Aren't most recitals structured such that Mary Had a Little Lamb and easier pieces are played in the beginning, and more advanced repertoire played at the end? Why make a big deal out of nothing? Play what you want to play!
PianoTell Recital (model) Ideas
- Edited
Before this turns into a fight, I just want to remind people that we are simply in the process of fine tuning the concept, in order to have the best recitals that we can possibly have, with as many participants as we can have. The ABF Recitals participation rate on PW has been going down steadily. If there is something we can optimize here, we should be open to discussing it.
- Edited
Rubens Maybe you can re-frame this in your mind, since it seems to be something that you and a couple other advanced pianists are bothered by, but it’s not something that’s bothered all advanced pianists, as several have contributed quite regularly to the ABF recitals. I’m pretty new to the recitals and had my own initial reservations about contributing (mostly to do with not having things perfectly polished). But here’s a little bit for you to chew on.
I’ve participated in several ABF recitals at this point, and there is a huge range in both skill/level, and outside of the themed recitals, also in musical genres/styles. It’s about sharing part of your piano journey with others. I think it’s helpful to beginners to hear from non-professionals at every stage, and I think this is how most of them seem to understand things, as well. So you get people who are fairly close to you in skill/level/interests, and also people who are very far away. For some, the recitals may make them much more aware of particular genres of music (or specific pieces) that they didn’t know they liked, and it’s an entry to explore those areas. We all have things both to learn and to teach. So I think if you approach it from that spirit, there shouldn’t be a reason to avoid participating.
I’ll give you a few examples from my personal experience of the recitals. In my first recital, I played a very little known Ukrainian piece, and people asked for the sheet music, which I was able to share. I was really happy to share something that I very much consider a ‘rare gem,’ even though it was far from a perfect performance. In the January recital, I played Barber’s 3rd movement of Excursions. It’s not Campanella, but it’s got plenty of challenges, many of them rhythmic. In any event, several people (who from their recital submissions I consider every bit as ‘skilled’ — if not moreso— than I am, reached out and said that they had thought previously about working on it, but had been put off when they started trying. So I shared my experience of how I worked through the challenges. They were really nice interactions to have, and maybe my playing inspired someone to give the piece another look.
Anyways, those are just some thoughts. I for one don’t think there’s a problem with having Campanella next to Mary Had a Little Lamb, or someone playing video game music or doing an improv. It’s all a good time!
Rubens we can forget my idea, no problem
Only if you decide that you will participate in the recitals. Please do.
I think the question is, 'how can we encourage advanced pianists to participate in the recitals?'
Maybe someone has some ideas about that?
I would love to hear the performances of advanced and/or professional pianists in the recitals as well.
I've participated in many recitals now at ABF, from when I first started in 2016 up until the present. It's always been a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced pianists. I think more often than not it's the beginner that is hesitant to participate, and not a more experienced pianist. Anyway, everyone is welcome to participate. Nobody is checking credentials!
- Edited
We can't say for sure who is more hesitant to participate, between the very beginners and the very advanced. I just I think that the MOST advanced pianists from PW in my opinion (I won't name them here for obvious reasons) have not participated in the recitals so far. And yes I have checked the recitals archives from way before 2016.
@Rubens I also think that the written commentary about the submission can go a long way to addressing your concerns about coming across as a show-off. Write about what drew you to work on the piece, about challenges you had with it, etc. I’m sure advanced pianists have things they continue to find difficult, or things that for one reason or another, they haven’t completely mastered, and how working on the piece fits into your piano journey/growth. I think that in sharing something about the process of approaching/working through a piece, there’s a communication to everyone that we are all growing, and that’s part of the joy of playing the instrument!
Should we open a topic on pw about it? In the pianist recordings section? With an explanation about the recitals, and that it's also for professional and advanced pianists? Because I think they don't know that because it's in the ABF.
Because the recitals are now still there, not here.
I have no opinion on PW recitals because they belong on PW 
However for future P|T recitals, I would consider it an honour to listen to advanced players and novices alike 
If we want to keep it simple maybe we can start by simply not hosting the recitals in the Learners forum (nor the Pianist Zone). I think a separate forum would make a major difference already. It could even be on top of the forums list because it would arguably the most exciting part.