Recital Schmecital - Preparing for Your Music Studio Recital, Part 4

Whew, life has been crazy.  Sorry I've been so silent lately.

As promised in this earlier post about recital preparation, I'm excited to unveil some new printable, customizable recital invitations!  They'd be perfect for a spring music recital, and they're free!

Here's a preview: 

I think they're pretty cute, and it's a great way to help your students to invite other people to come.

These are super easy to download, customize, and print!

1.  Click here to download the Word document (it's on Google drive, so you'll then have to just save it to your computer).
2.  Click here for a post on how to customize them.

And that's it!  Also, there are Winter Recital Invitations and Fall Recital Invitations available, also for free!

And don't forget to check out the Recital Planning Checklist!  So helpful!

Enjoy!  And keep musicking.

Let me know how these work for you, and if you have questions, feel free to contact me.

Recital Schmecital - Preparing for Your Music Studio Recital, Part 3

This is a continuation of my series on how to plan a great music studio recital.  Part one includes a downloadable preparation checklist.  Awesome!

Part two of this music recital planning series includes a downloadable, customizable, printable recital invitation!

As promised, today's post is a continuation of part two (maybe it should be called "part 2B"?  Nah, I'm sticking with "part 3" for today's post), with a brand new design for recital invitations!  Yay!  This particular design would be great for a holiday recital, so I wanted to post it up now, since the holidays are coming up fast.

Download your recital invitations, then click here for instructions on how to customize them!

Be sure to comment below if you use these and let me know how it goes!

UPDATE: Spring Recital Invitations and Fall Music Recital Invitations are now available for free!

 

Recital Schmecital - Preparing for Your Music Studio Recital, Part 2

Free Customizable, Printable Recital Invitations

As promised in part one of this series on preparing for your music studio recital, I have finally finished preparing some awesome Recital Invitations!  I think these are great to use for a fall recital.  UPDATE: Spring and Winter Recital Invitations are now also available!  These are so cute, they are free, they are downloadable, they are customizable, and they are printable.  And they are easy.

To get started, just download this Word document, which includes my design inserted as a picture in the document.  To customize and finish up your invitations, just follow the simple steps below:

1. Open your downloaded Word document (it will show up as a Google doc, and you will have to actually save it to your computer)
2. Click the "Insert" ribbon at the top, then "Text Box" (this might be different on a mac)
3. Choose the style of text box you want from the menu.  I chose "Simple Text Box"
4. Move your new text box around until you have it where you want it next to "Date:"
5. Add your customized text in whatever font/size/color you choose.
6. Change the text box fill and outline:

• Mouse over the outline of the text box so you see a four-directional arrow appear.  Double click to show the "Text Box Tools Format Menu" in the ribbons at the top (or right-click and choose "Format Text Box".  This may be different with a mac)
• Choose "Shape Fill", then "No Fill"
• Choose "Shape Outline", then "No Outline"

7. Repeat steps 2-6 above for "Time:" and "Place:"
8. Align the text boxes how you want them, print, cut each page into four awesomely cute invitations, and give to your students to pass out to family and friends.
9. Give yourself a high five because you are finished!

Ready to give it a try?  Download your free recital invitations now!  Then let me know how it goes.

If something isn't working or if you have any other questions, please comment below or send me an email on the contact page.

UPDATE: Spring Recital Invitations and Winter Music Recital Invitations are now available for free download!

Recital Schmecital - Preparing for Your Music Studio Recital, Part 1

What's that you say?  You're planning a studio recital?  Yikes!

Music Studio Recital Prep Checklist

As a teacher, preparing students for a recital can sometimes be stressful (not to mention all the other logistical nightmares that come with planning a recital!).  This post addresses ideas on how to coordinate, plan, prepare for, and pull off an amazing studio recital!  Hopefully it will have you waving your hand in the air and saying, "Psssh!  Recital, schmecital.  No big deal..."

I've prepared a downloadable, printable Studio Recital Checklist for you to check out, which includes even more than I was able to put right here.

Find a Venue For Your Recital

You may already have a venue that you like to use, but if not, it can sometimes be difficult, depending on where you live.  After moving to a new city (Miami), I found it extremely difficult to find a simple, inexpensive recital hall!!  I tried local music stores to see if they had a recital hall attached that they rented out, and they were like, "Huh?  Recital what now?"  This surprised me because in Utah, where I had lived before (and where I live now), this is a very common thing, and for little or no money, one can easily hold a studio recital at the music store.  Easy peasy.  But I began to realize that this recital planning thing may not be so easy everywhere else.  I searched and searched for a place to have this stinkin' recital, contemplated not having one at all, then in the end, I was able to use an LDS Church building for free.  On my journey, though, I tried everything, and so I'm sharing some ideas for finding a decent venue, that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Check into:

• Local music stores (it's a start, and maybe you won't be disappointed, as I was)
• Music schools
• Universities, colleges (try the music dept. office, maybe they can direct you to the right person for the recital hall reservations)
• Churches
• Public or private schools
• City and community centers
• Senior assisted living and care centers (why not add to your audience and provide a great service to others?)
• Libraries
• Parks (Outdoor concert?  You can decide if it's too risky for you...)
• Or maybe even the home of one of your students

Ask other local teachers with whom you network, and other local musicians, and even your students/parents.  As you are calling around to all the above-mentioned places, if they turn you away or if it doesn't work for you, always ask for a referral.  Maybe they know of another place that would work.

Know what you want and need before you call or visit.  What is your budget?  Do you need a piano?  Music stands?  Chairs?  How much seating capacity do you need?  I've made up a Studio Recital Checklist with some more sample questions to ask the venue before you book.

Hire Accompanist(s) and/or Other Collaborating Musician(s)

You may already have musicians you work with regularly, but if you don't, here are some ideas on where to look.  Again, try your network of other teachers and musicians in the area.  This is the best resource for everything!  Ask your students/parents, maybe they used a particular pianist in the past or a former teacher knows of someone good.  Call around to music stores and schools.  You'll find someone.

Many colleges offer collaborative piano courses, where the students are required to accompany throughout the semester.  This can be an inexpensive option, and the students are generally performance majors who play very well.  You can also try the music department office or the head of the piano dept. at local colleges or universities.  Sometimes they keep a list of well-qualified pianists or other musicians who are willing and able to accompany.

Again, know in advance what you want and need.  What is your budget?  Are your students paying an accompanist fee or are you paying it out of your pocket?  What is the recital and rehearsal schedule?  How many students need an accompanist?  How difficult are the pieces?

The Rest

Everything else is a piece of cake, using the Recital Preparation Checklist, which also includes a recommended time frame for when to accomplish certain items.  Some of the things you'll find on this checklist are:

• Notify parents/students of recital and rehearsal schedule (include dress standards, what to bring)
• Choose repertoire with each student 
• Rehearse with collaborating musicians 
• Invite/remind people to come (I now have a post with downloadable, customizable recital invitation templates!  They're free!)
• Arrange for any refreshments, certificates, awards, etc. to pass out
• Prepare written programs

Take a look at the checklist, which is even more comprehensive than this list here.  As I said before, it also includes a list of questions to ask the venue when booking, because every place is different.

Hopefully this will help you stay organized so you can worry about what really matters: MUSIC!!  Let me know how your recital goes!  If you have additional tips and advice or questions about planning a studio recital, please leave a comment below.