What a beautiful venue the Bountiful Davis Art Center is! It has been 11 years since I did a recital where students could dress up in costumes. I remember I was pregnant with my first child and he turns 11 this week.
Whatever happens in performance, it is important to remember that it is a snapshot of what we could do in that very moment. Sometimes it turns out great, adrenaline and all. Sometimes, it’s not-so-great. One way to avoid the not-so-great performance is to know the form of the piece and have many starting spots to move forward in the piece. Another helpful tool is to perform multiple little performances before the “big” performance.
If I had stopped playing the piano after those not-so-great performances I would not enjoy making music today.