YourClassical

Musicians preparing for performing with the help of concert hall simulators

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Evren Ozel, Minnesota Varsity Showcase Performer (Courtney Perry/MPR)

In one of our recent Class Notes Videos, we focused on helping young concertgoers learn about audience behavior at a classical performance — what is appropriate, and what is not. Well thanks to technology developed by London's Royal College of Music (in collaboration with a Swiss conservatory), musicians can prepare for audience behavior without needing to be in front of an audience.

In a recent Guardian article, Dalya Alberge reported on a performance simulator which is being used by musicians to prepare for all the potential distractions that can occur in a concert hall: from coughs and sneezes, to cell phones, to boos and cheers.

A small room at the Royal College was transformed into a virtual concert hall complete with spotlights and curtains to create an ultra-realistic environment. Young violinist Miriam Bergset recently tried out the simulator, performing in front of a large screen which contained a screen shot of the 'auditorium', as research associate Mats Küssner manipulated the 'audience'. Bergset said:

“It felt completely different from playing in a rehearsal room. With the concert audience – even though it’s virtual – it feels as if you’re giving more back There is this exchange with an audience … It adds inspiration to get into the performance mode.”

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