Puget Sounds Piano School offers comprehensive piano lessons in historic downtown Issaquah.
We are dedicated to coaching pianists of all ages and levels to enjoy playing as much as we do.
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Puget Sounds Piano School hosts two recitals annually: one in the winter, and one in the spring. These recitals are opportunities for students to showcase their hard work in front of their friends and family. Though not required, participation is highly encouraged. Please review the following guidelines to provide the best possible experience for our students:
Recital Structure:
Recitals are held in the Recital Room at Puget Sounds Piano School. This room can host up to about 15 students + families per show. Please do not exceed this amount if possible.
Students are usually ordered by their playing level. However, teachers have the freedom to order the program themselves on the Recital Google Doc shared by Hyun Su or Shannon. Please make sure to inform Hyun Su if you prefer to order the program yourself.
For simplicity, Puget Sounds Piano School provides goodie bags with a few small treats to give out to each performer and other children present. This is in liu of a recital.
Expectations of Students:
Recitals at Puget Sounds Piano School are meant to be fun, inspiring, and encouraging for students! Everyone is welcome to perform.
Students are not required to complete a certain number of lessons to perform. Even a young beginning student with only a month of lessons is encouraged to play – we find the earlier they start, the more confident they become down the road! If they are prepared to the best of their ability, they are welcome to play.
Students can perform up to two pieces for a maximum of 10 minutes. Please try to structure your recital to not exceed an hour of playing time if possible. Repertoire can be standard repertoire, arrangements that you and/or the student have created, improvisations or original compositions. Do please make sure that titles and lyrics (if any) are family friendly for these events!
Expectations of Teachers:
Teachers are responsible for preparing their students for studio recitals, including:
Choosing and providing music for each student
Ensuring each student has enough time to learn their music and feel confident prior to their performance
Guiding them through different learning opportunities each piece provides for the student
Uploading students’ programs on the Recital Google Doc shared by Shannon and Hyun Su at the beginning of each recital season.
Recital day of expectations:
Teachers, please plan to attend your studio’s recitals. Arrive early and stay until the end. Often, parents and students will want to say thank you or take a picture with you to commemorate the moment. We ask you to be an engaged and encouraging presence.
Sometimes, teachers like to run their recital themselves, i.e. introduce the start of the recital, call students up to perform, etc. Other times, teachers prefer to have Shannon run the show. Please let Shannon know of your preference in advance.
Students love hearing their teachers play! Traditionally, each teacher performs a short piece at the end of their recital. For recitals with combined studios, duets are perfectly acceptable!
If Shannon is not attending your recital, please pass out goodie bags at the end of the show, or enlist a parent to do so.
Spring Recitals- Traditionally, spring recitals often host collaborative performances such as duets and trios. In the past, teachers have brought in piano students’ siblings, parents, or friends who play different instruments to perform with them. These are highly encouraged.
Winter Recitals- Though not an exclusively holiday themed recital, many students love to play holiday music in the winter recitals.
Thank you for all your hard work as we strive to inspire our young musicians! Recitals mean so much to students and families, and your support at these events is so important to all.
Music lasts a lifetime!
