Photo Credit:: Richard Masoner
Our annual spring recitals were last Saturday! I hosted 4 lovely recitals (in one day!) for our wonderful students to participate in. Over 130 students performed beautifully with so much poise and composure. While it’s definitely a lot of work to put on recitals, I feel incredibly happy and proud of our students after they’ve performed, which makes all the preparation so worth it.
I know it’s not easy getting up in front of an audience– putting yourself out there when you feel scared, moving through the fear, and doing it anyway. What an amazing life lesson! How many times have we all been in situations that scared us and we decided to move forward anyway. In my mind, no risk, no reward. Personally, I was extremely scared and nervous when I started my business back in 2006. I had no idea how it would go– if it would be successful, etc. Over seven years later and being privileged to currently inspire over 220 students (and more over the years) to love music, I’m so glad I decided to take that risk years ago. How different my life would be if I made a different choice back then.
Since I think performing is so important and has the impact to help children and students of all ages in tremendous ways, I am devoting today’s article to sharing with you just some of the most important benefits of putting yourself out there through performance.
Just a few of the stellar benefits of performing are as follows:
- Confidence and self esteem skyrocket
In order to perform, you must have confidence in yourself- knowing that you practiced to the best of your ability and that you know your piece inside and out. When you go up in front of the audience, you have to have faith in yourself even if you are nervous. Performing and especially if it goes well, builds incredible self esteem. You feel happy, proud, and good about yourself.
- Creativity is cultivated
Sadly I feel that creativity is not as valued today as it once was. 🙁 Instead of focusing on developing our creative juices, children are shuffled around from activity to activity, given hours of homework, slammed with standardized tests, and often not allowed to just play and be a kid. Music lessons are amazing because they foster rather than stifle creativity! In order to play more than just the notes in your performance– to make music out of the piece you are playing, you must be creative and imagine what the piece is about and what the composer is trying to convey through the lyrics or through the mood and style of the piece. Honestly, so many of the greatest minds of today and the past are and were some of the most creative, innovative people ever. The greatest innovations and contributions to society are a direct result of brilliant, creative minds. I strongly feel that performance directly leads to this incredible creativity.
- You understand that achieving goals takes hard work, self discipline, and motivation
Most students select a challenging piece to prepare for their recital performance. Mastering a challenging piece doesn’t happen overnight and without significant practicing, hard work, and preparation. I feel that this is also such a great life lesson that’s applicable in so many other areas. In my mind, hard working people do well in all that they do. The younger children can learn that they can achieve any of their goals with hard work, focus, and self discipline, the better.
- You feel a great sense of accomplishment
The sense of accomplishment you feel after you work hard to achieve something challenging is amazing! This natural high is addicting and makes you want to accomplish more. What a great reason to want to challenge yourself even more in the future!
Thanks so much for reading. Do you agree with the benefits of performing that I’ve listed? What additional benefits have you seen? Leave a comment below with your thoughts. Share this with your friends, subscribe to the newsletter if you haven’t already, and “like us” on Facebook. I’ll catch you soon!
Sincerely,
Cassie
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Just in time for recital season! Haha.
I think the biggest lesson I’ve gotten out of performing is the ability to take action in spite of fear and nervousness and the experience of performing under pressure. Building my courage muscle as I like to tell my students.
One thing that’s helped me in recitals is to take myself out of the equation, it’s not about me, it’s about the music. To think of music as water from God and I’m just the glass containing and pouring out the water 🙂 Easy!
This quote from Rick Warren also elevates the whole experience to a different level for me, “You’re most like your Creator, when you’re being creative.” 🙂
Thanks for this timely article!
Thanks Kevin for your comment! I love your idea about taking yourself out of the equation. I think that helps take a lot of the pressure off. Are you having or have you already had recitals for your students?
Excellent article, especially the creativity paragraph! Everyone, kids and adults alike, should not only strive to improve technically, but create what they feel while they’re playing. Think innovatively to bring out the music, not just the notes on the page, in your own style and with your own passion for the piece.
I started playing solo recitals during my junior year of college, and “pushing through” my stage fright was all I could do at the time. However, I continued to perform, and now when I get a chance to play musically as well as techincally, it makes my musical life much more rewarding.
I suggest students learn as many different styles as they can, so they can eventually become confident enough to play with both technical expertise and creativity.
Great post, Cassie!
Thanks Len for your comment! It’s easy to just play the notes. Bringing the creativity/ musicality to every piece you play is an added challenge in and of itself for sure.