Let’s be honest; the holiday season can get chaotic! Sometimes it’s tempting to just skip over a winter recital. But, students and parents usually love holiday recitals the best. So what can you do to make sure that your event runs smoothly and is as fun and sparkly as the lights on your tree?
As I was thinking through my top tips, I realized that I have many colleagues who are experts on planning holiday events. I asked a few of them to contribute suggestions based on their fun experiences too. Big thank you to these teachers for sharing their wisdom!
Here are our favorite ideas for a festive recital:
1. Plan ahead
One of the most important tips is to plan in advance. In addition to preparing students well ahead of the big day, think through logistics like venue, guests, reception, decorations, programs, and more ahead of time. Lora Gubanov, owner of Memphis Music Studio, says, “For the most enjoyable and stress-free experience, prepare all awards and certificates at least two weeks prior to the recital.” Being organized in planning small details like this helps the performance to run smoothly for everyone involved.
2. Make it festive
A few nice decorations can go a long way in making your event look and feel more celebratory. Some winter touches like greenery, wreaths, ribbons, and more will brighten up any space you choose. You can even dim the overhead lights and use battery-operated candles instead, as long as your students can still see their music and the piano keys. Lora Gubanov also says, “To add to the joyful and festive mood, create fun, bright-colored programs!”
3. Keep food simple
I’m not sure about you, but things get out of hand quickly when I host a reception! I plan for a few snacks, but before you know it, I have too much food to fit on the table. Instead of buying out your local grocery store, try sticking to a few items. Your recital could also be a potluck-style dessert, where you bring the table decorations, plates, napkins, and cups and have the families of students each bring a sweet treat to share. You could even have a cookie swap, where everyone brings a plate of their favorite cookies for others to taste and take home.
4. Be relaxed about repertoire
Do you worry about students playing the same song at the recital? Rebecca Calvert assures us that it’s okay for students to play multiple renditions of “Jingle Bells” or other favorite holiday tunes. It’s just the nature of a holiday recital, and we all expect it!
Just like it is okay to hear “Jingle Bells” multiple times, it’s also okay to hear Clementi’s Sonatina in C Major or Burmuller’s Arabesque. Sometimes the piece a student needs or wants to play is not holiday music, and that’s fine. No one will mind, and after all, it is a recital for the students.
5. Host short recitals
Have you ever attended one of those holiday recitals that seem to go on and on and on? When you have several students performing, a recital can easily turn into an all-night event. Rachel Dennis suggests breaking performances into “mini-recitals.” She hosts small recitals of 20 minutes maximum of music, followed by a simple reception and photos.
Short recitals are easier for families to fit into busy schedules, and you can have these in your own home if needed. Although you are hosting multiple events, that also means students have a better chance of being available to play.
6. Go beyond the recital hall
Perhaps you are having a hard time finding a venue, or maybe you just want the students to get involved in the community – either way, try going “beyond the recital hall” with your holiday performances! Rachel Acuff says, “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 for at least ten different venues in the community.” Rachel’s students play at retirement homes, hospital rooms, churches, local businesses, and even homes of retired music teachers. She shared so many good ideas and photos that we featured it in a guest blog! You can read more about Rachel’s Christmas performances here.
7. Offer virtual options
Virtual recitals are not just for pandemics or students who only take online lessons. They also provide a way for students to share a performance with family members both near and far, who may not otherwise be able to attend. A recital hosted on YouTube can be sent to a grandmother who lives across the country, for example.
Wanda Everett shares her virtual recital ideas:
“I request that each parent set up a Christmas recital party in their home. Along with their child, they decorate the piano area. They make festive foods for a reception after the recital. I ask that the whole family dress for the occasion, as if they were coming to a nice, festive recital. They invite grandparents, family and friends to come to a zoom recital, and I send a link invite to each parent to forward.
Last year, we had people come from all around the country! Each student stood beside their piano and stated their name and what they would play. Upon finishing, I unmuted everyone and folks were clapping so that students could hear. Then, I asked everyone in the house to come and gather around the student at the piano so that we all could see who was with them. Finally, I asked those watching who was there for this child. They would unmute and introduce themselves. Grandparents were, of course, most enthusiastic! I had 15 students play and it seems like we counted about 80 attendees. After we finished, each family had refreshments in their homes. It was such a fun evening.”
8. Be creative!
Maybe you want to ditch the traditional recital setup completely. Go wild! You can host other events that are festive and still give your students an opportunity to perform. For example, last year, I hosted “Stories of the Season” where some of my advanced students narrated two children’s Christmas books (Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner and Amazing Peace by Maya Angelou) and performed duet music as a background to the stories. We projected images from the stories and decorated the stage with lights and Christmas trees. After the event, we shared a digital version of the performance with local libraries.
9. Plan “winter” recitals
Some of us and/or our students may simply be too busy for a true holiday recital. Instead of scheduling the weeks leading up to the holidays, a good alternative is to host a “winter recital.” Laura Lindsay reports that she hosts recitals in November, rather than December, before the holiday rush. She also remembers her own teacher having successful Piano Parties in January, after things calm down.
10. Send reminders
Don’t forget to send gentle nudges to families about the upcoming event. Everyone is busy, and some kids have multiple extracurricular activities. I like to schedule emails in advance so I don’t forget to send them. As an example, for a December 7 recital, I will schedule an email to go out on November 31 as a general reminder and December 5 with last-minute instructions. You can also send electronic invitations or drop a postcard reminder in the student’s bag the week before the recital.
11. Practice recital etiquette
No matter what time of year you have a recital, make sure to go over recital basics with students so they know what to expect ahead of time. Particularly for new students, it’s important to practice walking to the piano, adjusting the bench, taking a second to breathe, playing their piece, and bowing. I start doing recital “run-throughs” with all of these components at least 2-3 weeks before the big day.
12. Be in the moment
Remember that this is a celebration of your student’s achievements; you don’t want to be so busy organizing that you forget to enjoy the recital. Make sure you take time to connect with each student and their family after the performance. Lora Gubanov encourages, “Avoid taking care of ‘last-minute stuff’ at the last minute, and most importantly, HAVE FUN!”
If you have more ideas to share with the Creative Piano Teacher community or questions about any of these tips, please list them in the comments. Happy holiday performances to you and your students!
Guest contributors to this blog:
Rachel Acuff – Maryville, TN
Rebecca Calvert – Palmdale, CA
Rachel Dennis – Knoxville, TN
Wanda Everett – South Pittsburgh, TN
Lora Gubanov – Memphis, TN
Laura Lindsay – Farragut, TN
Dr. Olivia Ellis teaches piano, group piano, pedagogy, and chamber music at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. She’s an editor for Piano Magazine and has published several books including the Easy Piano Lead Sheets and Chord Charts series. She’s constantly creating new activities and games to teach concepts, and loves helping other teachers find their niche.
