Chamber Music Online Tutorial 2 - Overview/Plan

This is the 2nd video tutorial in the series on preparing and performing chamber music online. Here is a link to the video I produced of the Klengel Theme and Variations, Op. 28    • Klengel Theme and Variations in G major, O...   I created the video to prepare myself to coach and perform chamber music with my students and colleagues. Other videos in the series... Chamber Music Online Tutorial 1 - Intro    • Chamber Music Online Tutorial 1 - Intro   Chamber Music Online Tutorial 2 - Overview Plan    • Chamber Music Online Tutorial 2 - Overview...   Chamber Music Online Tutorial 3 - Equipment    • Chamber Music Online Tutorial 3 - Equipment   Chamber Music Online Tutorial 4 - Recording and Layering Tracks    • Chamber Music Online 4 - Recording and Lay...   Now I wish to share the process with my students and friends in a series of video tutorials. This is the preparation overview: ... The Limitations and Possibilities of the Current Technology... It is not yet possible to rehearse online in real time. It wont be possible for quite some time. This is because of “latency”. Latency is the delay in the time it takes for our sound to make it into our computers and from our computers through the internet to each other. We have all experienced versions of this since the spring with our online lessons. Even with the fastest of internet connetions, the issue is various latencies produced by distance from the connecting point and from our individual equipment. This doesn’t have to stop us from having a high quality chamber music experience. The way it can be done is by recording and sending high quality sound files to each other and layering more voices until there is a complete representation of all the voices in a recording. This would be analogous to what is done when we rehearse face to face, complete with input from our colleagues and coaches, listening to and matching sound, articulations, and phrasing, and many other activities that we already do in rehearsal and in the practice room. Individual sound files are even more revealing than in person rehearsals in many ways. Once the voices are layered into an audio performance recording, most of the rehearsal portion is complete. At this point, we can begin putting together a video performance. Each performer can mute their own voice in the recording and perform with the other members a movement or whole piece for a through-performed video window. Combine the windows, and you already have a stream-able performance. If it is possible to be on stage for a live performance, all the better. With a couple of dress rehearsals, a well prepared online recorded performance can become a stage performance very quickly. There are professional ensembles whose members live apart that already use this process to prepare performances.