Christmas season is a busy time in my studio! I’m a firm believer that we need to provide our students with a variety of opportunities to share their music beyond the recital hall, so each year we divide into groups and play at ten or more different venues in the community. Most performances are at assisted living facilities and retirement homes and in the past, we have visited hospital rooms to carol and play woodwind/string instruments for the patients. We have also played mini-recitals at the homes of retired piano teachers in the community who no longer have their own studios filled with Christmas music.
We offer worship music for Sunday morning services at several rural churches, most of which cannot afford extra instrumentalists for the Christmas season and regularly only have pre-recorded music.
We often provide background music for local businesses as the patrons are shopping or set up our keyboard outside to draw shoppers in! I really enjoy providing students with venues where they are able to program multiple songs of their choice as background music instead of the pressure of just playing one or two polished pieces in the usual formal recital setting.
Every year about this time, I look at my calendar, feel overwhelmed and think “Why have I scheduled all these things?” However, at each event, especially when I see students interacting with the residents in a retirement community or smiling when a passerby compliments them mid-performance, I find myself thinking “We should do more of this!” I strongly encourage you to plan some community events with your students this holiday season!
