Recital Eligibility
Most students enrolled in the Certificate in Music Performance or the Minor in Music Performance (MPP Minor) programs are required to give a culminating recital performance in order to complete that degree program. Click here for details on recital requirements for the MPP Minor.
Other students, both in and beyond the music department, may give a non-required recital. Dates for non-required recitals may be limited, and so the department may not be able to provide a venue for each and every requested recital.
Certificate in Performance/MPP Minor Required Recitals: Production staff will be in touch early in the Fall semester to provide available Spring semester dates and times, and facilitate booking.
Non-Required Student Recitals: After October 1, any remaining dates in Fall and Spring will then be made available. Please check back here for a booking request form after that date.
When you book your recital date, you’ll be asked to indicate any production support requests you may have. These might include the use of large instruments that will need to be delivered to the recital location, soundcheck time, click-tracks, audio playback, amplification, audio processing, and more. If these needs arise after your date is confirmed, please make sure to contact production management as soon as possible; last-minute requests may not be able to be accommodated.
Dress Rehearsal: If you would like additional time during which to familiarize yourself with the concert venue, piano, and acoustics, please make note of this in your original request, or email at least four weeks prior to your requested rehearsal time. Additional rehearsal time will only be made available after October 1 each year, and based on venue and staff availability. Therefore, it may not be possible to accommodate every request for a dress rehearsal.
Day of Recital: The house opens to audience members 30 minutes prior to the recital start time. Students can warm-up/sound-check for up to 30-minites for classical recitals or 1-hour for jazz recitals prior to the house-opening-time.
Seniors are encouraged to advertise their Program in Performance Recital by creating and distributing a printed poster, and have access to professional printing services (50 copies) for this purpose. Senior recital posters will also be displayed on the Department’s screens at the Woolworth Center and Lewis Arts Complex.
All other students are participating in a Department-sponsored event are welcome to create a recital poster, but are responsible for the poster’s design and printing.
Poster Design Guidelines:
Unless you feel comfortable with design software, please use Canva, a free online design platform, to design your recital poster. After making a free account on the site, click on the “custom dimensions” box on the upper right corner of the homepage. Set those dimensions to 17×11 inches (horizontal poster) or 11×17 inches (vertical poster). Choose one; this will be your printed poster size.
All posters advertising Department-sponsored events must include the following:
- The Music Department logo, with the text “music.princeton.edu” under the logo.
- Proper name of venue, including both auditorium and hall (e.g. Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall)
- Full date (day of week, month, date, year)
- Full name, class year, and instrument(s) of all performers
- Basic program information (at least a list of composers)
- The poster must specify that the event is “Free, Unticketed”
Posters that do not follow the above guidelines may be removed.
When you have designed your poster, save/download it as a “PDF Print” and check the box “crops & bleeds.” (This will be the file sent to the printer).
If you want your poster to be displayed across screens/kiosks on campus, you’ll need to resize your poster to 16×9 inches (horizontal) and 9×16 inches (vertical). Once resized, save each of these files as a JPEG file. To have your poster displayed on all campus screens, you’ll want to submit both poster sizes.
The poster draft must be submitted for Department approval and printing no later than four weeks before the concert using the form below. Posters not sent within this time frame will not be printed by the Department.
Please use this form to submit your poster design:
Printed programs are distributed at all Department-sponsored events.
Students presenting required recitals for the Certificate in Performance/Minor in Music Performance programs:
- Are required to submit their intended recital program in performance order, with approximate timings no later than six (6) weeks prior to their recital date.
- Repertoire for required recitals must be approved both by your Studio Faculty Member and your relevant Program Director. More information about this approval process will be available in Spring semester.
- These students are encouraged to write program notes for each piece on their recital, and to provide song texts and translations.
Seniors are responsible for drafting and editing their own programs to be professionally printed.
The Department covers the cost of a program booklet.
Visit this document for a detailed how-to on creating your program in Canva. This also includes a Senior PIP Program template.
The final program must be submitted for Department approval and printing no later than six weeks before the concert using the form below. Programs not sent within this time frame will not be printed by the Department.
Program PDF Submission
Your program text, included a list of works to be performed, bios for all recital participants, and program notes, must be submitted no later than four weeks prior to your recital using the form below. Please use the following as a reference:
For classical recitals:
| COMPOSER (composer’s dates) | ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856) |
| Name of Piece, Op./cat.# (if applicable) | Märchenbilder, Op. 113 |
| Listing of Movements | Nicht schnell Lebhaft Rasch Langsam |
| Other performer(s), Instrument | Albert Einstein, Piano |
| Estimated duration (by movement) | Durations: 3 – 4 – 3 – 5 min |
For jazz recitals:
| Title of Piece | Duke Ellington!s Sound of Love |
| Composer | Charles Mingus |
| Arranger (if applicable) | Arr: Jack Walrath |
| Estimated duration | Duration: 12 minutes |
All required Recitals and relevant Music Major Senior Thesis performances taking place in Music Department venues are audio recorded by the Music Department’s Audio Specialist. If you are interested in recording at an alternate venue and/or live streaming your performance, please bring this to production management’s attention during the recital booking process.
Students who would like to record a non-required are welcome to make their own arrangements. A list of recommended recordists is available upon request, and a video camera is available for students to borrow. (Visit the Student Resources page for available equipment).
All Music Department recordings will be archived in the Mendel Library at the Woolworth Music Center. A digital copy of the recording will be provided to the recitalist by the Audio Specialist.
Please note that any such recordings are for personal use only. University restrictions and U.S. copyright law do not allow distribution or sales of these recordings.
