Piano Recital 4/23/2009 AttributionShare Alike Some rights reserved by Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious

With the Higher School Certificate (HSC) music performance exams just around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to collate some performance tips and advice. Of course, these are applicable to any music performance or exam, not just the HSC. As a music teacher and accompanist, and having sat for innumerable music exams myself over the years, I am very much aware of the importance of handling nerves, setting up performance strategies, and preparing one's state of mind prior to any music performance. Here are some of my suggestions.
  • Prepare and practice well in advance. I am always astounded at how often young people save all their practice and effort till the last minute, assuming that everything will come together on the day. This is not an effective way to prepare. A successful, secure, quality performance is most often the result of consistent and conscientious practice over many months throughout the learning of a piece.
  • Practice performing to others. It is beneficial to organise opportunities to perform in front of family and friends prior to the exam. This gives students experience at coping with nerves and learning where any weak areas in particular pieces may be. Furthermore, students may benefit from feedback that they may be given, helping them to understand what others thought they did well or how they could improve. I would also highly recommend practising on the actual piano to be used for the recital, if opportunity allows, as all instruments differ in their touch and sound.
  • Consider the tempo before starting.This is very important. Too often, under the pressure of nerves and the effects of adrenalin, students begin pieces way too fast (or slow) and find themselves in dire straits later in the piece, either struggling to maintain an overambitious tempo or disappointed at the lagging pace they have chosen. It is essential to hear and feel the music in one's mind first, setting an appropriate tempo before beginning the music.
  • Keep going, don't dwell on any mistakes. Even professionals make mistakes. It's how they deal with them that's important. If there is a slip, it is best not to dwell on it. Rather, focus on the remainder of the performance, aiming to make it as musical and effective as possible. When a performer stops and tries to correct a mistake, it only draws attention. In most cases, however, if you simply continue, people will hardly even notice that you faltered. Keep going!
  • Arrive early. There is not much that causes more stress to a performance than arriving late on the day. Plan to be at the venue early. This gives you time to gather your thoughts, think about the music and settle. It also avoids annoying examiners and appearing unprofessional.
  • Dress appropriately. Show respect for yourself and your examiners/audience by dressing appropriately. Dressing too casually for a performance can appear either arrogant or as though you care little for the performance or the music. If performing with others, perhaps discuss colour-codes. Appearance is part of an overall performance and shows consideration for the audience.
  • Be organised. Another way to minimise stress on the performance day is to have everything organised. This includes paperwork for the examiners, music in order and someone to turn pages if necessary. When these types of issues are arranged carefully, it facilitates the smooth flow of events on the day of the exam.
  • Finally, enjoy the music you are making. The more a performer likes a piece of music, the better he or she will play it and the more enjoyable it will be for the audience. It is common to become bored with a particular piece if it has been worked on over a long period of time. However, if you continue to tell yourself how much you love it and imagine new ways to bring out particular themes or nuances, it is possible to have a fresh approach and enjoy the performance on the day.
There are many other tips for students preparing for music exams/recitals. These are just a few. Perhaps some of my readers would like to comment or share their own suggestions on how to prepare for a successful performance.

References
Piano Recital 4/23/2009. (2009). [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/3470145896/sizes/l/in/photostream/