Tips for Videos in Virtual Piano Recital

This is going to be a new experience for everyone, regardless of how long you’ve been taking piano lessons!

Below are some tips for recording video for the virtual piano recital:

Expect multiple takes

The recording process may take some time, so please block off multiple 1/2 hour or even hour long blocks to get it right!

Please record at standard HD or higher

Standard HD is 1280 x 720 at 30fps. You can go higher, if you want, just anticipate longer upload times. Keep in mind we don’t want poor quality, grainy video!

Separate videos please!

Videos generate large file sizes, so please record a separate video for each recital piece.

Clear the room/quiet

Make sure that other family members know that there is a recording session going on and they will need to be mindful of not talking and not walking in front or to the side of the camera as you are recording.

Lighting

Just like taking a good photo, make sure your light sources are not behind your son/daughter. Close the curtains if you have windows and make sure the light is source is indirect (as much as possible to avoid glare).

Picture Orientation

Please use landscape and not portrait orientation. Your son/daughter’s video is going to be limited in viewing area on the recital video if you use portrait.

Framing / composition

A good angle to use is where we can see your son/daughter’s profile and some portion of their hands. Multiple camera angles would be helpful in making the video more interesting. For instance, you can record one piece from the right side and then the next piece from the left. Ideally, it would great to have each video recorded on multiple devices with different angles. Note: you can also take a video with headshot only from several angles, and I can edit this in as another angle while the main audio plays.

What to wear?

Concert attire please! Boys: button down shirt (suit and tie optional, no t-shirts), dress pants (no shorts or jeans) and dress shoes (may or may not matter depending on your camera angle). Girls: dresses, button down blouse (no t-shirts), dress slacks, and dress shoes (may or may not matter depending on your camera angle). Also: keep in mind if you do multiple videos, try and keep the same attire, but if you want your son/daughter to show off several nice outfits, go for it! Recitals are special occasions!

Audio

Most current smartphones and tablets have excellent microphones to capture your video. If you are using a laptop, you must use an external microphone as most internal microphones are low quality.

Submitting videos

When the videos are ready, do NOT email the video. You won’t be able to anyway because the file size will be too much. Please share the video:

iOS (apple): either try and share the video on Messages, or if that doesn’t work, create a shared folder and include my email address on it.

Android: share the video via the Photos/Videos app on the phone so an email link will be sent to me.

Questions?

Please leave a comment down below.

Online Lessons Notes

Hi Everyone,

We just finished one full week of online lessons and here are some notes to maximize our online lesson time:

1. Make sure space is clear and minimal distractions

2. position the phone, tablet or computer at a vantage point where we can see the keyboard/hands.

   • It is ok if part of the student is not showing

   • On some pianos, there is an edge you can rest the phone on

   • A TV tray positioned at the edge of the piano can also work

   • use a book or small, heavy object to help prop the device

3. Please take photos of the student’s music beforehand and text the photos to me via messaging

4. Please have a pencil (not a pen or marker) ready for your child to mark up music

5. Make sure your streaming device is charged 100%

6. Make sure device is “Do Not Disturb” mode

Other notes:

1. If possible, use the most up-to-date technology available in your household. Older software and hardware can result in degraded quality especially sound and streaming quality

2. Keep other internet connections clear: - stop other streaming services especially TV/movie (Netflix, Hulu, etc.)

Please comment if you have any questions or other tips to add!

Debussy - La Plus Que Lente

I fell in love with this when I first heard Andre Watts play this on a televised piano recital. The piece is Debussy's (somewhat comical) answer to a type of music during his time.  A loose translation of the title is "The Very Slow Waltz" but this is actually not played too slowly, possibly poking fun at other compositions in the same genre.

Bach - Aria from the Goldberg Variations

There are so many reasons why I love this piece. I love that Bach in general is so transparent and he doesn't hide behind tricks or common phrases to provide "meat" to his work. This piece is so well balanced and from the performance end of it, if you're not careful and paying attention to the phrasing, the whole foundation can crumble.

I recorded this as a quick study and something that I could possibly play at church. Thanks for listening!

How 'bout some Satie

I subscribe to a UK magazine, "Pianist", which includes selections of piano sheet music. One of the issues had Gnoissienne #4 by Erik Satie. Erik Satie's most popular piece of music is the Gymnopedie No. 1 (which I recorded and is below), so I was curious about the Gnoissienne. The piece contains a lot of interesting sounds and harmonies, e.g. ending on an F# Major chord to e minor. I probably take it slower than I should, but I hope you enjoy it.

Ava's Music Box

Inspired by one of my students who is very sensitive to the sounds of the piano and very creative... 

White Clouds for Clarinet and Piano

Short piece for clarinet and piano with direct quote from Nucole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi. Written for one of my piano students who also plays clarinet.  

Miniature for Clarinet and Piano

Here's a short composition for clarinet and piano. I was experimenting with some melodic phrases and a 5/4 pattern in the middle that's influenced by the Shostakovich piano trio #2, 4th movement. The rest of it can definitely not be compared to the trio's themes, but just some phrases I liked.

Il Bacio - Giovanni Allevi

This is a piece that I just recently encountered from a list of pieces by Giovanni Allevi, an Italian composer. This recording performance is dedicated to my wife, my soulmate and the love of my life. The composer, Giovanni Allevi, said that it's inspired by Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss", which I have always admired (pictured below).

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! I'm very excited to share my music, some ideas , thoughts and general musings regarding piano teaching, music education, and anything else that comes to mind. Hopefully we'll have some fun here! Please feel free to drop me a comment.