There is no right or wrong way to host virtual recitals. Whether you choose to host a live recital on Zoom, or pre-record your students’ performances and then upload them to YouTube or other social media channel, will depend on what works best for your students and your ease with technology. Here are some options for your recitals, and tips on how to make the most of them.
Live online performances using Zoom or other video conferencing platforms are one way to host recitals. One of the main advantages to this approach is that it provides real-time interaction that makes it feel close to an in-person recital. Ask your students to invite their family and friends to view the recital and enjoy the performances in real time. The opportunity to share live music with those who may not be able to get out much because of social distancing is another benefit to this approach.
When starting the recital, be sure to mute all attendees – except for the student who is performing at the allotted time. This will ensure that background noise and other potential disruptions don’t get in the way of the performance.
To increase the security and privacy of your live recitals when using Zoom, the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) recommends that you:
The RCM has published best practices for safe online activities and a guide for using Zoom to help you prepare.
This approach involves having the parents or family of a student record their performances and send them to you, which you would then compile into a single video file and upload onto a website, YouTube, or other social media channel. Video editing software such as ScreenFlow can be used to compile the individual videos and add images and sound. The link can then be shared with family and friends around the world who can watch at their convenience.
One of the benefits to this approach is that those who may not be familiar or comfortable with Zoom can easily watch a video online by simply pressing the play button. Also, when performances are pre-recorded, there is less chance for something to go wrong. A potential drawback is that editing the videos into a coherent whole requires some familiarity with technology and video editing software.
A similar approach is to create a Facebook group event and have students upload their performances to the events page. Those who are interested can then view each performance separately. This approach may not be as polished as creating a single recital video, but it may be less stressful for all involved. A public group event on Facebook will make it easy for anyone to tune in, but it may not meet your students’ need for privacy. On the other hand, a closed group event would only be viewable by those in the group.
Whatever method you choose, inform parents that their children’s performance will be compiled into a video recording and be sure to obtain parental consent.
Most students will probably not have participated in a virtual recital, so it’s important to explain to them how it’s going to work. Remind them to introduce themselves, announce their pieces, and dress for the occasion. Having students rehearse their performances well in advance will help them feel more confident and prepared.
Enlist the support of their parents to ensure they are ready for the recital. That means choosing the best stage for their performance in a well-lit room, on the best computer available in the home. For a live Zoom recital, the light source should be behind the camera that is recording (not behind the student). If the parents are pre-recording the performance, have them film in landscape mode (horizontal) from a front or partial side view. The RCM has published a handy list of tips on recording videos – tips that apply equally well to video conferencing.
Hosting a virtual recital is a new experience for all participants, so don’t worry about making it perfect. Above all, try to make this celebratory occasion enjoyable for students and offer mentoring and support leading up to recital day. Creating an online program and sharing it with invited guests will make the occasion more memorable.
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