Bach Festival Preparation Tips

One to Two Weeks Prior to the Event

Be your own judge — Perform the piece for yourself with a "critical ear". You may even want to record your performance so you can hear it over again. Listen carefully for any weak areas that need more practice. Practice any remaining trouble spots with the music, until your muscles are trained to go automatically into the correct positions.

Be your own concert audience — Perform the piece for yourself as expressively as possible. Listen and enjoy the music you are creating. What picture does the sound bring to mind? What mood does it create? FEEL the music.

Make sure your memorization is completely solid. To test this, perform your piece from memory while family members try to distract you (walk around, whisper, laugh suddenly, have a fake coughing attack, open and shut the window, etc.). Did you keep going with no slips? If you did have a memory lapse, could you recover quickly and go on? If not, put in more careful practice. Also, decide on some places in your piece (like the beginnings of sections or lines) that you can either return or move on to in case your memory gets stuck and you need to get it started again.

Stage a "mock festival" for family and/or friends. Practice walking into the room, getting settled, then performing your piece. Try this in as many different rooms as possible. If you are a pianist, try it on as many different pianos as possible. The idea is to become comfortable performing in any setting, even when you may be a little nervous.

Decide what you will wear for the Festival. Plan to dress up in something nice, as another way to show that the Festival is important to you. However, make sure your selected outfit doesn't restrict your movement, so you can perform comfortably.

The Day Before

Plan to have an ordinary day. Avoid parties, unusual excitement, or unfamiliar food, which might affect how you feel the next day.

Do NOT play/sing your Festival song! At this point, it can do more harm than good.

Play or sing some other pieces, but do not over-practice.

If you are a pianist, carefully clip your fingernails if necessary.

Get enough rest tonight.

The Morning of the Festival

Eat sensibly (avoid excess sugar or caffeine).

Play or sing through your Festival song at a slower than usual tempo WITH the music. Avoid last minute "cramming". At this point, you are just gently reminding your muscles what they will have to do.

Before you get in the car, make sure you take everything that you will need, especially the directions, your music and any paperwork required for the judge.

At the Festival While you're waiting, you might be interested in listening to the students playing before you, but do not let yourself get worried by comparing how they sound to your own performance. Everyone sounds extra good from outside the audition room (you will too!).

When it's your turn to enter the audition room, smile and be friendly to the judge. They have a long day of work, and your friendliness will make it nicer for them.

Take your time. When you are excited, it may seem like the minutes are speeding by faster than usual. Do not let yourself feel rushed. Get settled into your position before you start. Pianists, take time to "make friends" with the piano. Move the bench to a comfortable position. If you like, you may ask to play a few notes or chords to test the piano's action. If your piece requires use of the pedal, check it to see how sensitive it is.

Before starting your song, take a moment to close your eyes and think about how you want it to sound. Remember the picture in your mind or the mood you created when playing the music with feeling. Open your eyes, and make sure your hands are in the right starting position before you begin. Then make music!

Afterwards

No matter what is the outcome, this Festival has been a real growing experience. Take time to feel good about that and celebrate! Reward yourself for the time, effort and courage you put into this. Thank your teacher and your parents for helping support you, too. Congratulations!