The recital and all

Well, I did it, I publicly played my violin at a recital. Up to now, I've only ever played in front of friends and family (and my teacher). I was somewhat nervous for the weeks leading up to the recital, but not freaked out, as I have been for some things in the past.

Any time I've sung publicly, the outsides of my legs shake from the hips to the ankles, my tummy gets twisted, my throat and neck gets really tight, my voice gets higher and shaky, my mouth goes dry, and my hands shake. I know how my body acts.

Yesterday, was different. My bow hand started shaking part way through my first piece, so I told it, go ahead, I'm not going to worry about it. It went away. The two pieces went really well. I made a couple of little mistakes, but nothing horrible. So on the way home I started thinking, "Why did it go so well?" I want for myself to be so calm every time. I know my teacher, this is only the beginning.

Here's my recital prep.

I decided on my two songs, then I played them to death, until they were memorized.

Then, at my teachers suggestion, I started practising them with the metronome set at 80 bpm, increasing the speed by 5 bpm each time I played it until it was too frantic and I was unable to keep up. Then I would go back down the by 5 bpm until I was back at 80. By the time I got to 90 (the speed I wanted to play it) it was easy. This way, if I started off too fast, I've played it at that speed before. I did this with both pieces for about two weeks, I must have played them a million times. I know them well.

The day before I ran through them at speed a few times, and I was happy with them.

The day of the recital, I played my fiddle for about an hour. I figured, if I don't know them by now, one more day won't help, so I didn't play them at all that morning. Instead, I played all kinds of old stuff that used to be difficult, noticing how some of the nasty parts had become easy. I had a good old time.

One other thing I've found. After doing lots of public speaking, I know I'll relax if I connect with the audience. So before I started to play, I talked to them. It relaxed me. I was astounded at my calmness. People told me afterwards I didn't seem nervous.

I actually enjoyed it. I almost wanted to say, as I was bowing after my second piece, "I have another that I could play", but the big cane came out and around my neck in the nick of time, saving me from that embarrassment.

There was a little guy, about 4 years old, who played his tiny cello, he was so cute! His big brother is about 6 and he played his violin first, then got handed a candy cane. Little guy was so focussed on the candy cane the teacher had to get right in front of him to get his attention to get him started. So all in all, it was a great time.

Can't wait for the next one.