Recital performances must be preceded by a performance at one of the many performance classes provided for your scheduling/performing convenience. If your performance at performance class is less than glorious, you may sign up for a second shot at a subsequent performance class. So sign up for as early a slot as you can be ready for and get ready to rock.

At performance class, you and a few other students will perform your memorized pieces for each other. There will be bowing and applause. Parents and siblings are welcome to attend. When you are not performing, your job is to stay engaged and root for the current performer. I will give general tips to everybody at the end.

Goal: to feel nervous and still successfully make music. What will you feel like when you’re nervous? Only an actual performance can help you answer that question. You might get sweaty, giddy, irritable, sleepy, shaky, snacky, numb, hot, cold, or some other pleasant or unpleasant feeling. You might feel all of those things in rapid succession, none of them at all, or some of them in combination. And that’s okay. It’s normal, in fact.

This is your shot to still play or sing artfully in spite of whatever is happening in your guts, soul, or just that one sweaty armpit. Performance practice will help (and is a skill that is wildly applicable to the rest of your life), so when it comes time for the real recital, you will already know you can do it.

In the meantime, memorize your pieces! Go practice! Make music!