It’s that semester of the year that most seniors are terrified of: final projects, a thesis, a big exam to apply for graduate school, applications for jobs and internships, or all of them at the same time. Many college students spend lots of time and effort reaching this final step in receiving their degree and beginning to pursue their careers. Today I want to talk to you about the final task a senior music major must do to graduate (besides finals): a recital.
The music department requires all music students to do a recital project for their final year. This recital usually lasts 1.5 hours, and although they can invite other musicians to accompany them (usually a pianist), the main performer must be the student. Now, to prepare a recital of more than an hour, students must prepare a lot of repertoire that must be performed mostly by memory! Also, one month before their recital date, they have to perform extracts from their program in front of various professors from the department at a “hearing” audition, to get the approval to perform. Finally, Music Performance majors have to do this recital project twice: one in their junior year and another in their senior year, although for their junior recital, it is not as exigent as their senior recital.
With this in mind, the Student Movement asks: what do seniors have to do to prepare for such an important performance project? Well, I chatted with some of the seniors that are now preparing for their recitals, to understand their actions, routines, practice strategies, and other things to consider when preparing for that event.
To start, I have noticed that most music majors, especially upperclassmen, tend to start their day early in the morning, with most rising between 6:30 - 7:30 am. For Simon Luke Brown (senior, music performance violin), his first stop would be the practice room, around 5:30-6:00 am, where he practices until the Cafeteria opens for breakfast. For other students, like Tyler Ninalga (senior, music performance piano), it depends on the day, the most important tasks, and the classes. In any way, the trend seems to be the same: to wake up earlier to start their days as soon as possible in order to have plenty of practice time.
Another thing they consider is how to balance the different aspects of their life, as well as deciding how to spend their semester. Grant Steinweg (senior, music composition) stopped taking his cello lessons to focus more on his composition recital and honors thesis. Another student who works mindfully on balance, especially in terms of mental and physical health, is Zoe Shiu (senior, music performance violin & psychology), who also shares her tips and experiences on Instagram: @zoehyshiu (feel free to check her account!). Also, some students will need more hours to focus on their repertoire than others, which is a very important factor to consider in organizing their schedule and daily routine. Most students practice between 12 to 25 hours per week, meaning they practice at least 2 hours per day (not including Saturdays).
In short, music students need not only mental strength but also physical resistance, as well as a strategy, to achieve their goal of creating an enjoyable presentation. Just so you know, the senior recitals are open to the public, and no tickets are required. Some of them even have a reception at the end, if you want some free snacks and beverages. Keep your eyes peeled on the different boards around the campus to catch more information and see which recitals call your attention. You are more than welcome to come and support these students who have worked years to get where they are now. And for those who are performing their recital soon, from the Student Movement, we wish you the best of luck with your performances! (P.S.: Remember to sing, always! - Simon L.B.)
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.