Piano Recitals 2021 Style
Spring 2021 recital time is here.
Have you had a tough time deciding what to do and where to hold your recital?
Are you thinking that with some restrictions lifted that Zoom, YouTube and Facebook are so 2020 and you’re over them?
Join the club!
The big question for us piano teachers is this:
How do we offer a decent setting with a quality piano where everyone can socially distance and still have a marvelous time at a piano recital?
Here are answers from some friends and exceptionally innovative teachers who always seem to find solutions when faced with epic challenges.
Keep reading, and you’ll also hear how I finally embraced a style for my 2021 spring recital.
Andrea West pays attention to details
Thinking about hosting an outdoor recital this year?
In comparison to planning an indoor event, an outdoor recital may take a little more effort, but the trade-off is that it allows for more flexibility and creativity. Most folks have a penchant for cool new ideas and experiences, especially after a year-long pandemic, so your outdoor recital gives you the opportunity to be fun and innovative – a piano recital with real panache!
Choosing your venue is an important first step. Can you hold it on your front porch or back garden? Perhaps you can use local park or even a parking lot at a neighborhood shopping center. Finding the ideal location will make the rest of your planning much easier.
Select a venue that will accommodate your guest count. You may need to have a few smaller recitals rather than one large one.
Are there electrical outlets where you can connect keyboards, amps and other equipment?
Is there enough room for guests to socially distance?
A theme is always a nice touch, but sometimes they’re hard to come up with. An outdoor recital is a ready-made theme, so all you need to add is some sparkle. You can call it Spring Piano Recital, but you can also get fun and give it a cool name like
Piano al Fresco,
Piano in the Park, Groovin’ in the Garden.
Maybe you just want to give it a fresh feel like…
At the Beach
Botanical Garden.
The possibilities are endless!
Décor can be as simple as a string of party lights and some potted flowers, or you can take it to the next level with backdrops and theme appropriate props. Use your recital program cover art and make some large banners or create labels for water bottles. Any way that you can add splash without breaking your budget, will have people walking away from your recital with a lasting impression.
Creating buzz, or pre-recital hype, is the best way to begin building excitement and anticipation for your students and their families. Especially since an outdoor recital may be a new experience for them. Use social media platforms to launch a “Coming Soon” or “Sneak Peek” campaign to get attention and tease your audience. Use your themed artwork from your program cover and take it into Canva or your favorite editing app to add teaser statements or Save the Date information. Create a countdown or highlight some of your performers.
Andrea at her Christmas outdoor recital
Everyone loves an event giveaway, and there’s no reason why your giveaway can’t be the recital program itself. Take time to make it memorable with a cover that matches your theme or studio vibe. Certainly, you’ll list your students, their pieces and the composers, but why not add a few words of praise for each student? You can borrow my the phrases I like to use here. Parents love to read positive comments about their pianist.
You could also include
program notes about the pieces being performed
highlight your graduating seniors with a short bio and a picture.
a teaser about your upcoming summer program, letting parents know that more information will be coming their way shortly
anything that makes it a keepsake.
Remember, think outside the box, it’s all about presenting your recital with a garden variety vibe!
Find all my spring graphic designs for outside OR inside recitals here.
- Andrea West
Marie Lee plays with lions
T-shirt graphic
I’ve always been a fan of outdoor recitals because Las Vegas weather is usually pretty cooperative, except for summertime when we’re always in the triple digits. I hold a Halloween Street Recital each year in my driveway and two years ago held back-to-back Sharks in the Park recitals at a local park/pavilion which was a lot of fun. Last year, like most of you, we tried a Zoom recital which was memorable in it’s own way. This year, we’re dying to see each other again, so with lingering Covid worries, our students are getting together for the first time in a year by performing outdoors at our local Lion Habitat.
General Info
We will have two digital pianos and amplifiers set up throughout the habitat for students to perform solos. Performances will be on a "first come, first serve" basis so they can drop by anytime during the 90 minute window to perform and then enjoy viewing the animals. This is a private event for our school only so it will be held after regular visitor hours. In return, we hope to give a large donation to the habitat so they can continue to rescue and care for these exotic animals.
Masks are required at the habitat and temperatures will be taken at the entrance. Guest feedings of the animals are not currently allowed.
Student Sign Up
Here’s the Google Forms signup I sent to my students to RSVP, commit their donation, and reserve their recital shirt.
Donations
In order to participate, each student is asked to make a $15 or more donation in supplies, cash, or gift card. Admission of parents and siblings in the same household is included with this donation.
Looking forward to a ROARING good time with our Musicality performers and their families!
57 of my 85 students are participating. Most of my families have chosen to send cash via PayPal and a lot have been more generous than the required $15. If everyone follows through on their minimum donation, we’ll have at least $850 to donate.
Donation list
Recital shirts and face masks
Gold t-shirts ended up being $6.20 each, ordered through a local print shop, using the graphic above. I collect a recital t-shirt fee in my annual book fees so they’re already paid for ahead of time. I’ve also ordered these zoo face masks for the students to wear with their shirts as masks are required at the habitat.
Repertoire Selections
I went with any piece that was “safari” themed and have taught at least two pieces in each class in preparation for the recital. Because it’s a “drop-in” recital, I’m letting the students choose which piece they want to play so there can be as many duplicates as needed.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens
Anything from Disney’s Lion King
Royal March of the Lion (from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint Saens)
Baby Elephant Walk by Henry Mancini
Africa by Toto
Piano Safari: Hungry Herbie Hippo, Crocodile in the Nile, A Day in the Life of a Tall Giraffe, Monkey Blues, King of the African Drum, Flamingo Dancers, African Safari
Creepy Crocodile by Catherine Rollin
The Lion and the Mouse by Supersonics Piano (Daniel McFarlane)
Sharks in the Park recital outside a couple of years ago.
Decorations at the recital
Letter to Lion Habitat
Here’s the email I sent to the ranch:
Dear Lion Habitat,
This is Marie Lee, owner of Musicality Schools in Henderson, NV. I've purchased 3 tote bags painted by Ozzie, your giraffe, and made a donation at Christmastime to the habitat.
I'm a piano teacher of 90 students and we've been in online classes for the past year due to the pandemic. During that time, we've studied a lot about the effect music has on humans and animals. This particular series has been a favorite:
Piano for Elephants in Thailand
I know this is a very strange request, but would you consider an outdoor piano recital by our local students at the habitat? I would bring the digital pianos and amplifiers as long as there's power, and we would follow any social distancing guidelines you require.
We would also like to make this a way to help the habitat by asking the students to donate supplies or food for the animals or make it a fundraiser where they sell raffle tickets or ask for donations from their family and friends.
This would be such a thrill for our students and a meaningful way for them to share their talents while helping the animals at the habitat.
Thanks for your consideration,
Marie Lee
Marie and her happy student.
- Marie Lee (author of Group Teaching Blue Print)
Leila Viss lets the sunshine in
Andrea and Marie seem to have endless energy. Yet, I bet both of them would admit that the demands of pivoting during a pandemic have them running on fumes, just like the rest of us. Hopefully, their “tank was at least half filled” once they figured out clever workarounds for their spring recitals!
I’ll be honest, my idea bank has dried up over the year because of a life-changing event in our family. I feel like my energy to dream up plans was shoved to the back burner.
I’ve learned that my dual with moving forward in my business while feeling like I’m falling apart, is normal. Our emotions are nimble and just because we are discouraged and plum out of ideas one moment doesn’t mean we can’t feel encouraged with lightbulb moments the next.
I regularly experience this pendulum mood swing and one occurred just last week. I woke up knowing I had to come to a decision about a spring recital. A couple of years ago, I had purchased some bright yellow Converse shoes. That morning I eyed those shoes but was convinced that I’d never feel compelled to wear them again. They just looked too happy and hopeful—not my MO, at least that morning.
However, I decided to put them on. Why not? It looked like it was going to be a beautiful spring day.
As I tied the laces on the first shoe, it dawned on me:
Yellow is my favorite color, why not use it for my recital? Then the tune “Here Comes the Sun” popped into my head and that cinched the deal. Here Comes the Sun would be my theme. I liked the upbeat vibe which seems to reflect how we dare to feel as we inch our way through the dark pandemic tunnel and begin to see rays of light.
With the theme secured, I did the next “logical” things:
Secured a program cover (see above) that matches the theme and Andrea West came through—as usual! Did you notice the hint of Abbey Road—the Beatles’ album that includes “Here Comes the Sun?”
Worked up an arrangement of “Here Comes the Sun” with “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone.” This second thing isn’t exactly logical but since creating at the piano is my best (and cheapest) form of therapy, this step seemed essential!
Things to add to the printed program
Ask my four senior students to write up a blurb about their plans for the future and add it to the program
Ask the rest of my students to answer these two questions. Answers will be added to the program:
What’s your favorite thing to do in the sun?
What’s your favorite song about the sun or light?
Add text to my program cover. This is my 19th Bella Festival recital—I always name my spring recital after my beloved Yamaha C6 grand.
Add names and titles to the program and mix up playing levels with showstoppers sprinkled throughout the program.
Things to do the day of
Move my Clavinova to our covered deck behind the house.
Remind student families to wear masks and BYOC (bring your own chair.)
Remind student families that dress is spring casual and if preferred, inspired by the Beatles and a 60s vibe.
Hang up a dry erase board somewhere outside. After the full program is completed, pianists may sign up on this board to play again since most have plenty to share from their pieces accumulated over 2020-21. This offers a more casual time to play as guests are welcome to stay or leave if they need to.
Things to do prior to the recital
Make and add wrappers that match my program cover to water bottles for the crowd since it may be warm and sunny.
Determine and purchase a grab and go snack that’s yellow and that doesn’t melt in the sun.
Order trophies—yes, I’m that teacher who gives a trophy for participation (eye balls rolling?) Before I hand the trophy to each pianist after they perform, I point out something special about each pianist and honor them for their individual “wins” over the year.
Inform pianists and practice with them the Five Ps and Ten Tips for Performing (click on the link and you can learn more and download a free infographic to share with your students.)
It’s been awhile since anyone has performed in person and I like to drill the “Ps and Tips” with performers so they feel comfortable with a routine. This year I’m adding in an awareness of breath before performing. Learn why in my Key Idea’s podcast interview with Dr. Lesley McAllister as we chat about yoga in the piano studio.
Recently, I talked through these 5 Ps of performing with a new transfer student who was preparing to perform at school. Our chat seemed to have a significant impact on her as she sent me a text via the Tonara app where I regularly communicate with students:
“Hi Ms Leila, just letting you know that I have completed my performance and I am very proud and confident in it and didn’t make any mistakes. I also now know what you mean about lifting pedal and hands off at them same time, as other piano players in my class didn’t do it and it looked messy. See you next lesson!”
FYI: For a 30-day free trial of Tonara, click on the link above.
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It just so happens that when I recorded this “Sun Medley” last night after a day of teaching, it was the coldest, rainiest April evening ever!
Right now, I can’t see clearly that the rain has gone. It’s okay. In Colorado, we take rain when we can get it and I know the sun will be here again.
[Psst, if you are interested in learning how I created this arrangement, it has a lot to do with playing from chord charts and playing with a band. I’m really eager to share what I’ve learned in a new digital course found here.]
Regardless of where your recital is—inside, outside, virtual—all the best to you and your students.
I’d love to hear your “2021 piano recital style!” Please share what you are doing in the comments below.
May this be the last recital season that we need to put up with the thick clouds of a pandemic.
I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for.
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day.
