babies or small children to recitals?

No, not unless it is a very informal recital.  The performers onstage can hear every cough, rustle of papers, whisperings, cell phones, key janglings, and every other sound that occurs in the room.   Crying and cooing babies, and restless young children are a distraction to the performer who is trying to concentrate, as well as to the audience members. 

Can I take pictures or videotape during a recital?

It is best to avoid taking pictures during the performance because most cameras make sounds and have flashes, and these are a total distraction when one is performing (especially the flashes!).  Instead, consider taking pictures before and after the recital.  Videotaping is allowed at some venues, and not at others, so find out ahead of time by contacting the teacher, director, facility, etc.

If you have any other questions about concert/recital etiquette, don’t hesitate to leave a comment, and I’ll get back to you!

All students are invited to perform at the World Music Festival on March 7-8 at the Museum of World Treasures in Old Town.  I am on the planning board for this event, and I can promise you that it will be a fun experience for piano students.  Each student will perform one piece (solo, duet, or ensemble) representing the style of another country or culture.  ( I will help you find appropriate music.)  The performance may include any combination of instruments, vocalists, narration, poetry, dancing or other creative components. The performers will also receive a “passport” and visit booths with activities representing different countries, and get their passports stamped.  For example, I will be at the Ireland booth, teaching students how to dance a jig! Now that should be interesting.  Attendees will also be free to explore the Museum.

If you are interested in participating, let me know as soon as possible—February 3 at the latest.  I will also need to know which recital time you prefer from below:

Saturday, March 7 at 10AM,  1PM, or  4 PM   or

Sunday, the 8^th at 1PM  or  4PM

The recital times chosen are not guaranteed, but we will try to schedule you at your preferred time.  The student registration fee is $10—-please make check payable to me, because I need to send one check for all my students.  Family members and guests may enter the Festival for $2, which you will pay at the door.  Don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions.

Students at the Garten’s location are invited to perform in our annual Christmas recital.  It will be Saturday, December 20th at 2:00 in DeMattias Performance Hall on the campus of Newman University. 

The Fine Arts Academy piano recitals will be Saturday, December 6th in Rounds.  Please select a time to perform and let me know!  (9:00, 10:00, or 11:00)

Costume

Recital

Saturday, October 25^th

at Senseney Music

Piano students are invited to play one of their favorite pieces in a fun, informal recital at 3:00 October 25th.  They may wear their Halloween costumes (if they can play the piano in them!), or just wear casual clothes.  Senseney Music is located at Lincoln & George Washington Blvd.  If you would like to participate, please contact

me (250-1725). 

Here are some photos from the piano retreat I held Saturday at Garten’s Music.  We had a lot of fun, and I’ve already had requests to do it again!  A complete schedule of our activities is below.

rhythm workshop

treasure hunting

we made origami pianos!

obligatory silly photo

Piano Retreat

a fun and educational day for students in grades 2 through 6

Saturday, July 12 • 1:00 to 5:00 • Cost:  $10

The retreat includes these activities:

Rhythm workshop — students will refine their rhythm skills with hands-on percussion instruments including finger cymbals, African drums, irish whistle, and accordion

Students will perform their piano pieces for one another in a Master Class

A music treasure hunt with maps, clues, and a hidden treasure

Presentations on classical composers and on the history of the piano

Collaborative improvisations — the students work as a team to create music together

Music performed by Nicole for the students during snacktime

Music theory games and more!

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We will meet in the organ classroom (back of the store, by the music books) at Garten’s Music. 

If you are interested in attending, you must RSVP with Nicole by June 21st.

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Piano Retreat Schedule

3:10-3:30  Snacks.  The students enjoy treats and visiting with one another while Nicole performs a “mini-recital” for them.

3:30-4:00  History of the Piano Presentation .  The students learn about the invention and evolution of the piano, and complete coloring pages and worksheets to go along with the presentation.

4:00-4:30  Composers Presentation.  We will learn about some famous composers’ lives and listen to some of their masterpieces.  We will also create drawings to go with the pieces, to represent the different kinds of sounds and instruments we hear.

4:30-4:45  Music Treasure Hunt.  The students will have clues based on the new things they learned throughout the day and will work together in teams to decipher the riddles, figure out the treasure map, and find the treasure hidden somewhere in the building.

4:45-5:00  Theory games (if time) and wrapping up.

Students in grades 6 and above are invited to take a field trip with me to an outdoor classical music concert at Chamber Music at the Barn on Thursday, June 26^th.  The concert begins at 8:00; tickets for school-age students are $6.  Here are some notes about the program from the CMATB website:

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I will be the “chauffer” for our field trip, so please let me know as soon as possible if you plan to attend so I can make the appropriate arrangements.

Nicole     (250-1725)