Home For the Holidays Virtual Recital Round Two
Back in March, who would have thought that yet another recital would be forced online in December?
This spring, we were taken by surprise and studied up on how to make a virtual recital a reality. After some monumental pivoting, we made it happen. (To learn the steps and tips I shared about my first virtual recital, follow this link.)
Now, nothing surprises us. It’s mandatory for us to find a workaround as THE MOST despicable, devious microscopic organism wreaks havoc on our planet.
There, can you tell how I really feel about Covid and it’s suffocating hold on our lives?
Out of the blue, my student Parker arrived at his lesson and had created his own arrangement of “Hit the Road Jack.” The tune was what attracted him. To me, the title seems like a fitting theme for how we all feel about Covid.
Parker stumbled across this tune and created his own arrangement.
Okay, I’ll stop grumbling and instead share what I did for my latest studio virtual event.
Like my spring recital, my Christmas recital was a playlist of pre-recorded videos uploaded to YouTube.
Although I’ve come to see the value of hosting recitals on Zoom, I found that I prefer to offer a YouTube playlist instead. It could be that it makes me feel like I’m more in control of things as do my students. So I guess that qualifies all of us as control freaks?
Instead of calling it a recital, I called it Christmas Living Room Sessions. Soon after I came up with this title, a better one came to me thanks to another piece Parker chose to perform: “Home for the Holidays!”
This is Edwin McLean’s arrangement from In Recital with Popular Christmas Music Book 6
Six-week practice sprint
Pianists prepared to record at least one piece within a Six Week Sprint. Learn more about that here.
The six-week checklist system worked like a charm and with some diligent preparation and several takes, every student managed a pretty-close-to-expected performance video.
Video recording
Most of the videos were taken in my living room as I managed to maintain in-person lessons with most students.
Some students remained online and recorded their videos at home. What I’ve learned over these last two YouTube recitals is that I prefer receiving the raw files from student families or have them upload the video themselves to my YouTube channel as I show here.
One family uploaded their videos to their own YouTube channel. Then I added their videos to my playlist. This made it more difficult for me to add descriptions to the videos, etc. So the big takeaway: ask for raw files preferably delivered to you by: Tonara, texting or a Google Drive link.
For those in person, each video was recorded on my iPhone.
How to upload videos
Next, I uploaded the video to my YouTube channel made specifically for this event called Christmas Living Room Sessions. Learn more how to create more channels at your Youtube channel account here.
To upload the video, I opened the YouTube app on my phone and tapped on the PLUS sign at the bottom of the screen. There’s a menu option UPLOAD VIDEO and when tapped, it brings me to all the video files on my phone. Then I select one and add the title and tap on UPLOAD.
Thumbnails
After I uploaded each video, I visited channel and the YouTube Creator on my laptop to add more to the description of each video.
To help identify each video in the playlist, I uploaded a thumbnail. The thumbnail picture was taken of each pianist standing by my living room Christmas tree holding a sign they made with my felt board and plastic letters. Although students performed on Bella (my beloved Yamaha C6 grand) without a mask, many took the picture with a mask on as it seemed appropriate for 2020.
For privacy and copyright issues, I marked each video as unlisted.
QR Code
As I uploaded videos daily after lessons, they were added to a “draft” playlist on my channel. I did not want anyone seeing the videos until the release on December 13. I choose to make this playlist because I shared the actual Christmas Living Room Sessions playlist link with a QR code on a treat I gave my students. When scanned, that QR code would take the students to the playlist where the videos would be available on the 13th. When scanned before the 13th, pianists found the video below waiting for them.
Snacks
The QR code was placed on the back of magnetic book marks that I purchased from Loggerhead Marinelife Center where my son Carter works. The package of bookmarks was tied to a bag of pretzel party mix. Can you tell from the recipe card pictured above how frequently it gets used?
Crossword puzzle
I know that many teachers feel that student families only watch the video of their favorite pianists. Because I know that may be true of some families, I added one more component to the virtual living room session experience.
Below each video is a brief description of the carol or piece played. These program notes provide answers to a crossword puzzle that I created on a free platform called Crossword Labs. I created a question based on each video so that it would prompt listeners to click on them to find the answers.
The puzzle can be completed online or it can be exported as a PDF and downloaded so it can be completed with pencil and paper. I sent both options to my student families and the playlist link to all student families via email.
Content
As an introduction, I made a short video explaining the title and the importance of watching each video.
It’s my goal that each pianist plays their favorite piece (or pieces!) that showcase their competence and musicality at the piano. Many of them choose arrangements composed by prolific composers like Melody Bober, Kevin Olson, Randall and Nancy Faber.
Some even prefer to play one written by their teacher. :-) Here’s Kaitlyn playing my setting of “The Little Drummer Boy” which I call “Give Him My Heart.” Because it’s based on a piece that is not in public domain I have a sample at my website and it’s for sell at Sheetmusic.com.
Others prefer to create their own arrangements.
Here’s Parker playing his own setting of “What Child is This?”
Parker is on fire when it comes to Christmas tunes. Here’s his arrangement of the “Carol of the Bells.”
Medley Magic
Adrian wanted to make a medley of two favorite carols arranged by Melody Bober in her Grand Solos for Christmas Book 3 and so he added a modulation with the help of a small theory lesson. At the end of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” he transposed the last measure to the V or dominant of the new key of the next piece and bam, he transitioned seamlessly into the next carol.
Rylan is a senior in high school and has surpassed me in his ability to improvise and create within various styles!
So, it’s my responsibility to challenge Rylan. This year, he borrowed the style of the slow section of Chopin’s “Fantaisie Impromptu” to accompany “O Holy Night,” created a contrapuntal setting of “Angels We Have Heard on High” and then borrowed patterns from Susan Staple Bell’s “Funky Gecko” to change up “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
My turn
I added in some of my favorite Christmas performances, too.
“Born is the King” is my setting of “The First Noel.” Sheet music is available here.
“Tidings of Joy” was inspired by Mercy Me’s cover of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” that I arranged for organ eight years ago. I just updated the notation and made a new video. The free sheet music is available here.
Sheesh, I’m tired from writing this blog post. Good thing I had weeks to accomplish most of the items on the checklist.
Hosting an online event takes tenacity, tech-savyness and time. I think it requires more time than hosting a recital in person. For copyright reasons, I’m not sharing the Living Sessions Playlist. If you’d like to view it, please let me know in the comment section.
Did you offer a holiday online performance opportunity for your students?
Did you find a way to offer an in-person performance opp while socially distancing?
A few of my students will be joining me at an outdoor caroling event that our church is holding out doors. So, they’ll get a chance to play online and in person, weather permitting!
Please share your thoughts and experiences. I’m sure there’s plenty of us that would love to hear how you are managing piano teaching during Covid times.
All the best to you and yours.
Merry Christmas!
-Leila
My thumbnail pic!