Recording your entry videos

How to film your group: a practical guide for students and teachers

Strike A Chord is Musica Viva Australia's national chamber music competition for school students. Groups of 3-8 players, any combination of instruments and/or voice, submit a video performance and a short introduction video as their entry.

Since 2020, more than 3,000 students across the country have taken part. "It's no exaggeration to say that, for many participants, the experience will be life-changing," says Wilma Smith, Artistic Director Competitions, Musica Viva Australia.

Your entry is filmed at home, at school, wherever works for your group. Here's some handy tips to make it look and sound its best. 

• Fill the frame. Get close enough that your group fills the screen. Too much empty space means wasted pixels and a busy background stealing focus. Set up in a normal concert semicircle, not a straight line. Any device works, including a smartphone.
• Stay steady. Set your camera in a fixed position so all performers are visible throughout. A tripod, shelf, or stack of books all work. Never film handheld, and record in a single take with no editing.
• Use the light you've got. A big window is your best friend. Face the musicians toward the main light source, not away from it. Indirect daylight without direct sunshine works best. No window? A couple of household lamps at 45 degrees with a diffuser (even a plastic bag if you have cool, LED lights) will soften harsh shadows.
• Check your settings. Record at 1080p (Full HD), 16:9 ratio. Lock your focus and exposure before you hit record. Test your sound before you record. Microphone placement makes a significant difference to audio quality. Always do a test run and listen back.
• What to wear. Smart casual, school uniform, or more formal performance clothing all work. The most important thing is to feel comfortable and aim for a cohesive look as a group.
• Uploading. Upload to Dropbox or Google Drive and include the link in your entry form. Save the file as: [groupname PERFORMANCE]

 Check out our tips for filming your entry video below.

Recorded in 2021 by Matthew Lorenzon, then a digital producer at ABC Classic and now Digital Marketing Manager at Musica Viva Australia, this webinar walks you through the essentials.

Your Introduction Video

Every Strike A Chord entry also includes a short introductory video alongside your performance recording. It has zero impact on judging so have fun with it!

A saxophone group from Hornsby Girls High School shows what a great introduction video looks like. It's creative, it's fun, and by the end you feel like you actually know the musicians. 

 

 

Your introduction video should be a maximum of 2 minutes, spoken to camera, and may be recorded in any location. Student responses may be filmed one at a time. Heres a handy checklist of everything your intro video needs to cover

• Maximum 2 minutes, spoken to camera
• Tell us who's in the group, where you're from, and why you chose your piece
• You can film responses one at a time if that's easier
• Be yourselves and show some personality. Past entries have featured budgies, and introductions from the swimming pool, so get creative! The jury genuinely wants to get to know you.
• Save the file as: [groupname INTRODUCTION] and submit it along with your entry video.