It will take some time to find a space, get your stuff, get in the building, sign in, find your classroom, then warm up. No jewelry that will get in the way of your playing. New stockings for ladies, matching socks for everybody. Simple black shoes for both young men and ladies.
Young ladies, if you choose to wear a skirt, make sure it is below the knee. White shirt and black or dark pants is the best option. Dress nice!ĭress as you would for a school concert. Feedback is one of the best ways to get better. Perform for your friends, your parents, your pets. OR record yourself at the end of your practice session, wait until the next day before your practice session to view and make corrections. I also recommend recording yourself, and walking away for a few minutes and coming back and watching. Yes, I know….it’s uncomfortable and I hate it too, but that’s how you really look when you perform. Practicing in front of a camera is very revealing. I have had several students actually receive applause based on this advice. Make sure they are also at the specified tempo that is required for your level. These should be done as a warmup every single day before you practice your solo. Challenge yourself and play them in contrary motion and in parallel. Give yourself 2 scales per week to really master backwards and forwards. There are specific requirements for each level so make sure you know them. The difference between a mediocre performance and a great one is the amount of emotion put behind the piece. What is the story the song is telling? Then, put that emotion into the song. Finally, make sure you understand what your piece is about. By the time you are in the room on festival day, you shouldn’t really need the music at all. This is a great way to monitor your progress. Also, read the sheet music the first three rounds, and don’t look at it last two times. By the time you do your solo, you will be completely comfortable with the piece. Practice your solo piece at least 5 times a day, Monday through Friday.
There are also many apps available for phones and tablets. Practice with a metronome set to the tempo specified for your level. Click here to see examples of what NYSSMA sight reading sheets.Īlso, bear in mind the sight reading tempo in the NYSSMA manual. Purchase a sight reading book (Alfred has a good one). Sight read your solo piece as you listen and practice to it. Practice sight reading every day for at least 15-20 minutes. Put them in a safe place, and leave them there until the night before your performance. Also, if you have a songbook with several songs in it, tag or bookmark the page of your music for both pieces of music before you perform so you will both be able to go right to the page on performance day. If you purchase sheet music downloads, print your receipt. One is for you, and the other is for the judge. You need to have 2 purchased copies of the music. Your teacher will let you know what publisher is on the preferred listed in the NYSSMA manual. Make sure it is the correct version, from the correct book. Ingraining the song will insure your success. You know the song when you actually go through the whole song in your head without having to play it. Listen to the song over and over and OVER until you know it cold. Try to find recorded versions of the song, professionally recorded if possible. This is fine, but if you are investing time and money, why not get the most you can out of it? Many students go for something they know, or something they think is easy. Pick a song that is challenging to you, as the whole point to NYSSMA is to improve your skills. I highly recommend finding a piano teacher to help you with this. Select your solo piece as soon as possible. Students are usually given their sign up sheets in the end of January or the beginning of February. Here in Massapequa, testing is usually in March/April, and I start discussing it with students in September. The Sooner You Can Start, The Better.Ħ months in advance is ideal, but most school teachers do it 3 months or so in advance. If you’re looking for more information on NYSSMA lessons click here. These are piano tips but can apply to all NYSSMA testing, as well as college auditions.
0 kommentar(er)
