Thread: The most PERFECTLY produced Instructional video would include....

Just brainstorming here...

If you were to produce the most PERFECT, useful, artistic, quality instructional video, what elements, features, or components would you be SURE to include? Okay, let's really play in dreamland and say $$$$ is no object.

As a baseline, I would definitely be guided by Shira's video review criteria (which I have found invaluable on numerous occasions.) But beyond that....

What makes for a really stellar instructional video?

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

I miss the 3-D effect of the live teacher when looking at instructional videos, I'd like to be able to see the instruction from the front, from the side, from the back and diagonal at the click of a button (not having to forward through it done at all these angles).

I want to know exactly what music is used and what CD its on. I find that so frustrating when they don't say and I like the music and have to go on a quest to find it. I'm still on a quest to track some music down on Raqia's vol 9 after a year.
This would not involve mega bucks but it would improve things no end for me.

To answer the question, Id want there to be awesome music, suggestions of live performance and improv, and some stuff in there for the basics to share with a class.


WARNING shameless plug here!:

Theres a DVD flying around out there produced by a friend of mine that shes trying to sell to raise some money for a tragedy in her family. Its got great music (all produced by awesome guitarist Sean Blackman, and the drummer from Raqay and the Cavemen) Its a pretty great one for yourself or as a class companion. You guys should check it out. Seriously. SHOPDVD

Sonia and Issam included a music CD in their drum solo DVD, but that music was probably under his creative control, so maybe it was a different situation. Still, if a dancer has to go to the trouble to secure the clearances to perform to the music on the DVD, why can't a music CD be included as part of the purchase as a standard? If they don't want to mess with the expense and manufacturing of a second disk, they could provide some kind of online coupon for downloads inside the packaging, since most people have that capability now. At the very least, as Candi says, they should give you the information to purchase the music on your own.

(Not to get off topic, but one of my biggest workshop peeves is when a teacher uses mystery music. You should be able to provide the title, singer, and album name for any of the songs you use in your classes. If you can't figure out what's on the CD, pay somebody to translate it for you, and for heaven's sake, don't torment us with pretty music that can't be obtained legally--particularly if you're teaching a choreography to it!)

[QUOTE=Tourbeau;486371]Sonia and Issam included a music CD in their drum solo DVD, but that music was probably under his creative control, so maybe it was a different situation. Still, if a dancer has to go to the trouble to secure the clearances to perform to the music on the DVD, why can't a music CD be included as part of the purchase as a standard? If they don't want to mess with the expense and manufacturing of a second disk, they could provide some kind of online coupon for downloads inside the packaging, since most people have that capability now. At the very least, as Candi says, they should give you the information to purchase the music on your own. [QUOTE]


Love your idea--that would set a whole new standard.
It is such a frustrating tease on videos and at workshops when that information isn't known or available.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

(Not to get off topic, but one of my biggest workshop peeves is when a teacher uses mystery music. You should be able to provide the title, singer, and album name for any of the songs you use in your classes. If you can't figure out what's on the CD, pay somebody to translate it for you, and for heaven's sake, don't torment us with pretty music that can't be obtained legally--particularly if you're teaching a choreography to it!)

Hear hear!!! (or is it "here here"?.. either way, I totally agree!)

I love the idea of providing a CD of music used along with the DVD- absolutely brilliant, imo
& as long as we're in dream world...
I want a split screen for instruction , or a little box so I can see both front & back of what you are doing. I want good chaptering, that also allows me to skip all the talk the 5th time through the video, but I don't want to click through 3 menu screens to do it.
I definitely want a performance (or two...) at the end so I can see how the information *can* work together.
I would love to see a technique vid combined with a short choreography instruction, but I realize there are time limits...

Originally Posted by Lara L

I would love to see a technique vid combined with a short choreography instruction, but I realize there are time limits...

Jillina's vids are sort of like that, aren't they? (At least her latest series) She goes through basic technique, combinations, then puts it together into a choreo. I think it's a nice format.

I also like having time built into the DVD to actually drill the movement you just learned. And I mean significant time--8 counts is not enough to even begin to create muscle memory. Yes, you can always pause, but I find it more helpful to be able to drill it while watching the DVD instructor and continuing to hear the music. Of course I'd want this to be a separate chapter immediately following the instruction of each move/combo--that way I can skip it or ONLY watch the drill portion once I've already gone through the instruction.

I haven't made it round to Jillina's yet, but I think more teachers are headed this direction. I just spent a maddening 2 hours watching a certain instructor who basically took an old vhs format & put it on DVD. Drove me insane- at least with vhs I could have stopped it without losing my spot!
& I would love to see a chaptering scheme that allowed you to do either instruction followed by related drills or just do the drills (again, for that 5th time around, when I'm pretty sure I got the instructions bit!) My techie friend says it's possible, but I haven't had reason to pursue such a thing myself :)

Why, it would include me, of course ..l;,..l;,..l;,