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How to Write a Recital Program

There is no single right way to compose a recital program, and how a program looks will largely depend on the aesthetic preferences of the hosting group or institution. There are, however, certain pieces of information that are always important to give to your audience. While not set in stone, there are generally accepted rules for formatting this information. Remember that the program is not an appropriate place for scholarly writing and musical history. The goal is to simply list for the audience the pieces of music they'll be hearing and establish the artists who will be performing them.

Instructions

    • 1

      Write some information in the program to cover who is presenting the recital, whether the recital is part of a series, the time and date of the event, and some information about who will be performing. Put each piece of information on a new line. An example:

      Ivy League College Music Department

      Presents

      Music at Night Recital Series

      Instrumental and Vocal Selections

      By Senior Music Students

      (or, if individuals...)

      John Q. Public, piano

      June 15th, 2011

      8:00 PM in the College Recital Hall

    • 2

      List, in sequence the musical selections to be heard. Include necessary details such as title, composer, index number, and key. If the recital is a solo (for instance, a showcase of pianist John Q. Public), you don't need to specify who the performer is for every piece. If, however, the recital showcases many individuals (music students), you should. Example:

      Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2. "Moonlight Sonata"

      Composer: Ludwig Van Beethoven

      Performed by: Jane Somebody, piano

    • 3

      Include non-artistic information otherwise important for the audience to know. Remind them to silence their phones, not to take flash photography, or to refrain from speaking or leaving their seats until applause breaks and transitions make it possible to do so without being a distraction.

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