6 Steps to Confident Recitals – A Free Resource for Piano Teachers

It’s three weeks before your recital. One student CANNOT remember to bow, another panics when you remove the music from the music rack, and one of your best students keeps rushing the tempo no matter what you have tried.

You’ve scheduled the recital venue. You’ve planned refreshments. You have typed the recital program and checked it. Why won’t these students get with it and learn their music?

You are not alone. I’ve been there. I remember once - I had one of my best students go to the piano during a recital and she could not remember where to put her hands! And she was in junior high! I vowed then and there that I needed a SYSTEM (and this was before this word came into vogue) to turn my students into CONFIDENT performers.

All you need is a checklist.

I devised a checklist that I use for EVERY student before a recital. It’s a foolproof system (provided they follow the suggestions.). At the beginning of every school year, I calendar the performances. Then I write in my calendar the steps of the checklist, one for every week of the 6 weeks before the performance.

That’s right. SIX weeks. Sometimes it takes less. But I give myself and my students that much margin.

Here are the reasons why I have used this checklist for over TWENTY years:

• It gives students tangible practice goals

• It boosts confidence and readiness

• It saves teachers time and mental energy

• It works for beginners and older students

Download the checklist I use in my own studio—and take the stress out of recital season.

Here’s a preview of what’s inside:

1). Memorize in manageable chunks.

2). Landmark technique for memory recall

3). Half-tempo practice is a game-changer.

4). Practicing distractions (and how siblings can actually help!)

There’s more!

Students will always struggle with presenting themselves in recital. The most common fear in our society is public speaking, and piano performing feels very scary in the same way.

Parents don’t help, because they are often nervous FOR their kid.

It’s up to us as teachers to give these students confidence and calm.

Give your students OWNERSHIP of these six steps - so they can make beautiful music and you can relax!

Here’s a video that explains some of my process:

Each recital is a step towards progress, not perfection.

We as teachers, can carry too much of an emotional burden during recital season. Use the checklist on just ONE student, and see how it goes. If it’s successful, next time you can expand it to more students.


Let’s stop dreading recital prep! Grab my free checklist, and let’s make performance season a time of confidence and calm—for you and your students.