Our third recital for this school year was held on March 5. It wasn’t until after I had printed the programs and run out of ink that I realized spring doesn’t officially begin until March 20. Perhaps hoping for a turn for better weather worked because it is now so much warmer it almost feels tropical.
Students came prepared to play at least one song and some even played a second song in the form of a duet. It was quite interesting to see how many students were prepared to play their pieces from memory. One of my 5-year-old students brought her books and surprised both her parents and me by going to the piano and playing without them. Quite a feat for a 5-year-old, I think.
One thing I have noticed with students that perform from memory is that they remember to bow before sitting down. Students that have their book with them at the piano are so concerned with remembering to take it with them, they forget to bow. We review performing and bowing at all of our group lessons, so this is something that I think will just come with time. Overall though, students seem less nervous to perform now than they did at the beginning of the year so the combination of group lessons and multiple recitals seem to be doing their job.
~ Ms. Natashia
