Learning piano with video tutorials may take longer than anticipated; even experienced pianists must review pieces a number of times when learning new ones.
Traditional methods offer more personal mentorship at a reduced cost; technological solutions tend to be cheaper but may reduce this effect while simultaneously creating an unnatural digital learning experience for the student.
Camera
Experienced piano audiences understand that something special occurs between pianist and instrument when performing, creating an experience far greater than just notes on a page. Now researchers from the University of Washington have developed a way to recreate this magic using only visual cues like top-down videos of someone playing piano silently and unobtrusively.
This system creates audio from silent videos by analyzing finger movements and timing to determine which notes should be played at what times. When tested by the team, their new system accurately identified pieces being performed 86 percent of the time; an impressive feat considering previous efforts could only detect musical patterns 55% of the time.
One of the best ways to record high-quality piano videos is with an external mic that plugs into an iPhone’s headphone jack. A stereo mic with a long cable allows you to set it further away from the piano, eliminating piano sound bleed-in to your recording. Most digital pianos also offer headphone outputs that can be used – just be careful that when connecting these outputs to your recording device that they connect correctly: often labelled as output (OUT), while inputs on recording devices typically display L or MONO or R – usually take signal from left OUT for mono recordings; alternatively take signal from both to record in stereo recordings!
Checking room acoustics and making sure the piano doesn’t exceed its volume requirements can also help ensure an ideal playing experience. A piano that’s too loud may overwhelm the camera microphone and make it difficult for viewers to pick out individual notes from bass-heavy notes like basses.
Once you’ve saved a clean audio file to your computer, synchronizing it with video is simple using a reliable video editing program. Most programs will display both elements on one screen so you can easily drag them until they line up perfectly using obvious dynamic peaks as guides.
Light
When recording yourself playing piano, lighting is of utmost importance in order to prevent glare and shadows. Without enough light in the video, viewers won’t be able to fully enjoy your performance and appreciate what they see.
Use of soft lighting is also beneficial, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the video and helping viewers identify with the pianist.
Apart from using appropriate lighting, it’s essential that your camera remains steady to avoid jarring or shaking as viewers watch your playback. A tripod is often best, though many cell phones also come equipped with attachments designed to stabilize them. If possible, ask a friend or family member to hold onto it while you play!
Audio
An effective microphone is key to producing an impressive piano video. It helps remove background noise and keeps viewers focused solely on your performance, eliminating distractions like background music. When selecting the appropriate mic for you, take into account its sensitivity level and tonal characteristics so you select one with which your music resonates best. Condenser microphones offer high sensitivity levels to pick up every detail from your instrument while remaining versatile enough for use across recording environments.
Employing a top-grade microphone will enhance the professionalism and audio quality of your videos. Though high-end microphones may be costly, there are several budget microphones that still deliver professional-grade recordings for videos.
Most smartphone cameras contain microphones capable of producing adequate audio quality for piano videos. To make sure that you make the most of this microphone, it is best to play in an area free from background noise; be sure to sit tall with relaxed handshape; smile frequently to show that you enjoy what you are playing – this keeps viewers engaged.
To record high-quality audio of your piano, it’s essential that you use a line mono output rather than the headphone jack. A 1/8″ stereo output is unbalanced and may produce noise-heavy results; seek out “line out” ports on the back panel of your keyboard or online. These should usually be labeled accordingly with dual 1/4″ TRS sockets for easier recording.
To record a higher-quality audio track of a piano, an audio interface that converts MIDI data into an audio signal your device can record is necessary. You can connect directly to an iPhone’s USB port or use a TRRS Y splitter cable connecting two of its dual headphone/mic inputs and this will send MIDI data over to an app which will then capture it as audio files.
Stability
When recording piano videos, it’s essential that the camera remains steady. A shaky camera can make viewers uncomfortable or even give them headaches; to prevent shaking it is best to set up on a tripod; however if this is not feasible another person may hold onto it instead. Furthermore, being stable on your bench prevents slouching or leaning forward; an adjustable piano bench could also help achieve good posture in these instances.
One of the key aspects of piano playing is being able to utilize gravity instead of muscle force when performing loud passages, especially loud ones. If your arms become stiffened during such performances, your weak forearm muscles could rely on more heavily and ultimately lead to medical complications in due time.