I. Dress appropriately for the occasion.
How
you dress tells the world how you feel about yourself and the rest of
the world. Dressing appropriately for the occasion tells the
audience you have respect for yourself, your family, your teacher’s
studio, and the audience.
Dressing
appropriately does not require an expensive outlay of money. Very
fine, appropriate clothing can be found at Goodwill, Salvation Army,
and consignment stores; or borrow from friends and family.
A. The minimum requirements for
daytime recitals and concerts is dressy attire with appropriate shoes
for pedaling.
1.
Ladies
a.
very nice, dressy dresses, no shorter than 2 inches above knees
b.
socks for girls, hose for young ladies and older
c.
body clean, hair combed
2.
Gentlemen:
a.
slacks, shirt, tie, socks, and shoes is a minimum
b.
slacks, shirt, tie, socks, shoes, and
jacket is
preferred
c.
body clean, hair combed
B.
If the event is after 5:00 PM the dress is either semi-formal or
formal (degree of formality is
announced) with appropriate shoes for pedaling.
1.
Ladies:
a.
semiformal dress, length anywhere from knee-cap to mid-calf
b.
formal dress, length anywhere from ankle to floor
c.
socks for girls, hose for young ladies and older
d.
body clean, hair combed
2.
Gentlemen:
a.
semiformal is a suit, shirt, tie, socks
b.
formal is black tie (tuxedo)
c.
body clean, hair combed
C.
Blue jeans of any type are never appropriate.
Even for casual performances, in a park for example, the appropriate attire is the same as indoor performances at that hour.
In a park in the heat of summer men may be told that they can dispense with tie and jacket, but will still wear slacks and shirt. Ladies will wear appropriate summer dresses.
II.
Appropriate
Shoes for Pedaling
A.
Wear a dress-shoe that has a normal
flexible sole
(about ¼ inch thick or less).
The upper may have laces, open-toes, sandal-style, as long as it is a dressy flexible upper.
Heel-height is not so important, but avoid anything over 3 inches.
B.
Do not wear:
wedge-soles
chunky-soles
and block heels
Birkenstock-style
shoes
athletic
shoes of any type
anything
other than shoes listed above in “A”
III.
Performance
Etiquette
1. Walk onto the stage from your left. Walk tall and straight with confidence and smile!
2. Stop in front of the bench. Stand tall and straight, arms at your side.
(You should be between the bench and the audience. Do not turn your back to the audience by walking to the back of the bench even in duets.)
3. Feel the bench with the back of your legs.
Bow: look at your feet, head up and smile (you may look above the audience's heads).
4. Turning to your left, take your seat on the bench (do not turn your back to the audience).
5. From here forward, take your time, don’t be in a rush. The audience isn’t going anywhere. They will sit and wait patiently for you, because they want you to be able to perform to the best of your ability.
6. Adjust your bench.
7. Put your hands in your lap and prepare your mind.
Feel the bench under you.
Push everything out of your mind except yourself and the piano.
8. Put your hands on the keyboard.
Put your fingers on the keys you will play first.
Think of how your fingers feel on the keys.
9. Think of the key of the piece you will play.
Think of the character of the piece:
Is it a lively march?
Is it a slow, soft lullaby?
Think of what the first notes will sound like.
Think of how you’re going to make the first notes sound.
10. Count two measures at the appropriate tempo in your mind, then begin.
11. While you play, concentrate and think of only the sound, how you’re making the sound, and how you’re going to make the sounds you want to create. Enjoy making those sounds!
12. When the piece is finished, remain seated,
and lift your hands off the keyboard.
Put your hands in your lap.
Stand and move to your right to stand in front of the bench
(you should be between the bench and the audience).
Stand tall and straight with arms at your side. Smile and bow.
Walk off the stage to your left. Walk tall and straight with confidence.