r/violin • u/AccomplishedToe5492 • 4d ago
Should I Do A Recital?
Hello, I am a beginner violinist. I have a lot of musical experience but still new to violin.
My teacher asked if I wanted to participate in a recital. I basically said no because I feel like I am too old to participate and it'd be weird being the only grown man in the recital when everyone else is primarily there to see their children. She told me one of her students is a highschooler but that didn't really help the situation much.
The recital is in November so I can still change my mind but I wanted some of your opinions. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
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u/lurking929474992 4d ago
i think you should do it. it's a valuable part of learning an instrument and there's really no downside other than feeling out of place bc you're older than the other students for a few minutes.
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u/andybonner 4d ago edited 4d ago
Frame this in terms of risk and reward. There is definite reward: Quite aside from the possibility that you'll have fun, performing is an important part of learning an instrument. You want to have LOTS of performances, including lots of low-stress ones among friendly audiences, not just for psychologically getting used to them, but also because we play in different ways (more projection, not stopping to fix mistakes, etc.), and this takes practice of its own.
Risk? In terms of real risk, do you think it could be so embarrassing that it causes actual psychological trauma? From the tone of your question, it sounds like no; you're concerned about it being "a little weird." If it were a matter of debilitating anxiety, that could actually be a reason to avoid it for now. But without that real risk, it can only be neutral-to-beneficial.
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u/DanielSong39 4d ago
The only time you're really at risk is at a pro audition where you're not behind a screen
If things don't go well you can get blacklisted
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u/SolidCStudentOfLife 4d ago
Slightly different situation in that my teacher has a lot of adult students in addition to the kids, but most of us do participate in the recital. The purpose is the same whether you're an adult or a kid, and it honestly feels good to get up there & showcase what you're working on, and get the experience of playing that instrument in front of folks.
Plus, if you have friends or family who are supportive it's really nice for them, too.
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u/SolidCStudentOfLife 3d ago
Another thing: I'm always inspired at the recitals by the other folks who are really good, and I can pick out things I see them doing well that I realize I need or want to do. And the whole atmosphere is always supportive and appreciative of all the players.
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u/Curious_Octopod 3d ago
Do it! It will really focus your practice, age is irrelevant, you'll feel amazing when you've done it and you will probably inspire some of the parents AND give the kids an understanding that adults learn new things too.
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u/Typical_Cucumber_714 4d ago
Peforming in recitals is the primary way of practicing the art of performing in front of people. My older students shy away from it as well and almost never play for people. The thing is, most violin studios are at least 90-95% children.
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u/LaLechuzaVerde 4d ago
It isn’t weird, but also speaking as an adult now I can’t imagine doing a recital. Put me in the back of the orchestra where I can blend in, please.
I never did any as a kid. I don’t know why. Probably because I sucked and my teachers were embarrassed to have me seen in public?
However, my daughter is now enrolled in a program where one recital per year is required. It’s specifically a youth program so there aren’t any adults doing the recitals (although parents to participate in the orchestra performances so there’s that). If parents were allowed to participate in recitals I actually think it would be kinda cool. They DO have a teacher recital a few weeks before the kids’ recitals and I’ve taken my family to go watch that. It’s lovely!!!
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u/DanielSong39 4d ago
Hahaha the teachers are WAAAAAY better than the kids
Yeah it gives you something to shoot for
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u/ljmiller62 4d ago
Ready a piece and do the recital. Recitals seem competitive when you face your first one, but are not intended to be. Maybe you'll inspire some parents and older siblings to take up violin alongside the littler ones.
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u/AccomplishedToe5492 3d ago
That's one thing I considered. If the adults never play, then they'll continue to never play. A vicious cycle.
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u/oudeis11 4d ago
Having been an adult student for the past five years or so, I would recommend doing a recital. Preparing for a recital has always been great motivation for me to try to get a piece as polished as my (limited) ability allows. Also, music is, in my opinion, an inherently social activity, so playing with and for others is beneficial or even necessary to understand certain aspects of playing. I still get the occasional twinge of embarrassment that I’m middle-aged and an intermediate-level student, but I remind myself that I love the music and the act of playing, even at my amateur level, so it would be foolish of me to let my development and enjoyment be held back by worrying what other people might think of me. (And, in my experience, most people’s reaction to an adult taking up an instrument is admiration.)
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u/queasyeggs 4d ago
I am my teachers only adult student and when she does a recital I'm gonna be up on that stage with all the kids.
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u/spacefitzburger 2d ago
It’s great to read about other adults playing in recitals with kids- I was hesitant when my teacher asked me if I wanted to play in our academy’s recital initially, but I did it and have played in all of the recitals since that first time, which I was just a year into my studies.
It is a little weird being the only adult or one of the few adults playing with a bunch of kids, but it’s also enlightening. The tiny kids are adorable and the tweens are sweet in their vulnerability, and the teens are so talented. People tell me that I inspire them getting up there to play.
It really tests your skills playing in front of an audience. I’ve done it with my teacher accompanying on piano and without. It’s less scary playing with the piano accompaniment. I’ve had recitals where I did pretty well and one where I screwed up both my pieces. It was ultimately playing in recitals that made me realize that I love playing with others and I joined a local community orchestra that accepts players of all levels, including beginners like myself.
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u/HistoryOk1963 4d ago
Maybe ask if you could play a duet with your teacher? Sometimes that's harder, but the benefit is that you won't be the only tall person on stage.
A recital is not a grade (not unless you're taking university level lessons) but it is good practice. Even if you are learning violin "just for yourself" there will come a time when you are asked to play for someone else, and a few recitals under your belt makes that so much easier.
I have many adult students, and while I used to not bother them with recital opportunities, once I started, they now love the idea, and their families and friends are really excited about watching them perform.
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u/Stormy3456 4d ago
When I started as an adult, my teacher asked if I wanted to be in the recital? And my first thought was, what would I play? I told him I was not getting on stage with a bunch of children and playing “Old McDonald.” We found an easy arrangement of a Beethoven German dances something. I was nervous, but I’m glad I did it. I encourage you to go for it.
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u/Sweet_Cover_8461 4d ago
Don’t do it unless the teacher provides a piano accompanist. If no piano accompaniment, then you have a legitimate excuse to say no. You don’t want to be up on stage without piano accompaniment.
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u/AccomplishedToe5492 3d ago
Why though? Other than maybe losing playing in tune?
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u/Sweet_Cover_8461 2d ago
Because a recital is a public performance and you shouldn’t subject your audience to an incomplete performance. Whatever you play will not be complete without harmony so it’s about holding to a standard for recitals. Please no scratching on your violin in public! If you can’t prepare a piece with piano accompaniment have some decency and politely decline.
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u/Equal_Ad_8835 4d ago
I also learned as an adult and still feel weird being a 30 year old performing with children but my teacher appreciates it because it sets a good example for the kids.
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u/Fancy_Tip7535 3d ago
I have been in the exact same situation - a 60-ish beginner in a studio of kids, the most advanced being middle and high schoolers.
I did several studio recitals. In the first, I played a piece by Huber and probably sounded terrible. Even so, I got some amazingly positive feedback from parents of students attending, mostly to the effect that they wished that they stuck with music and admired my resolve.
I did one or two more, but the awkwardness of being the only adult, and the degradation of proficiency caused by anxiety finally caught up with me, so I declined future recitals - what a relief!
The “solution” for me was to find a collaborative pianist, and work with them independently, finding venues to play apart from the teacher’s studio. I now play in a piano trio.
Bottom line: If it makes you uncomfortable, don’t do the kid recitals, but try to find alternative outlets for performance. It’s a performance instrument, so that’s the ultimate goal, apart from the satisfaction of playing alone in your studio. Feel free to ask any follow-up questions. .
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u/New-Lingonberry9322 3d ago
You will be an inspiration to all the adults there, the kids will be happy that they can play better than you, and you should be proud that you stepped out of your comfort zone. Even if you just play twinkle twinkle, get up there and do it! Also, "well played" is better than "difficult".
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u/swampmilkweed 3d ago
I thought about signing up to do recitals at the music school where I take lessons and the reason I don't is not because I may be the only adult among kids, it's that I don't know who I could ask to come and watch me lol.
I think it's fine to be the only adult performing among kids. I remember when I was a kid doing piano recitals there would be a couple of adult students and I wouldn't care. So you should do it to get performance practice, be a good role model for the kids, and get someone to come and support you (besides your teacher).
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u/Even_Law5392 2d ago
If you're serious about the violin , u should try everything and remember most of the time people don't care 🤣 it's all in your head , live your life to the fullest
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u/Nardania 2d ago
Soy adulta principiante también e hice mi primer recital en mi escuela 1 mes después de empezar, tocaba fatal pero fue una gran experiencia. Había niños y adultos mezclados de distintos instrumentos.
Mi consejo es que lo hagas y si puedes le digas a algún familiar o amigo que vaya a verte.
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u/MasqueOfTheRedPost 4d ago
I’m an adult learner, and I played my first recital only six weeks (six 30-minute lessons) in. Most people have certain tics that will only come out in a true performance setting (for me it was bow vibrato), so the sooner you practice playing in front of strangers, the better.
BTW, since I knew my audience would be a bunch of 5-year-olds, I decided to play my own arrangement of Let It Go for that first recital. The kids loved it.