Preparing for a performance...

 I am often asked why I offer so many activities for students.  I offer group classes, nursing home recitals, formal winter recitals, personal in home recitals, Piano Guild and piano parties.  I offer these as an opportunity for students to participate in IF they choose to do so.  I believe that the more opportunities students have to perform in front of others the easier it becomes as students learn how to deal with all of the emotions and stresses of performing in a variety of settings.  Below is a link to a great article about overcoming performance anxieties.  Please check it out.

http://www.teachpianotoday.com/2014/07/02/how-to-teach-piano-students-to-overcome-performance-anxiety/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-teach-piano-students-to-overcome-performance-anxiety

Piano Performance Pizza Party / Class

We had our 1st ever Piano Performance Pizza Party!

We ate Popcorn, Pretzels, Pepperoni Pizza, and "Plain" Pizza aka double cheese Pizza!

When we were "Parched" we had Pink lemonade!

We had Plenty of food before we went to class...

We laughed, we learned, we made new friends, we got to know friends better!  We all practiced introducing ourselves and had to tell everyone something interesting about ourselves that no one else in the room already knew!  That was fun!

We had a lively discussion about stage fright, and how to overcome it!

We practiced performing in front of each other on the grand piano and practiced being a good audience.  We talked about how Practice makes Perfect!

Then the students begged me to play.  So I played a Pop song while the students had a dance party - talk about distractions!  WHEW!  Then I played a piece of classical music (Pachelbel Canon in D) while the students shouted out the different emotions they thought the piece represented.  Then the students crowded around the grand piano to watch all of the moving parts.  Again that was quite distracting.  So we concluded about how we worked through the distractions and fears!  It was a Positive and Perfect Piano Performance Pizza Party! All of the students earned pretty certificates and had a folder of goodies to take home!

Thank you to all of our students who participated!  Thank you to all of the parents who chauffeured the students tonight!

Good night!  This piano teacher is pleasantly tired!