As students, many musicians are fixated on developing their technical and musical skills, spending many hours alone in the practice room. At this stage of development, we often forget that music is ultimately a conversation between a performer and their audience. Performing is a skill that needs to be practiced, both to help performers overcome performance anxiety, and to learn how to interact with an audience.
Solo performance opportunities tend to be very limited for students, especially younger students or those who are less advanced. How, then, can students learn these performance skills? Part of the answer is through studio classes, which may also be called performance classes or workshops.
How Does Studio Class Work?
Studio class may be available at the pre-college level, depending on the program or teacher. Most advanced teachers and comprehensive pre-college programs offer studio class, usually once or twice a month. Some teachers, especially Suzuki teachers, may incorporate a mini studio class into each group class to allow their students an opportunity to play their solo repertoire.
Teachers run these classes in different ways, but generally, students will get up and play a well-prepared piece of music in front of their peers and families. Some teachers will only have the most prepared students play, while others have all or most of their students perform each time. In some classes, you may always play a complete piece, but other teachers may allow you to play part of a piece or even excerpts. Some teachers do not give feedback during the class, while others give public comments or even ask for comments from the audience. In addition to other students and families from the studio, the audience may include students from other studios or even community members.
Studio classes are usually less formal than a regular performance, with students wearing regular clothes instead of dress clothes. Nonetheless, they provide a pressured situation that mimics a real performance, allowing you to get a little bit nervous and see how prepared you are. In most cases, they are also designed to be somewhat more forgiving and nurturing than a real performance, allowing you to make and learn from mistakes.
The Benefits of Studio Class
These classes have numerous benefits for pre-college students. First, they allow you to learn the process of performing, including walking out, bowing, and even introducing yourself and your piece in some cases. They also help students become less nervous about performing their solo repertoire, simply by practicing performing repeatedly. Studio class is also a great place to get introduced to the repertoire for your instrument. Students often will hear older and more advanced players performing works that are common in the repertoire. It really helps to have these in your ear before it is your turn to learn them. Older students can also serve as mentors and role models.
Classes may also let you try out a piece before you perform it in a more formal situation, making sure you have it memorized or that you can nail a tricky passage under pressure. Studio class is a great place to practice performing for an audition or competition.
In most cases studio classes also allow you to perform with a collaborative pianist on a regular basis, which helps to develop many new musical skills and understand your pieces better.
Studio class is also great practice for college! At the college level, most students will have a weekly studio class with their teacher and the other students in their studio. Having this experience prior to college helps students to feel comfortable performing in this situation.
When Studio Class is Unavailable
In an ideal world, all pre-college students would have access to a studio class. Unfortunately, some teachers and programs do not offer this option. If that is the case, here are some options to try to fill that gap:
- Ask your teacher if they would consider starting up a studio class, even if it is infrequent.
- Sometimes, you can play in another teacher’s studio class. Ask your teacher or program if this is a possibility.
- CMPI hosts studio classes that all senior fellows can perform on.
- Join a group class, as many of these classes allow students to perform for each other.
- Start your own performance class with friends from CMPI, your program, or your school. Schools and religious facilities like churches and temples are often happy to host your class, especially if you agree to perform for them sometimes!
- Play on as many recitals as you can, whether these are CMPI recitals, music program recitals, studio recitals, or school recitals.
- Volunteer in your community to give service performances at nursing homes, schools, churches, or hospitals. These audiences are thrilled to hear young performers!
- Attend a summer program that offers studio classes. Many of the programs that focus on solo or chamber music offer this option.
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