Exams and competitions that ask for a video: where can you record in Macau?
You see "submit a video" on the entry form, and the first thought is usually: where is a good place to record this?
In Macau, quite a few exams and competitions take video. Some people record at home, and after one attempt they find the hard part is not the playing, it is the room — the air conditioning, footsteps upstairs, and a phone ringing halfway through.
This piece covers which exams and competitions take video, how the recording itself affects the assessment, and how a session in the grand piano room can be set up.
First, which exams and competitions take video
ABRSM Performance Grades: the whole exam is one video
Alongside the graded exams taken at a centre, ABRSM also runs Performance Grades. The candidate plays the required programme, records the whole thing and submits it; the time and place are up to you, and the official guidance states the exam may be taken at home.
Some competitions take video for the first round too
Macau holds a good number of competitions each year. Several take video for the first round, and some run a separate video section for entrants from outside Macau, with submission months that differ from one to the next. For which happens when, see Major music competitions in Macau, 2026〉。
How the video is made shows in the assessment
The official guidance sets out several specific requirements. Reading through them once before you record makes the whole thing a lot less stressful.
One take, no editing afterwards
The guidance states that once recording begins, the announcement, showing of documents and performance must run through in one take, and no editing of any kind may be made after the exam. In other words, if you are interrupted partway, the whole thing has to be recorded again.
Face, instrument and music stand all in frame
The camera must stay still, with the candidate, instrument and music stand clearly in frame, and the face visible throughout the performance. For keyboard instruments the whole keyboard must be in shot, and the pedals too where possible.
So the camera position needs a little room — too close and the ends of the keyboard fall outside the frame; too far and the player is hard to see.
Sound quality and dynamic range have to come through clearly
One line of the guidance puts it plainly:
Put another way: if there is a steady sound in the background, or the quietest passages are covered up, the examiner hears less of what you played. This has more to do with the room itself than with the equipment.
A few of these the room can take care of for you
Bring your own phone and tripod and record it yourself; there is enough space. Plenty of customers do exactly that.
The air conditioning can be switched off, so the quietest passages still come through
Each room has its own air conditioning, under your control. Switch it off for those few minutes and the room goes quiet, so the shading in soft playing survives.
Room for a tripod, with the whole keyboard and the pedals in shot
The grand piano room gives you enough space to move back, so the camera can sit where the whole keyboard is in frame, pedals included. A music stand is already in the room, so there is nothing to bring.
Properly soundproofed, so one take runs to the end
If somebody is playing next door, all you hear is a very faint sound. Once the door is shut the time is yours, and you can run straight through without worrying about starting over.
A power socket right there, and Wi-Fi in the room
Record all afternoon without running out of battery. If you want to upload as soon as you finish, there is Wi-Fi in the room, so it does not have to wait until you get home.
If you want something more polished, we can help with that too
If this one matters and you want a more polished result, you can leave it with us. Message us on WeChat or WhatsApp with your situation and timing, and we will talk through how to do it.
Common questions
Which room is used for recording?
Recording is arranged in the grand piano room, which has the Shigeru Kawai SK-6 concert grand and more space. Just mention that you will be recording when you book.
What do I need to bring?
A phone or camera and a tripod. A music stand and metronome are already in the room.
First visit — how do I book?
For a first visit, message us on WeChat or WhatsApp to set up your account; after that we arrange the slots for you. Setting up happens once.
Recording? Mention it when you book
SOLO is a 24-hour self-service piano room by the Red Market in Macau, and the grand piano room has a Shigeru Kawai SK-6 concert grand. Message us on WeChat or WhatsApp to say you will be recording, and we will arrange the time and the room.
To see which plan suits you, look at Rooms and rates; other practical material is in the Practice Guides. If you have a question you can also contact us directly。
Put together by SOLO. For the current requirements, the organiser announcements are the authority.