Secrets to Crafting High-Quality Audition Videos

Can a simple smartphone and an affordable microphone transform your audition video into a professional masterpiece? Heck yeah! Today we dive into how you can take your audition videos to the next level and convey your professionalism!

This episode is available as a blog post. Click here to read!

Your Audition Guidebook? Click here.

Click here for more about working with an accompanist with Dr. Nathália Kato Giordano 

Here's the microphone I use!

Click here for the episode show notes

Transcript

Intro

Your host, Eleanor 0:00

And you saw a video from someone who dressed in concert dress , obviously very focused and very serious about this video . And then you see another person in , like jeans and a top . Which one are you gonna think is more professional ? Hello and welcome to the Confident Musicianing Podcast . I'm your host , eleanor , and after countless practice sessions , a ton of broken res and seven different music school acceptances in three different countries , I have learned a thing or two about savoring your practicing , becoming your best practice companion and actively working towards your musical goals , and I want to share this with you because I want you to become your best musical self . Are you with me on this ? Let's get started . Hey there and welcome .

Your host, Eleanor 0:55

Audition videos can be so useful . Unlike in-person auditions , you get to do multiple takes and send the videos off anywhere . I recently went through a phase of recording videos for different applications and you know the feeling of reusing those videos for multiple purposes . I mean the productivity . But in order for these videos to serve us , we got to put in the work and make them look good . Now , how do we do that for you ? That is what we're going to dive right into today . The first thing is

Creating the perfect space

Your host, Eleanor 1:28

the place . This might seem obvious , but it's really important . Audition videos in your bedroom versus in a theater can make such a difference . And let's say you can't afford a bigger space or you can't get a bigger space , that's totally fine . Audition videos give us the opportunity to get creative . Maybe your bedroom isn't good , but maybe you have another room in your house that's good , or even a white wall . You can also ask your school if you can use a space there . Maybe , like you know , ask one of your music teachers hey , can I use this space for an hour on this day and see what they say ? You can also ask your accompanist if they have any connections to places as well . For my audition videos I have been able to use professional spaces for free or for a reduced rate , because my accompanist had connections and were able to fit me in to these places , had connections and were able to fit me in to these places . I even remember one time I used my accompanist's living room because she had recording equipment there and her pianos were there and like her living room is like a space where she puts on recitals and does recordings anyway . So she was like there's no need to book a place because we can just do it in my house and that was really , really , really handy and helpful . So ask your accompanist , they might know places that you can record Now in order .

Your host, Eleanor 2:55

Now , in terms of the space , make sure to look at the audition guidelines and rules , because this can help you decide what will work best . If they say you have to have this type of space , then you know do that type of space . Or if they don't have any space requirements , then it is up to you to get creative . Just take a look at your space and be like is this professional ? Does this look professional ? You want to look as professional as possible and remember , when you're looking for spaces , anytime anyone says no , ask for recommendations of where to ask next . So this has happened to me so many times and I know that I'm not the only one . When you phone up a place and you're like hey , can I use you know this space on this time , blah , blah , blah , and they say no , Then your next step is to be like okay , that's totally fine . Do you know of any other places that are that have spaces or that I could get in contact with to get a space ? Because those people who have the spaces probably know other people who have spaces . So get in contact with anyone and everyone , ask all around . You got this . It can definitely be frustrating , but it is definitely worth it because then you have a good space . A good space is worth the time and effort .

Your host, Eleanor 4:17

The

Your recording equiptment

Your host, Eleanor 4:18

next thing is the equipment . This can be so important because the equipment takes can either have a good sound quality or a bad sound quality . This can be so important . So for me , I use my phone for the video and my podcasting equipment for the audio . It's very handy that I podcast , but how can we do this for you ? You do not have to break the bank for some good equipment . The microphone that I use for my podcasting and also for my audition videos is very handy and not a break the bank situation . I think it's like 20 bucks on Amazon . So if you're interested in that , I'm going to be linking that under . You know , in the show notes I'm going to be linking the microphone . So , just in case you want to go , look at that .

Your host, Eleanor 5:05

But yeah , you know there are ways to get recording equipment . That's not like so super duper , duper , expensive and a big investment . Let's say you can't get recording equipment or you can't afford recording equipment . That's totally fine too . You can ask your accompanist if they have recording equipment . I have used recording equipment from accompanists . Now , of course , you have to be polite when you ask right , you have to like there's obviously all of that stuff that goes along with it . But if you just you know ask if you can use it , that can be helpful as well . And they might not have recording equipment , but it is . It is helpful to ask . Or you can ask if your school has recording equipment that you can use as well . Or maybe if your friends have recording equipment , or even your teacher recording equipment , or even your teacher . You know like I use . I have used my teacher's recording equipment before . He has like a microphone that he gives me if I need to use it . Before I got this microphone , before I started a podcast , I was using his , and that was really helpful as well . So just ask around . If you aren't able to get recording equipment yourself and by that I just mean a microphone then you can ask around 100% . But focusing on a good quality audio can really help , and I think audio is probably more important than video . If we think about it , it's an audition tape , you know . But just ask around and see if you can find some recording equipment or if you can buy some as well . You know , as I have struggled and worked through audition seasons , I have tested out and collected strategies for all aspects of the auditioning process and this is to go in a special guide just for you . There is a link all about this in the show notes , so go check that out .

Your host, Eleanor 6:53

The third

Professionalism inside AND outside the video

Your host, Eleanor 6:54

thing is the professionalism in the video and outside the video . So , for instance , do you need to introduce yourself or the piece ? It changes depending on the audition . I mean , personally , for me I always introduce myself and then if you know it's not necessary or not needed or wanted , then I just cut that off . But it's handy to have it just in case it is wanted . But just to know those guidelines . Do you need to introduce yourself ? What do you need to do All of these things ? Make sure your dress is also concert attire . Be as professional as possible . If you were a judge , okay , and you saw a video from someone who dressed in concert dress , obviously very , very focused and very serious about this video , and then you see another person in like jeans and a top , which one are you going to think is more professional , definitely the one that's dressed in more professional clothing . So make sure your dress is concert attire . Be as professional as possible . You are showing that you really , really care about this .

Your host, Eleanor 7:58

And , in terms of being professional outside the video , make sure that you have a few takes , but be gracious of your accompanist and the time . For me with oboe , if I you know , after two or three takes my mouth is very tired . I can't do anymore . But if you have an instrument where you don't end up doing it like that , then you need to remember to be gracious of your accompanist's time as well , because if you have a time slot , you need to not take up too much of your accompanist's time . Take a few recordings and then be done okay .

Your host, Eleanor 8:31

This goes along the lines of what do we do when we are working with an accompanist or a collaborative pianist , and that , my friend , is something that we have gotten into because there is a podcast episode . This is episode 28 . It is called Working with a Collaborative Pianist slash Accompanist and Studying in the US and Brazil with Dr Natalia Cato Giordano . Dr Natalia Cato Giordano is a professor at Duquesne University and we dive right into all of the different like etiquette things and things that we should do when working with an accompanist or a collaborative pianist . So if that sounds like something that you could benefit from because , let's be honest , it was a goldmine of a conversation that link will be in the show notes , so make sure you go check that out .

Your host, Eleanor 9:17

All right ,

Recap

Your host, Eleanor 9:20

let's do a bit of a recap . The first thing the place . Make sure the place is professional and get creative with it . Okay , ask people if they know of different places that you could go to , whether that is a teacher at school or maybe your private teacher or friends . Whatever it is , try to find a good space for you . The second is the equipment . Make sure that your equipment can really get your sound and remember you don't need to break the bank at all . You can even ask other people if you could use their equipment , ask your accompanist , ask your school , all of these things . Try to see if you can use them .

Your host, Eleanor 9:57

And the third is the professionalism in the video and outside the video . Make sure you know the rules , make sure that you are wearing good concert attire , but also make sure you're gracious of your accompanist and that you are polite and kind inside the video and outside the video , and in that we can dive into episode 28 with Dr Natalia Cato Giordano , so make sure you go check that out . All right , that

Final thoughts

Your host, Eleanor 10:22

is about it for this episode . Thank you so much for listening . As always , all the things to do with this episode will be in the show notes , from the blog post that goes with this episode to the episode with Darcey Natalia Caccia Giordano , to the link for the audition guide . Do yourself a favor and check out these show notes because , let's be honest , there's some good stuff in there , and if you want to show your love and support for the confident musicianing podcast , make sure you give it a follow and I will see you in the next episode .