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JERRY’S TIPS FOR RECITAL DAY

REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU TRIED TO PLAY THIS PIECE--THE ONE YOU AREGOING TO PLAY IN THE RECITAL? MAYBE YOU HEARD SOMEONE ELSE PLAY IT FIRST AND YOU THOUGHT, “OH, THAT’S BEAUTIFUL BUT IT SOUNDS TOO HARD FOR ME!”

AND NOW, LOOK WHAT YOU CAN DO! YOU SPENT MANY HOURS FOCUSING ANDLISTENING TO YOURSELF PLAY IT OVER ANDOVER. AND NOW WHEN YOU PLAY IT, YOUR MUSICTELLS A BEAUTIFUL STORY TO EACH PERSONWHO LISTENS.

NOW YOU ARE READY TO WALK UP TO THE BIG GRAND PIANO AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM WHERE YOU WILL SHARE YOUR MUSIC WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE COME TO CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL DAY WITH YOU.

YOU ARE PROBABLY THINKING, “WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE?”. BUT, THEN YOU REMEMBER WHAT MS. BILLIE SAID--YOUR AUDIENCE IS NOT LISTENING FOR MISTAKES, THEY PROBABLY WON’T EVEN KNOW WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE BECAUSE THEY JUST WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY!

SO NOW THAT YOU ARE STANDING AT THE PIANO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?FIRST, YOU TURN TO THE AUDIENCE WITH A SMILE AND TAKE YOUR FIRST BOW. (PERFORMERS DO THIS TO SAY “THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE” TO THE AUDIENCE.)WHILE THE AUDIENCE APPLAUDS, YOU SIT DOWN AT THE KEYBOARD AND LET YOUR HANDS AND FEET FIND THEIR PLACE.

THINK ABOUT YOUR TEMPO AND THEN BEGIN TO PLAY YOUR SPECIAL PIECE JUST AS YOU HAVE FOR MANY WEEKS.WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED STAND AT THE PIANO AND TAKE ANOTHER BOW TO SAY “THANK YOU” TO YOUR AUDIENCE AGAIN.

TAKE YOUR SEAT IN THE AUDIENCE AND LISTEN CAREFULLY WHILE OTHERS PLAY..BE SURE TO NOTICE WHEN ONE OF THE OTHER PERFORMERS USES GOOD SKILLS TRY TO REMEMBER TO TELL THEM WHAT YOU HEARD AS YOU ENJOY COOKIES LATERDURING THE PARTY

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THIS: REMEMBER TO LISTEN QUIETLY WITH NO TALKING WHILE OTHER PERFORMERS ARE PLAYING. THINK HOW HARD IT WOULD BE FOR YOU TO FOCUS WHILE PLAYING YOUR PIECE IF PEOPLE WERE WHISPERING IN THE FRONT ROW!

CONGRATULATIONS YOUR PERSISTENCE AND DEDICATION HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE TODAY TO SHARE THIS MUSIC WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO CELEBRATE YOU! TODAY, YOU WILL SHOW THEM, MORE THAN EVER,WHAT GREAT THINGS YOU CAN DO! LIKE MAGIC, YOU HAVE TURNED HARD WORK INTO MUSICAL ENCHANTMENT!

Good Luck!