Stuck for performance ideas

August 4, 2008 at 1:33 PM

What do you do when you have a performance and you just don't know what to play?
I play every month at a local nursing home. Some months I just don't know what to play. I am constantly looking for new music (I have a VSM account), but at times I just feel stuck for a program. Because of the limitations of the audience (age, endurance, attention-span, etc), the programs are never long, but even a 20 minute program can be hard to put together. Where do you go for inspiration?

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on August 5, 2008 at 3:36 PM

I don't perform as frequently as you do, but in a setting like this I am drawn to thinking seasonally and locally, like with food.

This is easiest around the winter holidays with all the holiday music, but there is music that makes you feel summery, or that has that little tinge of melancholy that suggests fall is on the way. What music does that for you?

From Paul; G.
Posted on August 5, 2008 at 4:12 PM

You should have a developed reportoire especially if performing that often. As a good opener, i play solo bach. I've seen it calm a 5 year old, and make an 80 year old woman cry. You can also play the paganini caprices.

And maybe every once in a while mix things up, like do a fiddle tune.

From Laurie Trlak
Posted on August 6, 2008 at 3:21 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I do try to keep it seasonal, and since the audience is elderly, church music is especially appreciated. I have a couple of books of Irish and Scottish fiddle tunes for use around St. Patrick's Day, and of course the church calendar is very useful in deciding what to play for a particular season. But I like your suggestion to play music that evokes the feelings of a season. Seems so obvious, now that you've said it. :/
As far as repertoire, I'm developing my repertoire little by little. When I have an accompanist, it's a little easier. The problem is when I play solo (and no, I haven't studied unaccompanied Bach yet). I'm not quite ready for that.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on August 6, 2008 at 11:15 AM

A few other thoughts:

With respect to unaccompanied Bach, the cello suites (transcribed) are a bit more manageable technically than the violin sonatas and partitas. (Since I play both violin and viola, I think have a good basis for direct comparison). I have learned some movements of the sonatas and partitas on the violin; but recently I've been playing the suites transcribed for viola. And I've heard they are also available for violin. In particular, the Bouree from suite #3 is beautiful and simple and I think you could do it even if you are not ready for the S&P.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder songbook. This has many patriotic songs and American songs from the pioneer era. I arranged "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" from it to play solo last summer.

A classical fake book. Get one and browse, there are some beautiful things in there that might catch your fancy. I just happened on a beautiful madrigal-like tune by Purcell, "I attempt from Love's Sickness to fly," when I was doing just that. Italian songs like "O Sole Mio," or "Come Back to Sorrento" (also in my fake book--that's actually why I originally bought it) might also appeal to your audience.

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Stuck for performance ideas

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