Earlier this month, I hosted my 14th studio piano recital. There’s always so much that goes into planning and preparing for an event like this:

• Choosing repertoire

• Booking the venue

• Polishing memory

• Emailing parents

• Practicing “piano bows”

• Scheduling duet and ensemble rehearsals

• Finalizing and printing programs

• Planning a reception

We spend months learning the music and practicing performing. What happens if you play a wrong note or miss a key change? What happens if you forget the repeat or play the first ending twice?

We discuss arm movement and phrase shapes, articulation, and projection, and how it feels and sounds different in the big theater vs. the classroom where we have our lessons. We listen and observe.

Today, I’m sharing my own recap and reflection on this year’s recital—how it went, what I learned, what I observed, and how it’s shaping my teaching practice for the year ahead.