We hope our students find these tips to be helpful for their recital preparation. For more details on preferred audio settings, device setup, and recital etiquette, check out the Student Recital Checklist for more information.
Our Winter Recitals are less than a month away! We look forward to celebrating the incredible progress our students have made through their live-streamed performances. Because this is a new experience for many of our students, our talented faculty, who have performed live on camera, will share some tips to help our students prepare for their first-ever live-streamed recital.
Tip #1 Try not to stand too close to the camera
Make sure to place your device in landscape orientation and leave enough space between you and the camera. This could alleviate stage fright and allow audience members to see you and your instrument. “You’ll need a little more space than you do for virtual lessons,” said Ms. Amy Lenk, flute teaching artist. “Also, don’t be afraid to smile and project confidence.”
Tip #2 Check your internet connection and audio settings in advance
A stable internet connection and correct audio settings are key for best performance quality. Violin Teaching Artist Hyunji Lee encouraged all students to adjust their audio settings to performance mode and eliminate all possible internet bandwidth usage during their performance.
Tip #3 Rehearse. Rehearse. Rehearse.
Getting familiar with your recital environment ahead of time helps boost your confidence, and it helps to troubleshoot all possible unexpected issues. “Practice full run-throughs of your piece in tempo with your accompaniment,” said Mr. Chris Troiano, Academy Trombone Instructor. “You may get nervous when being live-streamed, so you want to be as comfortable with your piece as possible beforehand.”
Tip #4 Share your musicality with your audience
A recital performance is not only about having the right notes or pitches but also about sharing your musicality. “Try to focus on what you feel the music is communicating rather than on your own performance,” Guitar Teaching Artist Suzanne Dorman added. “Music is meant to be shared, and sharing your music with an audience takes practice. So take every performance as an opportunity to grow and learn!”
Tip #5 Connect with the audience members
It’s much harder to see the audience’s reaction through a camera than in-person recitals. To better connect with the audience members, Vocal Teaching Artist Ashlyn Rock suggested all vocalists look a little bit above the camera and use it as their focal point. Ms. Rock also added that “if you need to feel more in ‘performance mode’, pretend you are on a stage somewhere and not in your living room. If technical issues happen, keep going. We all understand that technology can fail us sometimes.”
Tip #6 Enjoy yourself!
Even though the recitals are online this year, you still want to present your best performance. Practice recital etiquette: dress well, say your name, and announce the music piece you will be performing, and take a bow at the end. “Recitals are a space for students to share the beautiful music they’ve worked so hard to learn,” said Ms. Radina Dosseva, Academy Piano Teaching Artist. “So play with confidence and enjoy yourself!”