Guide to video recording
If possible, it is advisable to rehearse the process of recording Music Medals before you begin. Having confidence with your equipment will help prevent it from becoming a distraction and hindering the assessment.
Refer to our Video recording FAQs for further information.
Recording a Medal
Please remember that only one candidate may be assessed per Medal. If you are entering four candidates, for example, you will need to video-record four Ensemble–Solo–Option sequences.
In the assessment the three components must run consecutively in the order stated above and the video camera may not be stopped between sections.
Verbal introductions from the Teacher-Assessor and candidate should be recorded prior to each individual Medal and Medal component.
Accepted formats
A video camera and, if possible, tripod are required to record Music Medal assessments. Digital is the preferred recording format, but analogue is also permitted. Below are the accepted formats:
| Digital | Analogue |
|---|---|
| Mini DV | Hi8 |
| Digital 8 | 8mm |
| DVD | VHS |
| VHS-C |
Recording guidelines
Ideally, a wide-angle lens should be used, allowing you to fit the whole scene into shot even if you are in a small room. In most cases, you will need to supply your own camera tapes for your first batch of candidates. We will resupply the same number of blank tapes in the same format once the Medals process has been completed. See regulation 13.
Before you video-record your very first Music Medal, it is worth doing a ‘dry run’ with all the equipment set up. It is useful to experiment with different angles and backgrounds – some will work better than others. A little time spent getting used to the camera controls is also wise.
Check back through the footage to make sure that it has all come out well. In addition, to give yourself an idea of sound levels, you could record yourself playing or talking through the instructions.
When video-recording the Medal, ensure that a side-on angle is used to film the candidate. This is to prevent his or her face, hands and instrument being obscured by the music stand. A side-on angle also means that the camera is not directly in the candidate’s line of sight and is therefore less of a distraction.
When filming the Ensemble performance, it is essential that the candidate being assessed stands nearest to the camera and appears to the left of the screen. Try to fit the whole group on screen if possible.
Recording tips and recommendations
- Use a tripod or ensure that the camera is placed on a firm base. Hand-held filming is distracting, both for the candidate and the moderator, and there is no need for anything other than the most basic camera operation. No zooming or panning is required!
- Avoid filming your pupils standing in front of a window or bright light source. You will otherwise end up with a silhouette against a bright background. The light source should be overhead or behind the camera, thereby illuminating the subject.
- Avoid having the camera too far away. Modern camcorder microphones are quite sensitive, but they do need to be as close to the action as possible – our moderators must be able to clearly hear the playing and speaking.
- Plug the camera into the mains, if possible. Part of your preparation should be to ensure that all your batteries are charged up in case there is no power supply available.
- Check your shot before starting to record. Have a look in the viewfinder or on the fold-out screen to confirm that you have the whole scene in shot. It is easy to misframe a candidate’s head, for example, if a tall pupil follows a shorter one.
- Before each assessment, check that you have enough tape left. This sounds obvious but is easily overlooked. The duration of tapes is usually stated on the packaging or on the tape itself.
Taking a Music Medal should be a special event for your pupils. The presence of the video camera as well as the fact that candidates themselves announce their Ensemble and Solo items (see verbal introductions) will help to increase the sense of occasion. Giving thought in advance to the details of how you arrange the video-recordings will help to ensure that this memorable event runs smoothly.