How to bow at recital

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Everything About Teaching and Learning the Piano : One Thread

When my students get ready for recital I teach them to bow which means either: 1) Finish playing the piano, stand up and move to the edge of the piano, put your left hand on the frame of the piano facing the audience, Right hand down at your side, then bow at the waist with your eyes looking at your toes so that the audience sees the top of your head, raise back up to an upright position, and walk back to your seat...

2) Finish playing the piano, stand up and move to the edge of the piano, facing the audience, hands down at your sides, then bow at the waist with your eyes looking at your toes so that the audience sees the top of your head, raise back up to an upright position, and walk back to your seat...

I do not teach my female students to curtsey, to hold their skirt and pull it up on one side, nor take a foot and put it behind yourself and do a little dip. I do not teach my male students to cross their arm across their waist when they bow. I do not teach any of my students to keep their eyes on the audience when they bow as it makes their neck look like it is broken. To me all of these ways are unprofessional.

What is correct?

-- Sandy (sandy@pianomail.net), December 01, 2004

Answers

I agree with you Sandy-- your #1 and #2 descriptions are what I prefer.

-- annie (no_name_poster@yahoo.com), December 02, 2004.

I tend to favour the bow with the left hand on the frame, because it also serves to steady a nervous performer without looking unprofessional.

-- Zoe (z_phillips@excite.com), December 07, 2004.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ