Student Recitals

In addition to our studio recitals, I encourage families to have book recitals or yearly family recitals.  This helps the family take ownership of the student’s progress and become an integral part of nurturing a budding performer.  The children who perform at these recitals are the star of the show and feel very proud of the hard work they have accomplished in the previous year or throughout the book.  With over 20 students there is no way I can plan these recitals so it is up to the parent to plan and host the recital.  Here are some things to consider when planning a recital:

Venue: Go small or go large, it doesn’t matter.  Here are some places my own students have had  recitals: at my house with their immediate family during their lesson, at their own home, at the library, at their church, at a rented recital hall, in a senior living center.  These are all great!

Accompanist: When I perform, I personally prefer using an accompanist.  Unless you have a close family or friend that can accompany, this is an added expense.  Make sure you plan time to rehearse with an accompanist.  If an accompanist isn’t feasible I can often play duets with the student or the student can use the recorded accompaniments – or even go without an accompanist.

Audience: Who will be invited? Parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, classmates.   All are welcome. It can be small or big.  I used to be concerned with my own children that there wouldn’t be enough audience members, but I have since resigned to the fact that often it’s just immediate family and that is okay.

Program: We can work on a program together.  Often during a book recital every piece is played, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.  You can add extra pieces a student has recently learned, you can also include other family members if they play instruments to give the star a break during the performance.  Sometimes the students like to create a printed program on their own, or draw a special picture.  Refreshments are sometimes included, but definitely not required.

Many students keep their recitals simple with a set program of pieces handed out to the audience. However, here are some creative ideas I've come across where students have added their own unique twist to make the recital truly personal:

• One student rented out a dinner theater and invited his entire class for his recital/birthday party.  Everyone had a seat and table along with movie popcorn, boxed candy and soda.  This student created his own violin-themed art to decorate the stage.

• Some families have written a story with the song titles woven into the text. When a song title appears, the story pauses so the child can play that piece.

• Another family put on a play, complete with costumes, with the song titles embedded in the script.

• One father surprised his child by creating a mock game show, complete with riddles and prizes. The answers to the riddles were the titles of the songs.

• In another recital, song titles or hints were written on slips of paper and placed in a hat. Audience members took turns drawing a slip and reading the title or hint aloud.

• One family arranged the songs in order on the program, and before each piece, the student's brother read a few words the student had written about the song. These reflections might include imagery, personal reactions (e.g., "This was my least favorite because..."), or even the parents' thoughts ("Mom loved this song because..."). This made for a particularly touching recital as it revealed personal connections to the music.

• At one recital, the student and I devised a game with a plastic piano game piece, a die, and 25 cards arranged in a circle. Each card represented one of the 22 songs from Book 1, plus three extra cards for duets—one with me, one with the child's mom, and one with my daughter, her first teacher. Audience members rolled the die, moved the piece to a card, read the hint aloud (e.g., "How you paddle a canoe" for "Lightly Row"), and moved the card to the discard pile after the song was played. This made each turn exciting and interactive.

• Other fun elements have included raffles, with prizes tied to songs, violin-themed cakes, and ice cream. Some students also share anecdotes about their experience with each piece, explaining why they enjoyed it or found it challenging. Talking about the tears, frustrations, and triumphs made the performances even more relatable and memorable.

These creative touches add a personal flair, making the recital a special and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.  In the end, do what works for you.  As an overwhelmed parent I never had my daughter do a recital until she was in Book 6, but I did create a video of her playing all the pieces after completing the earlier books.  These are so priceless now! These recitals are not required, but definitely encouraged.  If you would like to plan a recital, please let me know and we will make sure the student is prepared!