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Could someone post a link or photos of a good example of how to bow after a performance? Thank you.

I don't have a photo or video, but it's quite simple, and should be done simply.

1) After you finish the last note of the piece, wait until the music completely dies away before you lift your hands from the keyboard - unless, of course, it's one of those "throw your hands in the air" endings.

2) Put your hands in your lap, take a deep breath.

3) Stand, turn towards the audience and walk to the treble end of the piano.

4) Put your left hand on the piano, your right hand at your side.

5) Bow slowly from the waist. (Don't bow from the neck; that's not a bow, it's bobbing your head, and it looks ridiculous.)

6) As you bow, look down at your shoes - do not stretch your neck to try to look at the audience while bowing.

7) Looking at your shoes, count to three.

8) Straighten to upright position, not too slowly, not too quickly.

9) Smile at the audience.

10) Turn and walk off the stage as if you have given the best performance of your life.

Regards,

Of course, string players, on the other hand, bow during performances, don't they?

Cheers!

Great post, Bruce.

I do the same, except at the last recital, I don't think I went to the treble end.

[edit] ^^

Thanks, Bruce. Just one question. Is there a reason why it should be the treble end of the piano?

The idea, I believe, is that you should step towards your audience, to acknowledge their applause, just as you would advance to shake hands with a friend.

Regards,

Also so the entire audience can see you. If you stay in the middle, the audience on the other side of the room cannot clearly see you bow, due to the piano.

BruceD posted a good list, to which I would add (speaking of myself):

Try not to look too surprised when the audience applauds.

Very interesting post! I never knew the bow was such a structured event! This got me thinking - is a piano always placed on the stage with the treble end nearest the audience? (In my mind, it seems to look funny the other way round) And why?

It has to do with the direction that a grand lid opens - it must open toward the audience. So the keyboard is always on the left side of the stage.

In two piano concerts, the grands are usually nestled into each other; the one on the right side of the stage (as seen from the house) has its bass side toward the audience.

The player of that piano should best not move toward its treble side to take a bow...

Thanks for the great instructions BruceD. Is it any different for the ladies? A curtsy seems archaic.

My understanding of the modern-day procedure of bowing is that it applies equally to women and to men.

Regards,

so my curtsey (in a dress) was a faux pas, huh?

I wouldn't say it was a faux pas, just perhaps a little "old style".

Regards,

Just my opinion, but I think a bow in a short dress or long sleek gown would be appropriate while a curtsy would look very nice in a long gown with a wide skirt.

These days I associate curtseys after musical performances with young girls, but not with adult women. I don't think I can recall seeing, in recent years, a curtsey made other than by a young girl.

Regards,

No, I can't either, if we're talking pianists rather than opera singers. I personally have never curtsied, but bow just as you describe . I have recently seen a female pianist who bowed whilst holding her bosom with one hand to (I suspect) keep her dress from gaping in an interesting way. I don't ever perform in clothes that need an extra hand to hold them on .

I'm also curious how deeply one should bow? I've been doing performances since I was a kid, but didn't know ifI was doing it properly.

My observation: the deeper the bow, the greater the risk of coming off as insincere or egotistical.

Also, put one foot in back of the other and it never hurts to show a little cleavage...