Tips on Preparing For Your Piano Recital

One of the most exciting and nerve-wracking moments of your musical journey is performing at a piano recital. Piano recitals allow musicians to share their hard work and build confidence in front of an audience. They also help you set goals, stay motivated, and learn valuable skills like focus, discipline, and stage presence. Most importantly, recitals celebrate progress and make music a fun, community experience! We’re here to provide some helpful tips for making sure that you’re as prepared as possible for your next piano recital. 

Start Early, Practice Smart 

One of the best ways to prepare for a piano recital is to start practicing early and consistently, rather than waiting until the last minute. Regular, steady practice helps build confidence and allows time for the music to really sink in. Break your recital piece into smaller, manageable sections and work on them one at a time—this will make learning feel less overwhelming and much more achievable. You can also: 

• Create a simple practice schedule (a focused 15 minutes a day is more effective than a distracted hour once a week!) 
• Record yourself, so you can look back and identify parts you may need to practice more. 

The more you practice, the better you’ll feel. Plus, the better you know your piece, the easier it will be to memorize it and nail your performance! 

Knowing Your Piece Will Help You Memorize It!

You might not be expected to play your piece from memory, but often, once you’ve practiced consistently, you’ll find that you might not need to look at the music as much as you did before. Here are some helpful tips for memorization: 

• Break it up: Breaking up your piece into a few measures or phrases at a time can help you memorize the whole piece. 
• Separate your hands: Practicing right and left hands separately before putting them together. 
• Use “starting spots”: Pick a few random places in the music and practice starting from there, so you’re not always relying on the beginning.
• Practice slowly first: While it may feel tempting to play your piece at the right tempo, you’ll learn the piece more thoroughly by using a metronome and working through the piece at a slower tempo until you’re ready to play it at speed. 

Playing a memorized piece of music at your recital not only looks more professional, but it also gives you one less thing to worry about on your recital day. 

How To Ease Pre-Recital Nerves

You can also practice by playing the piece in front of family, siblings, friends, or even stuffed animals and pretend you’re performing in front of your recital audience! Repeated low-pressure performances help build memory and confidence. When you’re preparing for a recital, it’s important to get used to performing, not just practicing alone. This can even include playing your piece while wearing your recital outfit so you know what to expect on the day of the performance. It might feel silly at first, but playing your piece as if you were performing at the recital will help you feel that much more confident on recital day! 

Recital Etiquette Matters!

First, make sure to wear an outfit you feel comfortable and confident in! It’s important to know just how formal you’re expected to be, so make sure to ask your teacher if they have suggestions on what you should wear. 

During the recital, remember to: 

• Respect other performers: not everyone will be at the same place in their piano lessons, and you’ll hear students performing pieces that vary in difficulty, from entry-level to advanced. Don’t worry if someone’s playing a more advanced piece than you – just focus on yourself!
• Walk calmly to and from the piano: take your time – there’s no need to rush to and from the stage. This is your moment to shine, and the show won’t start without you! 
• Remember to smile and bow after your performance! 

Don’t forget to invite your family and friends to your recital, to help you celebrate the moment and cheer you on. You’ve got this! 

Tips For The Day Of The Recital

Now that it’s the day of the recital, here are some ways you can make sure you’re ready to go and perform your best. Make sure you:

• Eat a good meal, get a good night’s sleep the night before, and arrive at the venue early.
• Take some deep breaths while you wait your turn to perform. 
• Practice positive self-talk: you can do this! 

Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes – just keep playing! You’re the one who knows your piece the best, so chances are that your audience won’t even realize you’ve made a mistake, especially if you continue to play without stopping. 

You Did It! 

Remember to be proud of your effort, even if you make a mistake or two along the way—what truly matters is the progress you’ve made. Striving for growth is far more meaningful than chasing perfection. You’ve taken a big step by performing at a piano recital, and that in itself is a wonderful accomplishment. It takes courage, dedication, and a lot of practice to get up on a stage and share your music. Celebrate how far you’ve come and keep moving forward with confidence!

Across the country, our amazing teachers are excited and ready to help you feel confident and prepared for your first, or next, piano recital. Find a location near you by visiting our school page. We can’t wait to meet you!