“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” - Alexander Graham Bell
Are you ready?
Performances can bring up all sorts of nervous feelings. How can we manage our time leading up to a performance to play at our best? How can parents help their children to have a positive performance experience?
Seasoned performers knew from experience that what you do leading up to a performance can have a huge impact on the performance itself. This includes much more than practicing your instrument!
Read on for a preparation timeline to enhance your performance. Even though these suggestions are written directly to the performer, parents can apply these tips to help younger children prepare for their performance.
Performance Preparation Timeline
One Month Before:
By now music should be learned, memorized and in the polishing process. Always endeavor to have continuity when you play your music!
Review the score, and pay close attention to details as you practice, especially phrasing, marks of expression, and style. Be sure you will have the original score, if required!
This is the final stretch-keep up your excellent practice habits and avoid mindless running through your pieces.
Listen to good recordings of the music you will be playing.
2-3 Weeks Before:
Have a mini recital. Gather one (or many) family members and friends and perform. If you have family or friends far away, do a FaceTime or Skype recital!
Take note of weak areas that appeared in your mini recital. Target your practice to strengthen those weaker areas so they become your strongest!
1 Week Before:
Verify the time and location of performance, finalize wardrobe and be sure it is clean and pressed.
Maintain a consistent practice routine
Evening Before:
Gather all music, prepare snacks and water, set out clothing
Get a good night’s sleep!
Performance Day:
Have a good breakfast, but limit sugar and caffeine
Warm-up on your instrument
Arrive at location 20 minutes prior to scheduled performance time. Allow enough time to park, walk to the correct building, locate the room, and potential traffic snags.
The more you adapt a performance timeline and plan, the easier and more familiar performing becomes. Developing a good performance preparation routine will enable you and/or your children to develop skills needed for future “performances” such as job interviews, auditions, tryouts or oral presentations. Yes, you will still get nervous, but you can have the confidence that comes from knowing you have prepared well!