After your next recital participation, take a moment to write out answers to the following questions:

• How did you prepare for today's performance?
• How did you feel as you prepared for the performance? Did your feeling change as you got closer to the performance? If so, when?
• How did you feel as you listened to and watched the other performers on the program?
• How did you feel during your performance? After the performance?
• If you could give yourself some advice and feedback, what would it be?

I would love to discuss your answers with you!

There's an old Polish saying: "How they see you is how they perceive you." Although our art is largely one for the ears, the stage presence of a performer can make a tremendous difference in the audience's experience (as well as their perception of the success of the performance). 

Simply put, your performance  extends far beyond your playing the notes. The energy (and posture) with which you walk on stage, your eye contact with the audience, your smile, your bow, your movements during your performance, and the way you finish, stand up, smile, bow, and walk off the "stage" area all are all part of the package. 

If you combine all these elements, they add authenticity and professionalism to your final product... Forget about them and any one of them can take away from it. 

We are actors and storytellers of the music. The more we can portray and convey the adjectives we would use to describe the music, the more involved the audience feels. Try video-taping your practice/performance and check to see if your physical choreography, posture, and facial expressions really match the mood of the music.

Being comfortable with your stage presence takes practice, but yields great results in connecting with the audience. In addition, YOU will feel more comfortable on stage. 

Realize that performing is a gift you are giving to the audience. They eagerly anticipate getting to hear you. Give it to them with joy!

Here are a few helpful articles on stage presence: 

http://johnranck.net/studio/clinic/practice_corner/stage-presence.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/essential-performance-etiquette-5567231.html

http://www.hilaryabigana.com/apps/blog/ (a LOT of good advice, including videos)

http://triwaymusic.com/Etiquette.pdf

http://kimballtrombone.com/2008/08/21/solo-performance-etiquette/

11 Piano Prodigies students participated in a masterclass with renowned pianist Arno Drucker on February 1.

Dr. Drucker was full of encouragement and great advice, and compliments for the entire studio. In a follow up email he wrote: "Thank you for... your superbly organized and beautiful program, but especially for your precious students who well demonstrated your excellent teaching. I admire your careful choice of literature and commend you on the strong technical foundations you have given them."