Video Specifications

Thank you for your willingness to create a video for the Frances Clark Center.

A smartphone camera will be well-suited to capture video if professional video equipment is not available. Due to quality concerns, please do not record using Zoom. Before recording your video, please consider the following:

Angle: Please record in landscape orientation (horizontal). When demonstrating at the keyboard be certain the camera can capture the keyboard of the instrument as well as you. If this is a teaching video, capture a wide enough angle to include the face and hands of the student and teacher (even if standing).

Lighting: Be sure your studio space is well lit. Open window shades or turn on lights. Avoid backlighting/silhouette effect by not positioning yourself between a lightsource and the camera.

Audio: There should be no background noise. Do not position yourself too far from the camera or audio quality will suffer. Please consider the tuning of your piano if performing.

Stability: Mount camera to tripod, music stand, something stationary. If angle changes are needed during the video, please execute these as smoothly as possible, or edit in a splice.

Scores: If the video features music, the publication/edition of the score must not be visible. These videos are not meant to endorse any publisher or publication.

Please do a TEST first to check all of the above.

General considerations:

• Highly patterned clothing and background decorations can be distracting; please consider your wardrobe choice.
• Be aware of background decorations and furniture.
• Look directly at the camera; speak with inflection and energy. Be aware of pacing and flow.
• Please avoid reading from a script. Aim for more natural speech patterns to connect more directly with the viewer.
• Audio/Video settings (generally standard on current model smartphones and tablets)

Specifications: Teacher Education Webinar Series

• 720p resolution at 30 frames per second
• Web optimized
• Audio bitrate set at 128
• MP4 format
• Click here for more details

Specifications: Frances Clark Center Video Series

From the Artist Bench, Inside the Studio, Inspiring Artistry, Questions and Answers, Quick Teaching Tips

• No more than 1280×720 pixels (720p) video and 128kbps AAC or MP3 audio.
• Preferred video/audio settings: 1920×1080+ pixels (1080p) and 320kbps+ AAC or MP3 audio, or uncompressed .WAV.
• Preferred file formats: .MP4, .M4V, .MOV., MKV