Recitals & Events

Choosing recital pieces question: I usually try to give students a choice on which piece they want to play; and also try to not have the same piece played multiple times in the same recital. With a small number of students, this hasn’t been too…

• Last updated 1 year ago
• annual recital, ideas for recitals, Laurie Richards, multiple students want same recital piece, playing duet at recital, private recital, public recital, public recitals, recital, recital expectations, recital ideas, recital piece multiple times, recital pieces, recital preparation, recital program, recital programs, recital selection multiple times, recital selections, recital size, recitals, redundant recital pieces, redundant recital selections

I wanted to share something I did in my studio this semester. I held an Apprenticeship Workshop class for upper level piano, bass, and guitar students of mine. It was designed to teach them how to play in or form their own bands. We met…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• advanced players, advanced student, advanced students, Apprenticeship Workshop, arranging, band, bands, experienced players, gig, gigging, gigs, improv, jazz, Laurie Richards, performance, performance ideas, performing, public performances, upper level, upper level students, upper levels, workshop, Workshops

Has anyone tried doing piano ensembles within your own studio? I have come across Susan Staples Bell Music, in which she composes music and then has a group of students work together. It sounds like fun but wondering how far through would the student need…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• class duets, duet, Duet Ideas, duets, duets with students, ensemble, ensemble playing, foundation duets, Foundation Duets and Variations, multiple pianos, pianos, playing duet at recital, two pianos, using duets

Funny sometimes the things that we need to teach/share with our students. This week we talked about performing without ‘giving away’ the fact that you had a stumble. After the conversation, one of my students played “Sit by My Side” with some imperfections BUT didn’t…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• errors, handling mistakes, improvise through mistakes, keep going through mistakes, mistakes, playing through mistakes

To add value to my studio, I try to do as many activities as I can. I take my students to a recording studio every year. They record their music and cut a CD to take home. It is such a blast And my parents…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• audio recording, Audio recordings, burn CDs, burning CDs, CD, garage band, professional recording, recording, recording pieces, recording students, recording studio, student recordings

I’ve been teaching for 2 years now and I realized one of the most common searches I do on the intranet is for games and ideas for my twice yearly Piano Parties (aka Really fun recitals). I’ve come up with some new ones and I…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• games, musical games, party, piano party, playlist games, rhythm games, using games, win/lose games

twas halloween eve and all though my house ran teeny little kids, even a mouse! (sorry…..it was the best I could come up with!) they ran to the piano and played with glee each 2 songs, very strange indeed not what I taught, but each…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• concert, Halloween, ideas for recitals, music party, open stage, performance, piano parties, piano party, recital, recital ideas, recital space, recital venues

I have been a judge in the St Luke’s Talent Quest for the last three years. The last two years I was judge for the finalists,but today I was judge for the finalist auditions. Well, the vocal talent is unbelievable and most were children. But…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• competitions, judging, Talent Quest

At my end of year recital, for the first time I will be playing and one of my choices is Silent Night Blues by Neil Moore and my own composition Bush Christmas. I enjoy playing and hope that feeling is felt by others. Do you…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• cheating by reading, concert, concerts, ideas for recitals, Laurie Richards, performance, reading, reading pieces, recital, recital ideas, recitals, Silent Night, Silent Night Blues, teacher performance, using sheet music, white and blue christmas

Last night I had some of my students performing at an end-of-the-school-year piano concert. Ages were 1st graders thru 9th grade. What fun! We had duets on the piano, piano and solo singers, accompanying audience sing-a-longs, original arrangements, etc. One little girl played 2 of…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• concert, concerts, ideas for recitals, performance, playing duet at recital, recital, recital ideas, recitals, teacher performance