Comments on: What Would You Do? – Follow-up on Janina (#10)

By: Ed Pearlman

Ed Pearlman — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:14:59 +0000

@Suzanne: No offense taken. Keep in mind–these are fictional scenarios!

By: Suzanne Lichtenstein

Suzanne Lichtenstein — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:21:59 +0000

Ummm, no offense, but I wouldn’t run a recital that way. I would do the medley-type thing at a once-a-month gathering I have that is very informal, where the kids show each other songs or skills they have been working on, we have refreshments, and we play “party songs” like heart-and-soul, the black-key-songs, etc. I always encourage spontaneous jams, and that’s how I would try the medley idea.

By contrast, I think a recital should be more like a concert, with a program, a dress rehearsal beforehand, and no surprises for the student. Making a recital “informal” doesn’t make it less scary. Let’s be real about that.

To build the student’s confidence level, I also teach the students that they should expect to perform at about 80% of their best practice level, that mistakes are okay, and it’s being able to recover from mistakes that makes for a real performer. And, as a teacher, I also know to have a student perform a piece he or she finds completely comfortable, not one that was just recently mastered. To qualify for a recital, the piece has to be one the student has been doing for quite a while, and can play while I’m tapping him or her on the head, telling a joke and trying to provoke a giggle, etc., during the lesson.

By: Zach Millwood

Zach Millwood — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:23:12 +0000

#2: Ask her “What is the worst that can happen? They’re just notes, you’ve played them all before (just in a different order), and that no one up there is going to get all of them right — we’re not perfect beings.” Additionally, remind her that she will be twice as capable next year and three times more capable the year after that, etc. and that this is just one recital of many.

#3: Assuming you *asked*her*mother* about Janina’s participation first (if you didn’t, you deserve the look from the mom), share the same information from my comments on #2 above, then offer them the option of not playing but instead staying to watch. Do not offer them the option to leave; she needs to see the success happen in front of her regardless. If she needs to, have mom sit very close to her offstage but not onstage — no one else has their parents there; why should Janina? If she does, perhaps this is a sign she’s not ready for a recital at this time.

#4: Wait and see. Assuming that you talked with her mother before the recital, there is no excuse for their behavior. If her mother is interested in Janina’s success in life, she’ll help the girl experience success, not run away from opportunity. If she does, you do not want to be teaching Janina — the apple does not fall far from the tree in most circumstances.

-Zach M.

By: JassMakeMe

JassMakeMe — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:53:18 +0000

I have read from #9 to this and I really am amazed by the ideas of having some run through.. I didn't expect that coming.. But now I understand the situation specially when your child goes to a music student recital. Again I'm very very much thankful that I've learned in this blog.. Thank you music studio recital