Recitals are a very long tradition of sharing music in a group environment. Family and friends gather together in celebration of musical performances and help encourage musicians of all ages.
At Leading Note Studios we hold numerous recitals throughout the year for both children as well as for adults. Many benefits are a result of participating in these events.
In my 25 years of teaching music, the benefits certainly outweigh the avoidance of these well-established gatherings. Here are the top 5 reasons music recitals are so crucial to every musician.
1. Recitals provide the opportunity to share what a student has learned in their music lessons and to receive recognition for all of their hard work. Learning a song on any instrument requires hours of hard work and solo practice. Performing and playing at a recital gives the musician a chance to show a piece that is polished and perfected.
2. Recitals help build self-confidence and self-esteem. Performing in front of an audience plays a significant role in self-confidence in all areas of life. Receiving genuine and heartfelt praise from family and friends has been shown to boost a sense of self-worth and confidence. After students have performed their piece, I often see big flushed-face smiles after the audience claps enthusiastically. The pride and feeling of accomplishment of playing in front of a supportive crowd just cannot be beaten.
3. Recitals are very motivating. Watching other performers play their songs increases a renewed excitement and shared love for music within the school or community. They are also a time when our students come together. Younger students are always inspired by the performances of the more seasoned students and come away with a renewed excitement for music. Experienced students get a chance to remember starting their instrument and reflecting on how far they have come.
4. Recitals provide a chance for you to experience and overcome nervousness, and to realize those feelings are okay. In “real-life” these feelings are part-and-parcel of being human. Experiences with successfully conquering nerves give a unique type of confidence when learning anything new!
5. Recitals create a respectful and supportive environment making sure that the love of art and the musical journey does not become overly competitive. A musicians passion for music can grow healthily and organically with support and encouragement.
I have seen children grow from shy and introverted to outgoing, confident young adults. The ones who underwent this change stuck with their lessons and took every recital opportunity they could. Inspired by music and able to perform in front of a crowd, this boosted their confidence as well as their love for music. The progress didn’t happen after just four lessons, but from years of positive reinforcement by teachers and parents.