Performance Tips For Kids Options

[SueHM]

I've just rehearsed some of my littlest pianists for our local festival. I try to get them all performing regularly from the outset with informal concerts at home.

Excellent tip from my harp teacher that I have adopted for getting them to do a proper bow at the end, rather than a quick bob and run: Bend over and say to yourself "What colour socks to I have on today?" before you straighten up. I stood them in a line and we did it together several times, then one at a time and again after their performance.

Any other tips for performance practice you would like to share?

[Fran*Piano]

I've just rehearsed some of my littlest pianists for our local festival. I try to get them all performing regularly from the outset with informal concerts at home.

Excellent tip from my harp teacher that I have adopted for getting them to do a proper bow at the end, rather than a quick bob and run: Bend over and say to yourself "What colour socks to I have on today?" before you straighten up. I stood them in a line and we did it together several times, then one at a time and again after their performance.

Any other tips for performance practice you would like to share?

My dance teacher told us to do exactly that in performance curtesys! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) it works though, I'm now sixteen and I still do it on occassion and end up in fits of giggles as soon as I'm offstage! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Hils]

Any other tips for performance practice you would like to share?

Wait for quiet before you start - takes some nerve from a youngster, but when the piece may only last 45 seconds it is quite important. Visibly muttering to themselves "When are they going to shut up?" may not greatly endear them to the hall however.

[Violin Hero]

There have been some good pints already.

1. Wait for quiet before starting.

2. Don't hide behind your music stand, make sure you can easily be seen by your audiance. If music is played from memory look at your audiance but don't let any individuals put you off.

3. Don't run off at the end, bow and thank the accompanist.

4. Tell yourself you played really well and you had a great time doing it, otherwise what was the point?

Some other general pinters for the day of a performance.

1. Know where you have to be and what time you need to be there before you leave home.

2. Turn up in plenty of time so you can have a warm up if so desired/possible. This will also allow you to be calm, of you are rushing to turn up on time then you will be all stressed.

3. go sit in the audience and enjoy the other performs before and after your turn.

[sunshimmer]

I tell my pupils to keep playing, even if they make a small slip as the audience may not have noticed. I also remind them to count themselves in before they start. They should be really well prepared, playing a piece they know well.

[Ivories]

I give mine the same tips Sunshimmer. I was telling one little pianist before a concert that if you make a little slip the most important is not to worry and just to carry on, because that way no one will even notice. She replied - "... but my Mummy will notice ..."- bless! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

When discussing bowing and so on, I always tell my pupils that the audience claps to say well done, so you should smile and bow to say thank you back to them.

What tips to people give regarding performance nerves? I try to avoid talking about it all with the youngest pupils as some of them don't really even know to be nervous at first. I tend to discuss it if they say they feel worried or funny or nervous etc.

[Mad Tom]

There have been some good pints already.

Banks's bitter was my favourite in the UK , but here in Utrecht it is Grolsch

1. Wait for quiet before starting.
2. Don't hide behind your music stand, make sure you can easily be seen by your audiance. If music is played from memory look at your audiance but don't let any individuals put you off.
3. Don't run off at the end, bow and thank the accompanist.
4. Tell yourself you played really well and you had a great time doing it, otherwise what was the point?

Some other general pinters for the day of a performance.
1. Know where you have to be and what time you need to be there before you leave home.
2. Turn up in plenty of time so you can have a warm up if so desired/possible. This will also allow you to be calm, of you are rushing to turn up on time then you will be all stressed.
3. go sit in the audience and enjoy the other performs before and after your turn.

These are good tips for any age of performer

I tell my pupils to keep playing, even if they make a small slip as the audience may not have noticed.

This is true, but I would not say it. Mentioning the possibility of a slip is enough to make it more likely to happen. It should have been drilled into every performing musicians during try-outs with the teacher exhorting "Keep going" whenever a student makes a stumble ... or even a big slip[ [ and a good way to teach any student to keep going regardless is to play along with them ].

[Aquarelle]

Should I teach them to bow? I've never done so. At our end of year concert they just get up and go back to their place and the next pair - announcer and player take over. Perhaps I am wrong.

[jenny]

Should I teach them to bow? I've never done so. At our end of year concert they just get up and go back to their place and the next pair - announcer and player take over. Perhaps I am wrong.

Although I like my pupils to bow, some of them have tended to forget on the night and quickly move back to their families - quite understandably with little ones. So now I always give them a big smile as they stand up (I always sit close by them) and say 'don't forget to take a bow'. I think it makes the evening more of an occasion and I know the families like to see it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Banjogirl]

I find bowing a bit creepy, to be honest. Our piano teacher tries to get pupils to do it, including me if I happen to be playing, and far from looking good it tends, with most people, to look embarrassed and uncomfortable. I'd rather encourage people just to take their applause for a moment then sit down. i can see it's very different for a professional or something high powered though.

I tell my children's choir to look gorgeous. They know exactly what I'm after, it relaxes them and it makes them smile.

[dacapo]

I find bowing a bit creepy, to be honest. Our piano teacher tries to get pupils to do it, including me if I happen to be playing, and far from looking good it tends, with most people, to look embarrassed and uncomfortable.

My attitude to bowing is that it's part of the performance, not an optional extra. A smile at the audience and a bow are a silent way of saying "thank you for listening" not "didn't I do well?"! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'd rather encourage people just to take their applause for a moment then sit down. i can see it's very different for a professional or something high powered though.

Bowing in the context of a performance needs practice just as playing your instrument or presenting your song needs practice. If you don't practise doing it so that it's an automatic response the chances are that it will indeed look embarrassed and uncomfortable. Festivals offer a very good opportunity for practising making a clear announcement of what you are going to play and finishing off your performance with a bow and acknowledgment of your accompanist if any. When bowing, look at your knees, don't leave your head up to look at the audience. If you are holding an instrument (rather than e.g. playing piano) work out beforehand how to bow while holding it, and practise that too.

[SueHM]

Definitely practise bowing! Whenever I have a new batch of pupils at a concert, I make everyone go to the front and practise bowing together. Anyone who doesn't bow properly after their performance gets to go back and have another go. Ditto announcements. My student concerts are very informal affairs in the safety of my teaching room, and it is all done in a very light-hearted way, but makes a serious point about presenting yourself properly. I get them to make their announcement to whoever is there at every mealtime for a week before a 'proper' concert or festival.

[jenny]

Ditto announcements. My student concerts are very informal affairs in the safety of my teaching room, and it is all done in a very light-hearted way, but makes a serious point about presenting yourself properly. I get them to make their announcement to whoever is there at every mealtime for a week before a 'proper' concert or festival.

At last year's concert, one of my pupils - a 7 year-old boy - introduced his second piece 'Temple of Doom' in a suitable low, scary voice! I didn't know he was going to do it like that and thought it was funny, but apparently his parents didn't think so!

[Roseau]

My daughter's piano teacher gets the pupils to introduce each other's pieces. She asks for volunteers so not everyone introduces a piece and some introduce more than one. Those who volunteer are asked if they have anyone in particular they want to introduce. She also asks the older ones to do a little research about the composer and/or the piece and to write their own personal introduction. It is interesting to see how the children choose to present things and what they think is worth mentioning.

As for bowing, I have posted on here before that when my daughter was seven and playing in her first concert her teacher had practised bowing with her. By the time my daughter had climbed off the piano stool (she was a diminutive seven) the applause had stopped so she just stood there. Her teacher asked her what the matter was and she whispered in her ear that she wanted to do her bow so her teacher asked if everyone would please clap again so she could do her bow. Everyone laughed but did clap, my daughter bowed and was pleased with the whole thing.

[Tequila]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/niceThread.gif) I'm watching this thread for interest. I too feel uncomfortable bowing etc but want to seem open and confident about it all (both entering, playing and bowing) at my forthcoming recital. (It's getting scarily close (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif))

Are the tips you give kids and adults different? If they are can we have an adults tips thread too? Please. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

kerioboe: that's really sweet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)