There are many people who love taking piano, but dread performing in a recital. If you are one of them – or your child is – read on!

Most piano teachers these days require their students to perform in at least one recital per year, and some hold recitals 3 or 4 times in a year. Usually, this is a somewhat formal affair, with family and friends invited. And, while this should be the highlight of a piano student’s year of study and practice, all too often it is instead a time of fear, anxiety, sweaty palms and weak knees.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! You or your child can have an enjoyable recital, with calmness, confidence, and a sense of achievement. Here’s how.

(1) Stay Ready.

Preparation for your next recital begins the day after your last one. It’s not something you do the day before, the week before, or even the month before the Big Day.

Throughout the year, pay attention to your teacher and practice regularly. If you do these two things, you’ll be well on your way to having a great piano recital, even without doing some of the other things we’ll discuss here.

(2) Perform Often.

If performing in front of others is something you dread, probably the last thing you want to do is do more of it! But believe it or not, the best cure for stage fright is to perform more often. The more you perform, the more the act of performing will lose its power to intimidate you. You’ll see that it’s a challenge you’re capable of overcoming, and you’ll gain confidence.

At first, you’ll probably want your performances to be small and informal. Play for Grandma, or the next-door neighbor. Having a small, trusted, supportive audience will help you overcome your fear.

Then perhaps you could organize a series of small, informal recitals among your fellow students – playing just for each other. If your teacher conducts group lessons as part of her lesson plans, these can serve this purpose.

(3) Avoid Procrastinating.

Select your recital piece about two months ahead of the recital. Start practicing it right away – don’t assume you can make up all your practice time at the last minute. That’s unrealistic.

About one month before the recital, you should have some familiarity with both parts (right hand and left hand), and begin to put them together.

By the week before, your piece should be pretty much ready to perform. That way, you can spend that last week putting the finishing touches on and gaining confidence.

The night before the recital, make sure you get to bed early and get a good night’s sleep.

(4) Have a Back-Up Plan.

Even if you have your music memorized, always bring the sheet music along. That way, if you happen to have a "brain freeze" (it happens to the best) and suddenly can’t remember your piece, you’ll have the music handy to fall back on.

If you know your anxiety makes your hands sweat, bring along some talcum power and dust your hands right before it’s your turn to play. Sweaty hands make mistakes more frequently, since your fingers either stick to the keys or slide off them – or both, though not at the same time.

If you know your hands tend to get cold when you’re anxious, try to keep them warm and limber before your turn comes. Cold, stiff fingers do not perform as well as warm (but not sweaty) ones do, so try to keep your hands warm and ready.

(5) Realize that Mistakes are Inevitable.

No one is perfect. Mistakes will happen; accept that fact of life. Instead of working yourself into a panic wondering IF you’ll make a mistake, plan what you’ll do WHEN a mistake occurs.

(6) Have Confidence.

Even when you do make a mistake, have the confidence to realize that the rest of your performance was probably fine. You don’t have to slink off the stage, hanging your head in shame. Bow or curtsey, and walk off stage confidently, regardless of any mistakes.

Performing for others is a skill that you can develop, just like reading music. But like any other skill, the skill of performing takes practice. With your teacher’s help, and using some of these tips, you can learn to have a great piano recital.