Hi,

In around 3 weeks I shall perform my first recital.

Despite playing clarinet for over 20 years and having bit-parts in a number of concerts/events and playing in band concerts I have NEVER taken on a full-scale Recital.


Now it's getting closer I swing from being excited and thrilled at having the chance to being nervous and a bit worried about how it will all go.

It is a nice Venue.
The audience will be largely unknown - with a few family members along for support.

The recital will be about 1h 15mins in length.

The pieces are all programmed in and are relatively secure (at least in a practice environment) and are a range of some challenging and a number of easier pieces.

I will be ably accompanied by Oldnotes who has played in this Venue before and he will also put in a few solo piano pieces to enable me a chance to breathe.


In theory it all sounds great.
However, how do I ensure I conquer the nerves or that I use them to my advantage???

Today we played a concert that went well overall. However, as with most (if not all) amateur performances there were one or two slips that would not have affected the overall performance very much but did add to my nerves. I found my leg shaking uncontrollably at one point and at another I found myself adding a touch more vibrato than I usually would - and it wasn't done deliberately!!

So any tips on how to handle it when you don't have other performers to fade into and the nerves threaten to overtake you?

Today wasn't helped by the fact that we had to change our programme with only an hour or two to go and the fact that we hadn't had the opportunity to do a proper sound/light check. The main slips resulted by being blinded by the spots or distracted by the alteration in the lights. And the nerves were worse as all the audience was in blackness and it was hard to see facial expressions/reactions.

These factors won't be issues in my recital - but the sun may be in our eyes at times

I'm wondering whether to introduce myself and Oldnotes before beginning to play and provide a bit of background including that it's the first recital I've given. I'm not afraid of public speaking and when I did this in Church before performing my nerves faded away.

I'm also wondering whether to stand for the whole event or whether sitting down is considered acceptable at all. There are some seated recitalists on YouTube that I've seen which is what gave me the idea. If I'm firmly planted on a seat at least I won't be subject to jelly legs..

There are some pieces that I would only play standing in order to get the breathing etc properly under control but some others may work equally as well played seated.

I'm so keen to make this go well but am well aware that I need all my concentration and a relaxed nature to pull off a couple of these pieces. The more tense I get the more likely I will be to botch these up - One being Weber's clarinet concertino (see link on Music of the Day thread if you don't know it - though I'm not in Stanley Drucker's league!!! ) which I love and have had the greatest satisfaction in getting together. Oldnotes and I have pulled it off as a performance a number of times now but only in the comfort of my home.

So all hints, tips etc for making sure a recital is as smooth-running as possible please post here.

Thanks

P.S. Sorry it's such a long post

I used to get the leg shaking thing but as I did more concerts it stopped. I am a violinist and I found that I had to choose my first piece very carefully because anything too slow would betray obvious shake in my bowing arm and anything too fast would end up in a tangle. So I would advise you to think about which piece you can play even if you are in a right old state just to ease your way in to it.
I tend to find that I am only nervous for the first piece and then I really start to enjoy it once the first round of applause has come in.
I find running up and downstairs a few times reduces too much negative stress and nerves.
I play without shoes as well because I can't cope with shoes on!

Remember, the audience don't really notice minor slips and even if they do notice one or two, they are unlikely to still remember them at the end of the concert.

Good luck

Hiya Dawn

All the best in your first recital. You're an excellent musician, and I have no doubt you'll shine.

A few hints :

* Talking is good : it sounds like it relaxes you, so use that to your advantage.

* Have a bottle of water to hand, and don't be afraid to clean out your clarinet and suchlike as and when you need to. Emma Johnson does this, so can you!

* There's nothing, in my opinion, wrong with sitting on occasion (although I tend not to) : but do make sure your audience can see your face, don't hide behind your music stand - and do your introduction standing up.

* Bear in mind that the audience won't notice small blemishes, so don't get worried about them. I've never done a recital or concert without making errors : it's not the end of the world.

* You'll almost certainly need more breaths than you think : don't be afraid to take them.

* and finally, smile, make your audience feel welcome, and have fun! I'm sure you will!

Be as relaxed as you possibly can, and make friends with your audience - smile at them a lot, tell them interesting snippets about your pieces and bits about yourself. If you are obviously enjoying yourself, they won't give a hoot about the odd mistake; but who would want to watch someone who's nervous and ill at ease, even if they produced a perfect performance note wise? Try to think of it from the audience viewpoint - you are an entertainer! Hopefully this will help to dissipate the nerves a bit; no-one will be judging you and everyone will be on your side.

Pace yourself. It does sound like a long recital for a first time, and you could find your lip beginning to go if you try to play too many items in a row. As Barry says, don't be afraid to use your pull-through; you can talk to your audience while you dry the clarinet if necessary.

For classical items, I'd stand; but if you are doing something like songs from the shows, you could sit down - it depends on the feel of the piece really.

Make sure you start off with something you know really well so that you're warmed up, and then do the Weber fairly soon before your concentration or lip goes at all. (BerkshireSon opened his DipABRSM recital with that concertino, so I have happy memories of it. ) If you are having an interval, do the other tricky piece second in the second half; otherwise, after a piano piece - this will help you get your concentration back up before you tackle it.

Hope you really enjoy the experience. I can't wait to hear how it went!

I have emailed you Dawn. But just to add here; We won't have any of the problems we had today in 3 weeks time. I doubt if anyone noticed the two minor slips we both made, judging by the warm applause we got.

You may get the sun in your eyes as it moves round during the forthcoming recital. No broblem for you - just take a step forward or back. I've got to move the piano when it happens, as I've done several times in the past. No problem, it's only the biggest Bluthner there is!

Just to clarify - we have a maximum of 16 duets, with 3 piano interludes (7 pieces).

Thanks for all the positive advice - I'm sure Dawn will echo this when she is next online. I know we have both had really good support from forumites whether by posts or at playdays and forum concerts.

Thanks all.

In total I will probably not be playing more than 50 mins and the others are piano pieces and talking.

I think I have in total 16 clarinet pieces.

Our Programme as it stands so far is:

Dawn F – clarinet with Oldnotes – piano
*****************************************************

1) Sicilienne Paradis

2) Adagio from Clarinet Concerto Mozart

3) Remember when, The Friends & Come dance with me Pam Wedgewood

4) Piano interlude – Sonatina in G Beethoven
Sonatina in C Mozart

5) Concertino in Ebmajor Weber

6) At the cradle Grieg

7) Andantino from Ballade in F Chopin

8) Piano interlude – Andaluza Granados
Adieu Schubert

9) Romance No. 3 Schumann

10) Andante from Concert piece opus 114 Mendelssohn

11) Allegro from Wind sextet opus 71 Beethoven

12) Piano interlude – A spring morning Bendel
Song of summer birds Philipp
Song of twilight Nakada

13) Carol Gerald Finzi

14) Lament Kerri Degg

15) Prelude, Spring & Summer from the Kitchen Garden Suite Paul Reade

************************************************************

Comments on the order are welcomed.

Looks good. Were it me though, I'd swap the Weber and Mozart over : I'd like the Concertino as early as is practicable, while I'm still fresh.

Thanks Barry - we'll be re-considering the order when we rehearse on Tuesday.

I would so love to be there to hear you play!

All the very very best!

to both of you . When and where ?

All the very best to you both.

I too had considered this as I posted last night....

if we were to do this maybe it'd be better to reorder so that the wedgewood comes either before the concertino or after the piano break as I think I'll need to "take 5" after it. I also want to have the nerves fully under control before I play it so sooner = fresher but more nervous. Later may mean less nerves but not so much breath ....

Also thinking about possibly moving the Kitchen Garden earlier due to the tricky nature of the timings in places ( or maybe it's just my mental block on it )

We can try out these ideas tomorrow
In teh meantime if anyone else has any more thoughts/ suggestions please do let me know.




Sewerby Hall near Bridlington.

May 9th. 2pm

This wasn't meant to be an advertisment though as I kind of like the idea of an unknown audience (in case it goes horribly pear shaped) So if anyone does come don't tell me who you are till afterwards - if I don't already know.

I would really like to have been there to support you both in person. Maybe sometime in the future. I can offer you both my best wishes and having heard you play I'm sure the concert will be a great success

Good luck!

Ok. We have a revised programme in place. Took out a couple of items and re ordered the rest to make a more balanced programme that doesn't exceed 75 mins including introductions (which I now have all planned out) and Oldnotes' playing(my breathing spaces) too.

It feels like it's coming together. Another rehearsal tomorrow and then a week to perfect things.

So now I'm starting to think about what to wear.... I was thinking beige linen trousers and a nice blouse in reddy browns/ beige.

But I like to look the part when I perform. If I feel good about my appearance I'm more relaxed about my playing. SO... now I've started wondering whether to go for a dress..... top and long skirt??? I've decided not to play in heels this time in case of the wobbly leg thing hitting again. Thinking maybe my new, decorative flat flip-flop style sandals.


I'm sure in this venue I can wear what I like and as it's daytime it doesn't need to be too formal but I'd be interested to hear your ideas....

I shall be wearing my usual all black, with open neck shirt.

This thread is getting more exciting as the time approaches - do keep the postings coming you two, I will be routing for both of you!

Wish I could be there, I enjoyed your playing at Leeds in January.

We often have lunchtime recitals by professionals in our Corn Exchange, and when I've been people have been fairly formal - either black top + black skirt/trousers, or a long dress/skirt + nice blouse.

For an amateur recital, though, you don't need to wear black, and I think a top and long skirt would be nice. As you say, the most important thing is to feel good about your appearance, so go with your gut instinct.

In case you don't see this in my other thread I though I'd post here too.

I've decided what to wear!!! - bought a new dress. It's hard to describe (I'll probably make it sound awful)- but is cream with black and a salmon pink big floral motif. Fitted top - double spaghetti strap - adjustable - and flared full skirt to knee length or jut above. Black ribbon round waist.

It was a Matalan Be Beaux one but I can't find a picture on line to post.

Will be worn with cream jacket - if necessary though I get hot and prefer no Jacket for playing in anyway - and a pair of cream satin shoes - small heal only and very comfortable. I had them for being a bridesmaid. Black Jacket and shoes are another option but I don't think they look as good.

Thanks for your advice folks.

Now to practise the music.

Sounds lovely, Dawn! I hope you really enjoy your first recital.

sorry i dont have any advice, but i just wanted to drop by an offer support, im sure you'll be outstanding i wish i could come see you play. i hope you have a geat time all the best. and the outfit sounds lovely

Just catching up with this, Dawn. The dress sounds gorgeous - not awful at all! Just wanted to wish you (and Oldnotes!) all the very best with this - I will be thinking of you and look forward to hearing about it at York on the 15th!

Thanks all - I'm getting a bit scared now if truth be told.....

A bit scared is a normal human reaction. It shows you care.

Thankyou - And is it also normal to start doubting if you can carry off your hardest piece....

So far the nerves are in check and I hope they'll stay that way.

If anyone has any tips on calming or harnessing the nerves that inevitably creep up before a performance now'd be the time to post them......

Think very positive! Imagine yourself in the recital venue, going out relaxed, happy, and fired up to play. Give the audience your best smile and talk about your first piece. Imagine playing that piece perfectly, and hearing the applause.

Seriously, don't allow doubts to stay in your mind. You've put in the preparation, so you KNOW you can do those pieces. Keep believing it! I'd also imagine making a small slip - and realise that it doesn't matter! The audience will never notice unless you pull a face or allow it to put you off.

You are going to really enjoy this recital; don't let pre-performance nerves spoil this week for you.

Very best wishes Dawn and Oldnotes. Hope it all goes swimmingly.

Tomorrow, right?

I hope it all goes REALLY well and that you ENJOY it as well! Oldnotes too.

Good luck!

wishing you al the best am sure it will be fantastic, wish i could be there to see it. have fun and good luck

Thanks all for the good wishes. I'm opening a new thread about how it went.