Videos and Zoom classes have become the norm in these crazed, pandemic days, and I think it's fair to say we're all suffering from more than a little burnout. But when you're posting something for public consumption (and unavoidably, evaluation), you still need to put your best self forward. Videos intended to look professional should have very little in common with the clips you whip up on Instagram in a matter of minutes. And so, as we near honor band auditions, end-of-semester juries, and winter entrance auditions to college and graduate school, a simple checklist may help:
How do I look? Fabulous, I'm sure, but let's make sure it looks like you tried, as well.
- Find a room that looks and sounds good. A school performance hall or rehearsal room could do the trick (clear out any stray chairs and stands from the shot). If you're stuck at home, prioritize scheduling a time in a neat, welcoming environment like a tidy living room or blank wall.
- Dress the part. If this performance was being given in the concert hall, how would you dress? Do the same here (pandemic bonus: shoes optional).
- Make sure lighting is bright and you are easy to see. Eliminate any shadows on your face. Record some sample playing and check it before proceeding.
- Are you fully in the shot? Plan on getting a shot from the waist up so that we can see posture, hand position, embouchure, breathing, and the entire instrument. That means backing away from your recording device. And face the camera head-on, as you would if you were on stage.
How do I sound? This can be trickier depending on the facilities you have access to, but you can at least make sure you've done your best with what you have.
- Do a sound check and listen back right away. Don't quit doing these until microphone levels and acoustics are the best you can make them.
- Eliminate all extraneous noise--close windows, remove barking dogs, etc.
- When you think you have the recording you like, listen right away, both with headphones and without. Avoid the temptation to settle for "good enough" if you hear things you can fix, like feedback, muted sound, or other clarity issues.
- Take the time to do some simple editing so that the video begins and ends with you at the stand. Reaching over and hitting "stop" in the video is fine for Instagram, but clean it up for prime time.
Remember, you are performing. Short of bowing, you should look mostly the same as you do on stage:
- Smile and look into the camera before and after your performance.
- Announce yourself, the name of your piece, and the composer before you play.
If you're lucky enough to be able to shop for equipment, check out my basic recording gear guide from a previous post.
If you're using your laptop mic, be sure to go into settings and turn off attenuation and set levels before you get started.
And finally, like any type of recording that you want to be proud to share, schedule enough time to do these things without rushing. Cutting corners in any of these areas will result in a flawed final product that doesn't represent your best. You've practiced diligently leading up to this recording session, so capture a video that proves it!
Now get out there and be fabulous!
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