Sample Piano Recital Information Letter

You have been working hard to prepare your pieces for the annual piano recital and now the time is almost here! Here are some things you will need to know.

♫ The recital is Sunday, April 26, 2:00-3:30 pm. Please arrive early enough to get settled so we can    begin on time. If you arrive late, please wait at the door until the student who is playing has finished before you seat yourself.

♫ The recital will be held at (name location and give driving directions).

♫ If you have a family emergency and cannot attend at the last minute, please let me know as soon as possible. My home phone is ______. My cell phone is ______.

♫ Anyone among your family and friends who enjoys music is invited to attend. If you bring young children, be prepared to take them out if they are no longer quietly enjoying themselves.

♫ The recital itself will last about sixty minutes, followed by refreshments.

♫ This is a special event, so wear something special in honor of everyone’s hard work. Young ladies, be sure that your skirt doesn’t ride up on your legs when seated on the piano bench—you don’t want to be distracted while playing. Be sure that your clothes aren’t so tight that they restrict your arm movement. Watch out for too-long sleeves, jewelry that may interfere, etc. Leave chewing gum at home!

♫ If you use the pedal in your piece, practice while wearing the shoes you intend to wear for the recital so you will be used to them.

♫ There will be a rehearsal on Friday afternoon, April 24, 2:30-4:00 pm at (list recital location). This will allow you to get used to the piano and the room where you will play on Sunday. You may leave as soon as you have played your piece. You need not dress up for the rehearsal, but you might want to bring along the shoes you plan to wear.

♫ Please bring your music along to the rehearsal for last minute instructions from me. Bring it to the recital, also, in case another student wants to check it out for his own future repertoire. If you are playing a duet, be sure to bring your music.

♫ A good practice technique for home: Sit on a couch or chair in the room where your piano is. Pretend that I have just announced your turn to play at the recital. Walk to the piano; adjust the bench; think about how fast and how loud you want to start your piece. Take your time to get settled before playing. Then begin playing your piece. Focus on your music, not on any distractions around you. When you have finished, step out next to the piano and bow. Ladies may smile and curtsy, if they wish; it is also appropriate to bow. Young men will bow, of course. When you bow, let your arms hang loosely at your side; bend at the waist and look at your feet. Be sure to smile!

♫ Don’t play your piece too many times on performance day—once or twice is plenty. We want it to be fresh for the audience. You may play your other pieces to warm up.

♫ Don’t worry about forgetting your piece. You have worked hard to prepare it thoroughly. Think about your music, not the audience. If you are concentrating on your music, you won’t even be thinking about what the audience is thinking about you. Your job is to bless them through your music; their job is to be blessed! We are going to have a wonderful time together!

See you soon! 

(C) 2008 by Marcia K. Washburn. Permission is granted to teachers to personalize and reproduce this sample letter. For more music teaching and business helps, see Talent to Treasure: Building a Profitable Music Teaching Business here.

for more music teaching and business advice see Talent to Treasure: Building a Profitable Music Teaching Business here.