Hi,

I'm working towards my diploma in piano performance. My teacher tells me that I need much more practice playing in public (I've not performed in public for the last 20 years or so - I'm 36, and don't work in the music industry). He organises two concerts a year, which I play in. But he says I need more than that.

My question is: what opportunities are there for an amateur pianist to perform in public in the UK? Are there any amateur festivals etc where such opportunities may arise? Any help and nudges in the right direction would be greatly appreciated (I'm London-based).

Thanks

A problem we all have: There are two reasonably accessible options.

Firstly there are performance opportunities of various sorts arranged by forumites - check the "Forum events" section of the General Music Forum.

Then there are festivals with adult sections. My first port of call for this was here: Federation of festivals

Good luck!

Has your teacher given you any suggestions as to where you might play?

You will probably have to make your own arrangements. Are you involved in any organisations which would provide a venue and a ready-made audience, perhaps a local church or other charity which would welcome a fund-raising concert? Are there any amateur concert series local to you at which you could perform? Does your home environment enable you to organise a soiree (you play for a bit, then everyone enjoys a glass of wine - a jolly evening all round). Is there anything you could do through work (e.g. company hires a small room and sells tickets for a good cause as part of their corporate social responsibility programme)?

Let your imagination run riot!

British and international federation affiliated festivals list:
http://www.federationoffestivals.org.uk/Af..._Festivals.html
Not all are music, some are speech and drama, but it's a pretty extensive list.

You can always try churches, schools and care homes and things. In many ways it doesn't matter who your audience is provided you are taking the performance seriously. Who might like to hear you play?

Great suggestions - thanks. Thanks to your suggestions, I've picked up a forthcoming festival that's open to amateurs - piano section on Feb 17th thru' 19th 2010.

Thanks!!

If you have a look in the forum events folder on here then the Forum Concerts are (I think!) open to players of any standard, although the Adult Learner's Concerts are only open to adult learners (and I think generally have grade 8 as the cut-off for who can be considered an adult learner). The Durham event, which is provisionally scheduled for 17th April, will be open to players who are grade 0 or above, with no limit on the upper standard - some people will be pretty much complete beginners and other's (such as nicki-flute) will be extremely good players, so there will hopefully be a complete mix. There will be events in other places as well.

I watch out for local church events such as a flower festival, or a bring and buy sale, and volunteer to provide the background music. This is a gentle way into performing publicly.

my local pub has a piano in the bar, and when there's no other music going on, anyone can sit down and play something. perhaps there's something similar near you?

I'm involved in arranging various events at my teachers's house in mid Beds (about half-hour from London by train), including non-competitive festivals (adjudication but no winners, including classes for adults), masterclasses with concert pianists & various concerts & courses. New people are always welcome to join us.

Flossie's right

Of the events on the calendar, Durham may be a bit far for you Tom, but Brighton (in September-ish) isn't all that far from London, and it's always good to see new faces at events.

Flossie please don't make assumptions about the Forums events without checking them with the organisers.

There is no cut-off for the Adult Learner events. Diploma level learners are as welcome as prep test learners.


Tom, you are very welcome to join us on February 20th. Check the Forums Events thread for detail.

I'm sorry Katyjay, I didn't mean to offend you. What I said above was intended to be an 'I think it may be the case that' rather than an assumption.

I was trying to make a constructive suggestion to the OP - but I will take on board your feelings about this and will not mention anything about forum events to people in the future, but will leave that to yourself, Barry, Sbhoa and Skylark as the organisers.

As you are the third person on here in the past few weeks who has totally missunderstood my intentions I think it is time for me to so that there is no possibility of offending anyone or stepping on anyones toes. I was not intending to criticise you, or the adult learner's events or anything else.

Please don't run off, Flossie - it's all too easy for misunderstandings to occur on the internet, and I'm sure many of us have said things which have been misunderstood, and equally misunderstood what people have intended to say. It's one of the more difficult facets of forum life, but please don't stop contributing just on the off-chance that it might be misunderstood



You're very welcome to mention my Players for Pleasure events to anyone who you think might be interested



PS. I've tried to send you a PM, Flossie, but your Inbox is full...

You have mail

Back on topic : another thought I've just had : several London churches in particular put on lunchtime recitals, and these are often given by amateur musicians : a judicious google will probably give you ideas (and I know of several possibilities in the SE, DA and BR postcode areas, which I'm happy to PM you).