Drama to be eradicated from Radio 3

[Pulcinella]

I think there's a warning here for live concerts too. Putting on staging of a play, like putting on a live concert of music involves a huge amount of effort and expense probably not appreciatied by many members of the public accustomed to choosing a video or recording at the touch of a button. One can only hope that enough people appreciate the value of live events , and being there, to keep trying. I know actors often stress the very different rewards fo live performance in front of a live audience, and despite all the difficulties regard it as the essential part of their art.

It came as a bit if a shock to learn that music diploma students no longer have to turn up to perform their pieces for the examiner in person, but perform online; surely this removes an aspect of performance that should be part of the process. Apparently they no longer need to prepare programme notes either.
(Not sure if this applies to all instruments and exam boards and if it depends on where you live, though.)

[LMcD]

Glad you enjoyed the White Devil. Perhaps it's a personal opinion, but I think it is Webster's masterpiece and it knocks the socks of other Jacobean drama. The great thing about Radio 3 was that it gave me the chance to explore their other Jacobean dramas - The Spanish Tragedy, The Changeling, Women Beware Women, Duchess of Malfi and 'Tis Pity. And beyond that I started to read about Christopher Marlowe and read a little about the historical period. I guess the idea that great drama leads you onto other things is alien to the current BBC conception of what drama is. Sometimes you find a real turkey, It's a mad world my masters, for example, but that true of everything in life - some good things and some rubbish things.

That is what I regret with this idiotic decision by the Director General - that new worlds of experience through radio drama will not open up to me again.

I imagine the DG will mange to ensure that somebody else takes the blame.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It came as a bit if a shock to learn that music diploma students no longer have to turn up to perform their pieces for the examiner in person, but perform online; surely this removes an aspect of performance that should be part of the process. Apparently they no longer need to prepare programme notes either.
(Not sure if this applies to all instruments and exam boards and if it depends on where you live, though.)

Even more shocking is the admissibility of video recordings in the grade exams. Unless the recording is done with professional quality microphones and by someone who knows about the art and craft of recording the sound is likely to be terrible. The piano is a notoriously difficult instrument to record well. Its impossibly to make any judgement of tone or pedalling even phrasing if it’s a compressed mobile phone job, It’s absolutely ridiculous.

[Roslynmuse]

Even more shocking is the admissibility of video recordings in the grade exams. Unless the recording is done with professional quality microphones and by someone who knows about the art and craft of recording the sound is likely to be terrible. The piano is a notoriously difficult instrument to record well. Its impossibly to make any judgement of tone or pedalling even phrasing if it’s a compressed mobile phone job, It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Recording exams was brought in during the various lockdowns when 'live' examining was impossible. I am surprised it has persisted, to be honest; candidates may feel they have an advantage being able to record their pieces over and over again, but, as anyone who has made recordings knows, it's no advantage whatsoever when editing is not possible. Having an 'audience' of teacher or parent is a mixed blessing and no substitute for playing to an examiner. Agreed about quality of sound. I ended up doing a lot of teaching over Zoom during the pandemic and my heart sinks now whenever I get a request for an online lesson. And I do a lot of audition video viewing from abroad as part of my work - I have to really steel myself for a day of viewing, as the recorded sound quality is often so poor.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Recording exams was brought in during the various lockdowns when 'live' examining was impossible. I am surprised it has persisted, to be honest; candidates may feel they have an advantage being able to record their pieces over and over again, but, as anyone who has made recordings knows, it's no advantage whatsoever when editing is not possible. Having an 'audience' of teacher or parent is a mixed blessing and no substitute for playing to an examiner. Agreed about quality of sound. I ended up doing a lot of teaching over Zoom during the pandemic and my heart sinks now whenever I get a request for an online lesson. And I do a lot of audition video viewing from abroad as part of my work - I have to really steel myself for a day of viewing, as the recorded sound quality is often so poor.

What you’re saying echoes exactly what I’ve heard from another teacher. It’s also not good for your ears.

re “red light fever” I’ve only experienced once when bizarrely I recorded (sound only) a piece by Agatha Christie for a TV film. She was quite a good pianist and the piece was full of right hand octaves.Knowing I could have take after take just made things worse . It’s that awful feeling that the producer and engineer just want to finish early and get some lunch . Thank God for digital editing.

Incidentally with AI I reckon it would now be relatively easy( for a professional editor)to drop in an audio retake over a video recording thus making the exam eminently cheatable .Something similar is used all the time in drama to post dub dialogue that’s come out inaudible or poor quality on the location recording.
Mind you it’s quite a skilled process.

[smittims]

'Mind you , it's quite a skilled process'.

So is picking safes , and about as honest...