By Miranda Raines
Video by Tiffany Smith
The vocalists and instrumentalists of Cameron University’s Music Department, after years of study and practice, perform in a recital to demonstrate what they have learned.
A recital is part of the graduation requirements for the Music Department, and the amount of work and discipline behind the performance is something to be recognized. From singing in foreign languages to memorizing pieces, vocalists and instrumentalists prepare themselves for years before a recital performance
22-year-old Melissa Delgado, a junior Vocal Performance major, completed her junior recital on Jan. 24, along with senior recital performer Anjelika Ramsdell. Delgado clarified what qualifies a recital performance at both a senior and a junior standing.
“A recital is a solo concert performed by either an instrumentalist or vocalist. Performing in a recital is part of the graduation requirements,” Delgado said. “The recital is a program of music, and for Cameron the junior recital has to be 30 minutes of music without any pauses or breaks, for a senior recital it is increased to 45 minutes.”
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/36560709[/vimeo]Having a Bachelor of Music in Performance requires both a junior and senior recital, and a Bachelor of Music Education requires only a senior recital.
Getting a recital just right is an intense process, according to Delgado. From selecting music, to learning different languages, it takes time and effort to get to the big night.
“For the recital, you pick out the entire repertoire, and the dictation must be written out in the foreign languages before you attend a recital hearing. This hearing is where you perform in front of the entire voice faculty,” she said. “If they believe you are prepared, you are then approved to schedule a recital performance.”
Vocalist students perform several sections in foreign languages. Delgado said that learning the languages is a difficult part of the process.
“When you are first learning the language, it is difficult. The dictation is the part that is hardest, harder than remembering the melody or tune of the piece even,” Delgado said.
Preparation for performance starts before and continues well after the students are approved for a recital.
Senior percussion major Kimberly Garza performed in her recital on the evening of Jan. 14.
23-year-old Garza explained that starting practice as early as possible is helpful with memorization, and the best advice for future performers.
“Start preparing the pieces for a recital as early as possible, even a year or so before,” she said. “I am an instrumentalist, so you do not have to have your pieces entirely memorizes, but if you prepare enough they should almost be memorized. And leading up to the performance remember to practice, practice, practice.”
Despite all of the time and practice that goes into preparing, performers still have keep the nerves from getting to them and let the recital be the time they show what it is they love, Garza said.
“It is only normal to be nervous, but if you love to perform the recital experience is the best,” she said. “I personally suffer from slight stage fright, but I reassure myself that I am as prepared as I possibly can be.”
Garza also gave advice for the student performers, emphasizing the need to remember what’s important on that big night.
“For those who have performed, or are going to, just remember: your recital is your time to shine,” she said.