4 reasons why doing recitals will speed up your progress in learning an instrument
If you took music lessons as a kid, you probably remember butterflies and sweaty palms when it came time to play in front of a room full of strangers at your recital. Look, I realize that for most people, performing in front of a crowd is an unpleasant experience, but there are so many benefits to participating in your music school’s recital. Hopefully after reading this list, you or your kid will be inspired to muster up the courage to get up there and shine.
It provides a goal post
Practice for many music students can be a struggle. As fun as playing an instrument can be, even the most experienced musicians have trouble finding the motivation to practice from time to time. Having a performance date on the calendar can add that extra bit of motivation to get their practice time in. It’s amazing the amount of progress we see in our students in the weeks leading up to the recital. Not only that, but, after the recital is over, a recording can serve as a marker in time for where the student was at in terms of skill and ability. For my own students, comparing their first recital piece to their most recent one is a great way to see the progress through the years.
It builds community
As the only musician in my own family, I know first hand that some students may not have anybody else in their lives who plays an instrument. Or they may not realize just how many other people are working through the same challenges that come from studying music. Having an opportunity for musicians to come together and celebrate their achievements provides that social motivation that many students need.
Most of my greatest friendships growing up were made with other musicians who I shared the stage with. The preparation, anticipation, and adrenaline that comes from performing creates a special bond similar to being on a sports team. Whether it’s a solo performance showcase like a recital, or a band concert, sharing the stage with other musicians is a great way to make friends and memories. As a music school, we feel it is so important to provide those kinds of opportunities for our own students to connect with one another.
It builds confidence
Those butterflies and sweaty palms that I mentioned earlier are very real for most of our music students. But getting up in front of an audience teaches students not only the value of being prepared, it also shows our students, especially the younger ones, how to face your fears head on. As most performers will tell you, the more often you get up on stage, the easier it gets. For many performers, those jitters never completely go away, but having the confidence to get up in front of an audience and be seen, despite the jitters, is an empowering experience. We want every one of our students to have the opportunity to grow their confidence and practice performing under some lighthearted pressure.
It’s Fun
No one wants to spend a Saturday in a stuffy Church rec room. That’s not how ATL Music Lessons does recitals. In fact, we really like to think of our recitals as concerts or get-togethers. We hold our recitals at locations where our students and their families can grab something to eat, get up and grab a coffee or a beer, and enjoy themselves while celebrating our students’ achievements. And, although COVID-19 has turned the world on it’s head, we haven’t let that prevent us from getting together on Zoom to share those same wins in a virtual format.
Take the Plunge
Like most meaningful things in life, building the confidence to get up and play in front of people is challenging at first. But, with the right guidance, and a bit of courage, anybody can share their talents with an audience. I’d invite you to take the plunge no matter where you are as a musician. Having a safe, supportive space to sharpen your skills is one of the benefits of joining a community like ATL Music Lessons. In fact, Community is one of our four studio pillars, and goes into everything we do. We’d love to have you be a part of it.