In my piano studio, the spring months are spent preparing for our annual recital. I work with each student to learn and polish pieces to perform in a formal setting. We carefully lay the foundation for success by first getting the correct fingers on the correct notes, then adding rhythm, dynamics, and articulations as they are ready. At every stage in the learning process, we pay close attention to melody and musicality. Of course it is crucial that the students are prepared to play the right notes; but it is just as important to perform those notes in an expressive way. As we approach recital time, we make plans for…