ABOUT OUR RECITALS...
Parents visiting or new to The Music Place, may not know that our recitals are uniquely comfortable, relaxed, and encouraging... quite different from the boring, stiff, scary recitals many of us experienced as a child.
We strongly encourage families to give students the wonderful opportunity to perform in one of them! Our school-wide Spring recitals run on weekends in April and early May. In most years, outstanding performers as well as intermediate and advanced students may also be invited to perform again later in the Spring in our yearly Showcase Invitational which benefits out Scholarship Fund. In the Fall, we like to set up venues in retirement homes and convalescent hospitals. While we have not resumed those wonderful (best-audience-in-the-world) "Care and Share" events, we are now offering regular larger school wide recitals in November and May.
Even the Youngest Beginner is Invited To Participate!
We frequently have students perform in recitals (with their teacher) who have had only a few lessons, and parents are quite surprised by this positive and memorable experience.
In addition, we invite all music performance classes (Voice, All Arts and Theater) to participate as well. Even our pre-school Early Music Awareness™ students occasionally perform. And what a sight it is to see children as young as 2 on stage for the first time in their lives, perhaps wearing costumes and so proud to be waving at their moms, dads and grandparents!
We invite teachers to who are available to check with their students to determine if they have those who are interested. Once we have heard back from the teachers with their decision to participate along with the dates and times they are available, we send an invitation to the student families to invite them to participate. Below is the list of teachers who are available to participate in this year's spring recitals:
What if my teacher is not participating? It is possible to participate in recitals even if you teacher cannot attend. Recitals that are not full are open to anyone. Recitals are currently limited to 15 participants per recital and are targeted to last no longer than one hour.
Wonderful Variety
Our recitals offer a wonderful variety of voices, instruments and ensembles, showcasing all levels of development!
Several Venues
For our larger recitals we rent local churches that have good-sized platforms and fine grand pianos that are worthy of the best performers. For safety and restriction reasons, we have started having tiny recitals with 5-15 students in large venues with plenty of space. Currently, instead of paper programs, we are putting the program information online with a QR code prompt at the venue. In additionl we send this link o families so they can view the program order from their mobile devices. These small recitals, which run about 45-60 minutes, are perfect for the first-timers or those with special needs who might be intimidated by a large gathering.
Enjoying a Recital?
Watch out! You may find yourself laughing and enjoying our friendly hosts, entertaining students, and of course, we can’t forget the consistent review of the fun-but-friendly "3 RULES TO BE A GOOD AUDIENCE!" We do our very best to make the atmosphere so relaxed and the families so at ease, that parents often comment on the difference from their own more rigid experiences. By the way, sometimes we have adults students who choose to participate as well!
Our hope (and indeed, our experience) is that recitals become a wonderful, and yes, even exhilarating moment in your child’s growth as a person, not just a musician. We also see that when parents encourage their children to share their growing abilities by performing, everyone leaves inspired and encouraged!
We Do Not Charge Admission for music recitals.
Instead of charging for guests to attend the recitals, participant families pay a small recital participation fee, and an "early bird" discount of $10 is offered before a certain deadline (usually 2 weeks after registration opens.) Second instrument performance or additional family members may be added for a maximum family fee of $15.00 more than the single participant fee. After the early bird registration deadlines, the discount is removed and fees increase $10. NOTE: Small single teacher recitals are sometimes offered in our facilities at a reduced fee.
Spring 2024 Recital Registration instructions!
We are updating our registration process, but since is it different, we have prepared a short video "How to Enroll in Spring Rectials" video explaining it. Please view this video before calling the office for help with things like adding a second child. If you have other issues, or need to add a 3rd of 4th child for free, please do call us!
No Food yet!
Except for single teacher recitals, we are not currently offering food receptions following each recital. However, teachers, students and audience gather in an open area near the entrance to allow students to hear the encouraging comments from the audience and faculty.
Hopefully, some season soon we can again provide light refreshments and refreshing punch and coffee, (hot cider in the winter). When that time comes, we always appreciate the variety of finger foods or treats that parents might want to bring and share.
Year-End Honors Program
Once we have completed a series of Spring Recitals in which hundreds of students perform, we often present our annual Awards Ceremony programs. In these gatherings, we celebrate the efforts of dozens of students who have excelled throughout the year. We honor character, not just talents, and give awards and ribbons for achievements such as Outstanding Improvement, Attendance, Perseverance, Attitude, Performance and more.
Between programs, we have a multicultural buffet where families, guests and faculty can mix in a relaxed setting which honors the students as well.
In the past, we have been privileged to use a local church, with a wonderful piano and awesome sound system and comfortable seating. The atmosphere for this event is comfortable but more formal, and select faculty are also invited to perform along with selected students at all levels. It is a wonderful time!
Set your email to receive recital information from our recitals team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Learn more about our winter recitals where students share their music as a community outreach.