<p>My son finally did his recordings for his music supplements. He's not applying to an conservatories, nor is he likely to be a music major, though it's possible at one, maybe two schools, but cello is a big part of his application as the majority of his ECs are music related. The supplement will go to 3-4 schools only.</p>
<p>Overall, his playing sounded very good. Yes, he made some little mistakes, but I really like what I hear. </p>
<p>However, he's not totally happy, and what he didn't like was the fact that the mic (we asked a friend to record using his equipment) was placed so close to his cello, he felt it was rather "in your face" and the recordings seem to lack many of the dynamics he put in. His technique is great, but I agree it's all mostly loud, with some exceptions.</p>
<p>Should he rerecord? He has two schools with Dec. 1 deadlines. If he rerecorded, he would do it totally different, probably using the accompanist's equipment and our little video camera.</p>
<p>I would be perfectly fine if he used these songs, because they do show some excellent technique and intonation, but would love to hear what experienced parents think.</p>
<p>If he’s not happy and there is time, by all means, rerecord and let him show himself in the best possible light? Why send in something he’s not happy with and that’s not his finest work?</p>
<p>So do schools care about how professional the recording is, then? They expect students to make sure it’s top notch recording equipment, etc? With my oldest son, we didn’t really worry about that. I went back and compared how he sounded to my current HS senior, and though the quality of the recording is very different, both sound good without us spending a lot (besides paying the accompanist), but yeah, it’s a shoestring budget-borrowed equipment and a friend to record.</p>
<p>Yes! Record again. Let your son be the judge. We recorded at our church and didn’t even need a microphone.<br>
Also, do a test run. It actually makes a difference where you put your mic. Move the mic around and use the location that sounds the best. It seems like a lot of work but after years and years of practice and months of preparation for the recording, it would be a waste of time not getting it right if at all possible </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s about needing professional top-notch equipment–it’s more about mike placement to get the best sound. Many people simply use a Zoom recorder or similar and get a fine recording. You don’t even need to have someone else doing the recordings. And I guess I suppose it depends somewhat on what schools you’re sending the supplement to–is it to bolster the application? or in hopes for a scholarship? Is it for a school with a well-established competitive music department where music professors will review the supplements? I think in that case he’d be better off making another recording as having no dynamic changes might not reflect well on his musicality. I guess I’d lean towards trying again to see if he could get a take he was happier with since he does have some time. And absolutely, like cellomom6 said, do a couple of practice takes first to find the best placement.</p>
<p>Thanks, cellomom6. I actually tried to find a church-our church meets in a community center-but ended up recording at the community college where my son is a student. </p>
<p>Yeah, hindsight is 20/20. They should have done a test run. I wasn’t there, so I didn’t have input this time around. </p>
<p>Right now, he’s inclined to not rerecord. I think he’s just so tired of everything he needs to do for college apps. He is weary.</p>
<p>I sent the sound files to his teacher, so hopefully he can give feedback.</p>
<p>He recorded four songs, but I think he could cut back to three.</p>
<p>Meh, I am letting him decide. It’s his life and I don’t want to push him.</p>
<p>I don’t think it was a big waste of time, though. I think he sounds great! No, it’s not perfect, but I listened to a number of Common App cello supplements on Youtube, and I think he is definitely in the running as compared with the ones I listened to.</p>
<p>He’s a perfectionist, but a tired perfectionist, and honestly, he’s ready to move on and learn new pieces. So, we shall see!</p>
<p>This would be to bolster his application. Only one school has merit scholarships.</p>
<p>I think he can talk with his cello teacher and get input from him.</p>
<p>These are real reach schools for everyone, so on the one hand, it would be great to get it “perfect”. OTOH, even if it was perfect, it’s pretty impossible to get in for anyone.</p>
<p>Ok, so my son in college (he knows a lot about music and has a recording studio in his dorm room) just told me that the format of the files, M4, I think, has terrible quality. Shoot!</p>
<p>He’s going to listen to one of the files and give me advice. I have a feeling my son may have to record after all.</p>
<p>He needs to use a recorder desgined to record music. The Zoom H1 or other recorder does this job well. My daughter uses it also to record her practice sessions and all her lessons. She puts it about 10-20 feet away from her when she records–I’m sure different instruments require more or less distance. It records using the mp3 format.</p>
<p>We also bought a Zoom. It has been used a lot in the last 6 years! My daughter has just the audio one.</p>
<p>If this is a highly competitive school, then your son should maybe consider whether to submit a supplement or not. His teacher can help with that. The resume and info on the common app may convey that he plays well and is heavily involved in music. Schools like the Ivies have top strings players and a supplement should probably show ability at that level. Not that his playing would not be appreciated and welcome, just that to affect the actual application it might need to be really impressive. Will the supplement also have excellent teacher letter of recommendation, resume etc?</p>
<p>For a school that is less selective, I think the recording as is would probably be helpful, if your son can live with it.</p>
<p>The Zoom often sits in one of the front row seats during a performance and records beautifully.</p>
<p>I feel your son’s fatigue. And stress. If his qualifications are good for applying to a “reach” maybe he can just omit the supplement and let them know his playing is important to him. In the end, he may feel frustrated and regret not sending his very best work, so maybe the principle “do it well or not at all” is a good way to go.</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts. We are still wrestling with this. </p>
<p>My son contacted someone in the music dept. at a selective (30%) school he’s applying to and shared the link to one of his pieces, asking if he should rerecord. He heard back right away and that was at least encouraging, as the prof said my son’s playing was spirited and musical, and that he’d be happy to have my son play in his orchestras. (This is a school that’s associated with a conservatory)</p>
<p>His comment was that the mic was probably too close and the room too small. But he was very encouraging and said he enjoyed my son’s playing very much.</p>
<p>Now this is not one of the three top schools on my son’s list. He has contacted one other person, but who knows if he’ll hear back.</p>
<p>The biggest issue with the video is that it doesn’t show off the dynamics of the piece; it shows my son’s strong abilities and technique, but not the dynamics as much.</p>
<p>His qualifications aren’t nearly as strong as many students. He has a very good SAT and a very good GPA (at the moment), but he’s taken no AP tests or classes. He’ll have 40 college classes under his belt upon graduation.</p>
<p>His music has been the biggest EC and he’s done some really great things with his cello; so yes, it’s very important that he submit a supplement, since he may be a music major at two of these schools. Music is his alternate major of choice for three of them.</p>
<p>So if you just have an audio Zoom, how do you do a video with it? I know I sound dumb about this, but I just don’t get it. Since some schools need video and one wants audio only, how does that work?</p>
<p>Thanks so much, everyone! Clearly, we didn’t research this enough, but there is still a little time!</p>
<p>ZoomHD-ok, thanks. Yes, I was on Amazon and saw a really good priced one that said great audio and meh video. But that seems like it might be ok. I think regardless of what happens, it would be good to have. Thanks!</p>
<p>Compmom, yeah, I thought, shoot, we really have nothing to go by other than what we see on Youtube. My son has never been around competitive music or large youth orchestras, so we really aren’t “in the know” as far as what to think. </p>
<p>These tippy top schools say “exceptional” abilities. Well, he has that potential, but he’s not applying to conservatories-simply can’t make a commitment to any future career or major at the moment. And no, he doesn’t practice 2+ hours a day, but he’s been playing a long time. So yeah, I feel like why not ask people in the music dept at various schools? All they can do is 1. ignore the email 2. tell him to rerecord, or 3. tell him it’s fine as it shows enough of what they need to know.</p>
<p>Over the last few years I’ve found that the mic built into a video camera is fine. Even though my kid was applying to conservatories what they wanted was a nice static image with a mic not too close , not too far and never edited during a performance. I work in recording studios a lot and I could have brought my kid in and recorded for free with really nice gear but she would have been uncomfortable. It’s much better for applicants to be comfortable than have the highest fidelity. We just set up a camera in a moderately live room in our house and left it there for several days and she went down and pressed the record button and did a few takes whenever the mood hit her and nobody was around. Worked great. As long as the room isn’t totally dead from carpeting etc, the mic on the camera should sound fine and often there is a built in compressor that helps things sound more alive. Really ambient places like a church or a large hall are probably best stayed away from. Iv’e been told the people watching like to feel like they are standing in front of the player. In a really long piece there are bound to be a few passages that aren’t perfect but don’t worry. </p>
<p>I have found that when my cello son is exhausted and grumpy I just have the cello teacher or orchestra conductor give him a boost in the right direction. It has yet to fail me. They value their opinion much more and the teachers are really adept at motivating students. It is their profession after all.</p>
<p>sbjdorlo, as I remember your son has a problem with low energy, is that right? It might not be worth it to worry about this. It sounds like he will have some good options anyway, and if he gets decent feedback from teachers (and schools) on what he has, it is probably fine.</p>
<p>The Zooms are great to have anyway. Perhaps just having the camera or a Zoom around will mean he will have a spontaneous desire to rerecord, but if not, maybe he can let it go.</p>
<p>How nice to have an older brother’s wisdom involved :)</p>