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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Home Recitals

A few years ago, I ran across an article detailing one pianist's experience of presenting a small tour of intimate recitals in the homes of various friends and family members throughout the country. The idea intrigued me, but I wasn't certain it would be something I would be interested in. It seemed like so much work without much return or benefit. The concept returned to my mind last week when I was able to watch a preview recital of pianist Richard Fountain via Facebook that he played in a home while visiting family out of town. The success of this experience has led me to once again consider the pros and cons of home recitals.

The home recital is more relaxed and intimate by its very nature. It is a perfect situation for the performer to try out new repertoire before appearing on the main stage. Additionally, it allows the audience the opportunity to interact with the artist in a casual setting and encounter music with which they may not be familiar. A reluctant concert goer will be more comfortable experiencing something unfamiliar in a friend's home than in a stuffy concert hall.

One of the things that most attracts me to home recitals is the opportunity to share my passion for music with an audience in a non-threatening, relaxed manner. There is no pressure to be "informed" about the music; the audience simply gets to enjoy the sounds while sipping a beverage in a comfortable chair. Questions about the music and the learning process are welcome, but the discussion will likely be less academic than that which might be commonly encountered in a traditional concert setting.

A few challenges immediately come to mind when considering a home concert. Obviously a quality instrument needs to be available to the performer. In most metropolitan areas, a piano can be rented for a nominal fee if one is not already available in the home. While I would prefer to play on a nice grand piano, it is possible to elicit beautiful sounds from consoles and uprights that have been properly maintained as well. If we are willing to play on instruments that might be "less than ideal," the experience might be less intimidating for the audience as well as the prospective host.

Another concern for many performers is audience size. The purpose of the home recital is not to reach the masses with our music. Rather, the focus of these concerts is found in the intimacy between the audience and performer while allowing the artist to test our repertoire in a small venue. An audience of twelve to twenty guests would result in a packed house (literally!) in many home recital venues. With the use of technology that is readily available to many today, it is possible to expand the concert's audience beyond the geographical boundaries of the host home with minimal equipment.

The artist is probably not going to earn much money from a home performance. I would honestly be surprised to receive much more than a meal and possibly lodging. So why play a home recital? In addition to the benefit of trying out new repertoire alluded to earlier, it is also a way to reconnect with friends and colleagues while making new acquaintances (that might lead to future gigs). Most importantly, it is another opportunity to share the music we love with an audience we may never encounter from the concert stage. As a professional artist, some of the expenses associated with the home recital may be tax deductible; you will just want to speak with your tax professional before embarking on your adventure.

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear about your experiences with home performances as well as your thoughts about their benefits and potential pitfalls.

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