November Recital Reflections

How do we feel about recitals?  As a performer?  As an audience member?  As a collective community?

We asked everyone attending our November 12th student recital to find one word (or a couple ok too) to jot down on their yellow sticky note before we began.  No right/wrong answers.  No names.  Just a quick, private moment to reflect.

Then, when we finished, we asked everyone to write down (on their blue sticky note) how they were feeling.

We invited everyone to share their sticky notes in the back of the hall – no names.  Just an array of reflections.

Lots of nifty responses.  Everyone ended the day on a positive note.  And, I, Sarah,was a little surprised to learn that so many of our students and families were excited, proud, and happy as they waited for us to begin the concert.  I would have thought maybe we’d see a few more notes of anxiety and fear; but am delighted that so many students feel so positive about the performing experience; and for those who did feel less than positive – that’s ok too.   Performing is part of being a musician- how we feel about performing and approach performing is part of our learning and growth.

Here’s a list of our Saturday reflections.  Mostly, we thank students for working hard to prepare, for your participation, and for everyone’s support as engaged, attentive audience.

Side note:  No correlation necessarily between “before” and “after” words – everything just listed alphabetically and otherwise, randomly.