Preparing for Recitals, Festivals and Exams

Preparing for Performances and Exams

Several of the ideas that follow are borrowed from the excellent book The Practice Revolution by Philip Johnston (PracticeSpot Press, 2007).  

• Have a dress rehearsal

Two weeks before your performance or exam, hold a dress rehearsal for family and friends.  Walk “onstage,”  announce your piece(s), and play without stopping to correct mistakes.  The goal is to get used to playing your best while feeling nervous.  After the dress rehearsal, ask yourself what you liked about your performance, how it could have been better, and what mistakes need fixing.  

Then ask yourself why your mistakes happened:

• Did you play too fast?
• Did you have negative thoughts that got in the way of your concentration?
• Did you forget the fingering?
• Did you forget a repeat or an ending?
• Did you discover you don’t know the piece or section as well as you’d thought?

Practice the trouble spots slowly and in short bits until they're secure.

• Have many dress rehearsals!

Have as many as you can, but don’t have more than one in a day. Stop having the rehearsals at least two days before your performance or exam. 

• “Slow motion replays” in advance

Imagine playing your piece brilliantly and then watching it play back in slow motion.  Imagine your performance in detail:  spectacular dynamics, fast runs, and so on.  Then spend 20 minutes playing in slow motion, exactly as brilliantly as you had imagined. 

Do this many times, with a different focus each time--for example, dynamics or fingering.

• Have “safety ramps”

These are sections you can quickly jump to in case of a memory slip while performing.  See practice tips.

• List the positives

List all the features you are proud of when performing your piece--steady tempo, excellent articulation, great dynamics, etc.

• Begin your piece mindfully

When you sit down to perform, before you play, imagine your tempo, opening dynamic level, posture, and anything else you think is important.  Take a few deep, slow breaths.

• What to Wear 

"People hear what they see"--in other words, the way you present yourself influences the way people hear your performance. Wear something comfortable, clean, not too revealing, and dressy enough for your performance.  

• Don't wear shorts, runners, or tank tops.  
• Bring inside shoes if you're arriving at your performance in big, awkward snow boots.  
• If you're a pianist, wear shoes that work well for pedalling...maybe not 6-inch stilettos. 
• For female classical guitarists, wear leggings if you wear a skirt.

• Other Stuff 
• Make sure you get enough sleep the night before the performance.
•  Arrive 10 or 15 minutes before the concert or performance is scheduled to begin, so you have time to get settled and relax.
• Remember to smile, stand tall, and announce your piece (announce for performances, not for exams).  Say your first and last name, the name of the piece, and the name of the composer.  Make sure you know how to pronounce everything.  Speak clearly and confidently. 
• Bow and smile afterwards.
• Reward yourself when it's over!